Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2009
The presence of circulating immune complexes (CIC) in the sera of dogs infected with Dirofilaria immitis was detected by using a Clq-binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Specificity of this assay with different concentrations of heat-aggravated canine IgG (ACG) was observed, i.e., the ELISA readings, expressed as ug equivalents ACG/ml, increased with increasing amounts of ACG. The intra-assay variability was below 10%. The CIC levels of infected and uninfected dogs were 177–0± 104–7 ug/ml and 22–8±45–8 ng/ml (mean±SD), respectively. The highest level was observed in 12 dogs with amicrofilaraemic infection. Age distribution of CIC levels in the 23 infected dogs also showed a significant positive correlation. These findings suggested that the CIC are present in the sera of dogs with dirofilariasis and may relate to canine glomerulonephritis.