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Complement C3 in Bernese Mountain dogs

Bernhard Gerber1, Simone Eichenberger, Helen I Joller-Jemelka

  • 1Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland. bgerber@vetclinics.uzh.ch

Veterinary Clinical Pathology
|December 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Low serum complement component 3 (C3) is not linked to Borrelia burgdorferi infection or kidney disease in Bernese Mountain dogs. This study found no evidence supporting C3 deficiency as a cause for these conditions in the breed.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Immunology
  • Canine Infectious Diseases
  • Nephrology

Background:

  • Low serum complement component 3 (C3) is associated with susceptibility to infections and glomerular disease.
  • Bernese Mountain dogs exhibit a high prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi infections and glomerulonephritis.
  • A potential link between low C3 levels and these co-occurring conditions in Bernese Mountain dogs was hypothesized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate serum C3 concentrations in Bernese Mountain dogs with and without Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies.
  • To compare C3 levels in affected dogs with those in healthy control dogs.

Main Methods:

  • Serum C3 concentrations were measured using a single radial immunodiffusion test.
  • Antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi were detected via ELISA and confirmed with Western blot.
  • Eighty-three Bernese Mountain dogs and 46 control dogs were included in the study.

Main Results:

  • Serum C3 concentrations were higher in healthy Bernese Mountain dogs compared to control dogs.
  • Dogs with Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies had lower C3 concentrations than those without antibodies, within both Bernese Mountain and control groups.
  • Median C3 concentration was 128.5% in Bernese Mountain dogs with antibodies and 133.5% in those without.

Conclusions:

  • Low serum C3 concentration does not explain the high prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi infections in Bernese Mountain dogs.
  • Low C3 levels are not associated with the coincident occurrence of Borrelia burgdorferi infection and glomerulonephritis in this breed.
  • Further research is needed to understand the underlying causes of these conditions in Bernese Mountain dogs.
Abstract

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