Serum Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein as a Specific Marker for Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis in Pug Dogs

To evaluate the ability of serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) concentration as a diagnostic marker for canine central nervous system (CNS) disorders, sera from dogs with various CNS (n=47) and non-CNS (n=56) disorders were measured for GFAP by using an ELISA kit. Healthy Beagles (n=15) and Pug dogs (n=12) were also examined as controls. Interestingly, only Pug dogs with necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME) showed elevated serum GFAP concentrations (<0.01 to 1.14 ng/ml), while other breeds of dogs with NME did not. Among the Pug dogs with NME, serum GFAP concentrations did not correlate with their clinical features, such as ages or survival times. Our data indicate the usefulness of serum GFAP as a novel marker for Pug dogs with NME.