The Immunologic Response of Dogs to Soluble Protein Antigens

Summary The tanned red blood cell hemagglutination technique was the most useful test for detection and estimation of quantity of antibodies in dogs immunized with heterologous proteins. Immunization with antigens in Freund's adjuvant resulted in the highest antibody levels by the TRBC hemagglutination technique. In general, the dog appears to be a poor producer of precipitating antibodies against the antigens used. The use of I131-labeled antigens in quantitative precipitin reactions is a useful method for study of canine antisera containing sufficient antibody to precipitate. Canine antibody against bovine serum albumin showed a precipitin reaction with soluble complexes in both the antigen and antibody excess zones.