INTESTINAL PERMEABILITY OF IRISH-SETTER PUPPIES CHALLENGED WITH A CONTROLLED ORAL DOSE OF GLUTEN

A combined test of intestinal permeability using lactulose (L) and rha mnose (R), and absorptive function using xylose (X) and 3-O-methylgluc ose (G), was carried out at four, six, eight and 16 weeks of age in 22 healthy control and six gluten-sensitive Irish setter (Is) dogs fed a diet containing a controlled dose of gluten from weaning. Comparisons were made with two groups of 12 healthy control dogs of breeds other than Is, one fed the same diet as the setters and the other fed a glut en-free diet. Gluten-sensitive Is showed a rise in permeability (mean [SEM] urinary L/R) from 0.23 (0.07) at four weeks to 0.39 (0.05) at ei ght weeks, remaining at 0.36 (0.04) at 16 weeks. These results were si gnificantly higher in gluten-sensitive than control Is at six, eight a nd 16 weeks, compatible with jejunal biopsy lesions characteristic of gluten-sensitive enteropathy demonstrated in affected dogs at 16 weeks . Urinary L/R ratios of control dogs of breeds other than Is peaked at six weeks 0.27 (0.02), and were significantly higher than those of co ntrol IS at six and eight weeks, demonstrating differences in permeabi lity between Irish setter dogs and other breeds at this age. There wer e no significant differences in urinary X/G ratios at six, eight and 1 6 weeks of age between any of the groups of dogs challenged with glute n. Urinary L/R and X/G ratios were similar in the control dogs of bree ds other than Is fed gluten-containing and gluten-free diets. These fi ndings indicate that intestinal permeability testing of puppies during controlled oral gluten challenge provides a practical screening test for gluten sensitivity in Irish setter dogs at an early age.