Which of the following best describes a condition that is associated with an immune reaction to a dietary antigen?

• A. Graft-versus-host disease
• B. Atopy
• C. Food-responsive enteropathy
• D. Hypersensitivity to dietary antigen

Answer: (C)

Food-responsive enteropathy is a condition where the gastrointestinal signs are linked to immune reactions against dietary proteins and improve when the diet is changed. In dogs and cats, this syndrome is identified when chronic enteritis-related symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea resolve on a restricted or novel-protein/elimination diet, indicating the dietary antigen is driving the inflammation. This makes it a distinct, diet-driven immune-mediated enteropathy.

The other options describe different allergy or immune scenarios that don’t fit the dietary-focused pattern as precisely. Graft-versus-host disease is a transplant-related immune attack, not tied to dietary antigens. Atopy relates to environmental allergens and usually skin or respiratory signs rather than diet-driven GI disease. Hypersensitivity to dietary antigen is a broader term that doesn’t specify the clinical response to dietary modification as clearly as food-responsive enteropathy does.