Antistaphylococcal antibodies in dogs with recurrent staphylococcal pyoderma

Staphylococcus intermedius skin infection (pyoderma) may be perpetuated in some dogs by a hypersensitivity reaction to staphylococcal organisms. Dogs with idiopathic superficial or deep recurrent staphylococcal skin infections may thus have quantitative differences in serum antistaphylococcal IgE antibodies compared with healthy dogs. To test this hypothesis, antistaphylococcal IgG and IgE antibodies were measured by ELISA in groups of dogs with idiopathic recurrent pyoderma, recurrent pyoderma secondary to atopic disease, non-recurrent pyoderma, and in healthy dogs. All groups of dogs with prior staphylococcal skin infection had significantly higher mean serum antistaphylococcal IgG levels than healthy dogs (P < 0.05). Dogs with recurrent deep pyoderma had the highest mean levels of antistaphylococcal IgG. Dogs with idiopathic recurrent superficial pyoderma and those with recurrent pyoderma secondary to atopy had significantly (P < 0.05) higher mean levels of serum antistaphylococcal IgE than other groups tested. It is concluded from these findings that S. intermedius can behave as an allergen in some dogs and elicit an IgE response. These results support the concept that bacterial hypersensitivity may be responsible for initiating or perpetuating skin lesions in these animals.