Increased serum antibody responses to Aspergillus fumigatus and house dust mite antigens in dogs with idiopathic eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy.

EBP appears IgG-mediated, not IgE-mediated, with environmental antigen hypersensitivity.

This case-control observational study investigated the role of Aspergillus fumigatus and house dust mite (HDM) antigens in canine idiopathic eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy (EBP), drawing parallels to allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in humans. Serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples were collected from dogs with EBP, chronic bronchitis, and healthy controls. Quantitative PCR detected A. fumigatus in only 2 of 23 EBP dogs' BALF samples. A. fumigatus-specific IgE concentrations were minimal and comparable across groups. However, A. fumigatus-specific serum IgG concentrations were significantly elevated in EBP dogs compared to control groups, as were HDM-specific IgG levels in both serum and BALF of EBP dogs. These findings suggest EBP involves IgG-mediated hypersensitivity rather than IgE-mediated mechanisms, and implicate environmental antigens in disease pathogenesis. The study provides important evidence that EBP is not primarily an IgE-dependent allergic condition, redirecting diagnostic and therapeutic approaches toward IgG-mediated immunity.

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