Chronic enteropathy in dogs is a group of disorders characterized by chronic, relapsing, inflammatory intestinal disease caused by dietary and/or environmental factors, the GI microbiome, and abnormal interactions with the immune system. Quality of life, digestion, absorption, and systemic health can be affected by chronic enteropathy.
This study evaluated the role of the house dust mite (HDM), a common environmental allergen, in allergic inflammation in the GI tract in dogs. The HDM allergen was quantified from gastric and duodenal fluids, feces, and duodenal and colonic mucosae of 24 healthy dogs and 38 dogs with chronic enteropathy. HDM allergen levels were significantly higher in dogs with chronic enteropathy as compared with healthy dogs. In addition, the HDM allergen was shown to increase both gene expression and protein levels of interleukin (IL)-1β in macrophages. Previous studies have shown a relative increase in this proinflammatory cytokine in the intestines of dogs with chronic enteropathy.1 These results suggest that HDM allergens may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic enteropathy by promoting IL-1β expression in GI macrophages.