Relative deficiency of serum IgA in the German shepherd dog: a breed abnormality

Serum immunoglobulin concentrations in clinically healthy German shepherd dogs were compared with those in mongrel dogs and Irish setters. Serum IgA concentrations were significantly lower in the German shepherd dogs than in the other two groups, while there were no differences in the concentrations of IgM or IgG. These findings suggest that production of IgA by gut associated lymphoid tissue may be abnormally low in the German shepherd dog.