Demonstration and Interspecies Cross-Sensitization of Reaginic Antibodies in Dogs Infected with Dirofilaria Immitis *

Abstract
Dogs infected with Dirofilaria immitis produced at least two types of skinsensitizing antibodies detectable by homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) using adult soluble antigens. Reaginic antibodies (IgE-like) were demonstrated in 15 out of 36 dogs (42%) using 48- to 72-hour skin sensitization periods. Short term skin-sensitizing antibodies were found in 17 out of 36 dogs (47%) with 2- to 3-hour latent periods. The IgE-like reaginic antibodies were inactivated at 56°C for 4 to 6 hours. They were capable of inducing PCA reactions in the skin of rabbits and to a lesser extent in the skin of rhesus monkeys but not of guinea pigs and rats. No precipitating antibodies were demonstrated in the positive sera by immunodiffusion techniques. Rabbits appear to be good PCA recipients for determination and titration of canine reaginic antibodies.

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