This study presents 8 dogs of German Shepherd breed (6 males, 2 females, 2-5 years of age at onset of the disease) with a lupus like syndrome characterized by febrile
polyarthritis, wasting, nephropathy, cutaneous lesions and high positive titres of ANA (
antinuclear antibodies) of speckled type. The serum
autoantibodies were further characterized by double immunodiffusion against ENA (
extractable nuclear antigen), ELISA for
Histone antibodies (Histon fraction H-24A and H-3S), indirect IF on rat-liver sections, non treated and
RNase/
DNase digested sections for DNP/RNP
antibodies, and smears of a hemoflagellate C. luciliae for
antibodies vs doubbel strained
DNA, (dsDNA). Thus, the high ANA titres in these dogs represent varying types of
autoantibodies against
nucleoproteins of both
DNA and
RNA nature, associated
histone antigens and non-
histone antibodies (
RNA and Sm) as well.
Rheumatoid Factor titres in serum from these dogs were low or negative.
Immunoglobulin deposits at dermo-epidermal junctions were demonstrated in some of the dogs with hyperkeratotic skin lesions. High concentration of serum-
IgG was a constant finding in combination with
anemia and in most cases
leukopenia probably related to the chronic inflammatory process in these animals.
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) or
thrombocytopenia was not detected in these dogs.