Avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex immunohistochemistry to detect immunoglobulin in formalin fixed skin biopsies in canine autoimmune skin disease.

Avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex immunohistochemistry was used on formalin fixed, paraffin embedded, trypsin digested, skin biopsies to detect immunoglobulin deposition in dogs with autoimmune skin disease. Immunostaining by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique revealed intercellular and/or basement membrane immunoglobulin deposits in 27 of 28 dogs considered to have autoimmune skin disease by clinical and histological evaluation and in six of 19 dogs considered to have autoimmune skin disease by clinical evaluation but without histological confirmation. Similar immunostaining was not evident in five biopsies of normal skin or in biopsies from four dogs with noninflammatory dermatoses, but was present in biopsies from one of ten dogs considered by clinical and histological criteria to have an inflammatory dermatosis other than autoimmune skin disease. Detection of immunoglobulin deposits in skin biopsies by avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex immunohistochemistry offers numerous advantages over conventional immunofluorescence methods including the opportunity to precisely compare histological and immunological findings.