Effects of dietary protein source on Basenjis with immunoproliferative enteropathy.

The effects of 3 experimental diets that varied only in the source of dietary protein (ie, poultry, cereal, red meat) were compared in Basenjis (n = 8) with immunoproliferative enteropathy and healthy Beagles (n = 8). Significant differences in fecal character, serum IgA concentration, and intestinal digestive and absorptive function were not induced by the different sources of dietary protein. The results of this study do not support a causal role for dietary protein source in the pathogenesis of immunoproliferative enteropathy of Basenjis.

Gastric acid secretion in Basenji dogs with immunoproliferative enteropathy.

Gastric acid secretion was studied in 13 Basenji dogs with immunoproliferative enteropathy. Considerable variation in the severity of gastritis and enteritis existed among dogs. Basenji dogs were categorized into two groups on the basis of postmortem gastric and intestinal histology (group I, gastritis and enteritis; group II, only enteritis). Pentagastrin-induced gastric acid secretory capacity was increased (P less than 0.002) in group II dogs as compared to healthy Beagle controls. Gastric acid secretory capacity of Basenji dogs with gastritis and enteritis (group I) was not different from that observed in control dogs. Basal serum gastrin concentrations and secretin-stimulated serum gastrin concentrations of either group of Basenji dogs did not differ from controls. On the basis of symptomatology, Basenji dogs with diarrhea had significantly increased basal and postsecretin stimulation gastrin concentrations (P = 0.01) when compared with asymptomatic Basenji or healthy control dogs. These findings support a potential role for altered gastric acid secretory capacity in the pathogenesis of immunoproliferative enteropathy of Basenji dogs. Results of the secretin stimulation studies support previous pathologic studies that failed to detect gastrin-secreting tumors. Incorporated into this investigation was a trial to determine whether the combination of oxymorphone and acepromazine could be used for acid secretory studies. Compared to pentobarbital, which has been frequently used for acid secretory studies in a research setting, the drug combination resulted in increased gastric fluid volumes, a comparative increase in acid secretion, and a rapid uneventful recovery. We conclude that the combination of oxymorphone and acepromazine provides an acceptable means of restraint in dogs undergoing acid secretory studies.

Elevated serum IgA associated with immunoproliferative enteropathy of Basenji dogs: lack of evidence for alpha heavy-chain disease or enhanced intestinal IgA secretion.

Immunoglobulin isotypes in serum and intestinal secretions of Basenji dogs with chronic diarrhea, asymptomatic Basenji dogs, and healthy control dogs were quantitated and their molecular sizes characterized to detect alpha-chain, gamma-chain, or mu-chain fragments. Quantitation of immunoglobulin isotypes in serum showed that affected Basenjis have significantly elevated serum IgA values as compared to asymptomatic Basenjis and normal control dogs. However, IgA concentrations in intestinal wash fluids were not significantly different for the three groups. Immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) demonstrated that virtually all IgA was in the dimeric form. Using IEP and immunoselection, we were unable to detect evidence for the presence of alpha-chain or other heavy-(H)-chain fragments. Hyperimmune serum obtained from rabbits immunized with serum or a globulin fraction of affected Basenjis also failed to detect H-chain fragments. The results of this study indicate that immunoproliferative enteropathy of Basenjis resembles closely the nonsecretory form of human immunoproliferative small intestinal disease (IPSID).