Pet dogs owned by lupus patients are at a higher risk of developing lupus

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine whether pet dogs owned by patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at a higher risk of developing SLE. Diagnosis of canine SLE was mainly based on the 11 diagnostic criteria for human SLE and two marked immunological features of canine SLE. Among 59 pet dogs owned by 37 SLE patients, 11 (18.64%) were ANA positive, and three (5.08%) had SLE. In contrast, of 187 pet dogs owned by non-SLE households, nine (4.81%) were ANA positive, and none (0%) had SLE. Among 650 outpatient dogs registered in the veterinary hospital, 34 (5.23%) were ANA positive, and six (0.92%) had SLE. Frequency of ANA and SLE among pet dogs owned by SLE patients was significantly higher than in pet dogs owned by non-SLE households (P = 0.001 for ANA; P = 0.013 for SLE) and in outpatient dogs (P < 0.001 for ANA; P = 0.032 for SLE). With respect to canine SLE development, the relative risk or risk ratio (R) of human SLE contact varied from 5.5 (compared with outpatient dogs) to near the infinite (compared with dogs owned by non-SLE households). The prevalence of canine SLE among pet dogs of SLE patients was therefore estimated to be 508 per 10 000 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0-1068]. In conclusion, pet dogs with human SLE contact were at a higher risk of developing SLE. Our results indicate that a common environmental factor or zoonotic agent may be involved in the development of human and canine SLE.

Prevalence of antinuclear and anti‐erythrocyte antibodies in healthy cats

“…In contrast to the ANA titers of client‐owned cats, the prevalence of positive titers in facility‐owned cats was significantly lower at both cutoff values, where 4% (1/25) of cats had a weak titer, and no cat had a strong titer. This may reflect an environment with less antigenic stimulation, as environmental triggers have been suggested to contribute to dogs owned by people with SLE being more likely to be ANA‐positive . Facility‐owned cats were also ANA negative in a previous study of propylthiouracil‐induced SLE syndrome, but those results are not directly comparable because of the likely methodological differences in determining ANA titer .…”

“…This may reflect an environment with less antigenic stimulation, as environmental triggers have been suggested to contribute to dogs owned by people with SLE being more likely to be ANA-positive. 10 Facility-owned cats were also ANA negative in a previous study of propylthiouracil-induced SLE syndrome, but those results are not directly comparable because of the likely methodological differences in determining ANA titer. 9 There have been several previous reports of DAT at 37°C in healthy cats and cats after resolution of antithyroid drug-induced SLE syndrome.…”

Presumed lupus erythematosus cells identified in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from a Mexican Hairless dog

“…Immunoglobulin A was not measured in this case. Interestingly, a dramatically increased risk of developing SLE has been noted in dogs owned by a human inflicted with SLE . Medical information about this dog's owner is not known.…”

Lupus eritematoso cutáneo canino: algunas consideraciones acerca de la cercanía humana con los animales

“…En un estudio de casos-controles se observó que la frecuencia de LES canino fue significativamente mayor en el grupo cuyo dueño era un paciente lúpico (3/59 perros, 5,08%) versus los que no (6/650 perros, 0,92%). Es decir, los perros expuestos a tener un dueño con LES tuvieron un riesgo relativo de padecer LES 20 a 100 veces mayor 8 . Si se trata de un factor ambiental o un factor zoonótico, es aún una pregunta no resuelta.…”