Spontaneous Canine Hypersensitivity to Ragweed. Characterization of the Serum Factor Transferring Skin, Bronchial and Anaphylactic Sensitivity

Abstract

Summary: Canine antiserum against ragweed pollen antigen occurring spontaneously in dogs is capable of transferring skin, respiratory and anaphylactic sensitivity to normal animals. The active fraction in the serum has been characterized by ammonium sulfate fractionation and zone electrophoresis and probably exists as a β-2A globulin. Canine sensitizing antibody may be compared with similar human antibody. Blood histamine determinations in sensitized, challenged dogs showed correlations with anaphylactic symptoms and with pathologic changes at postmortem examinations. The demonstration that the antibodies of the canine antisera which transfer skin sensitivity, respiratory symptoms and anaphylaxis exist in the same fraction obtained by the physical and chemical methods used for separation of serum components in these experiments provides evidence that the same antibodies mediate all three hypersensitivity reactions, although it has not been proved that the same antibody which results in one reaction mediates all three.