Combined (B- and T-lymphocyte) immunodeficiency: a fatal genetic disease in Arabian foals.
Abstract: Thirty sick Arabian foals and 78 clinically normal Arabian foals were examined for combined (B- and T-lymphocyte) immunodeficiency. Diagnosis was based on lymphocyte counts and serum immunoglobulin (Ig) content or microscopic examination of lymphoid organs. Ten of the 30 sick foals and 2 of the 78 clinically normal foals had combined immunodeficiency. The 2 affected foals in the group of 78 subsequently developed fatal pneumonia.
Lymphocyte counts were made from 9 of the 12 immunodeficient foals; the range was 0 to 936/cmm., whereas the normal mean was 4,119/cmm., with a standard deviation of 1,649. Immunoglobulin M was not detectable in any of 9 available serums from the 12 affected foals and IgA was absent from 3 of the 9 serums. There was an absence of splenic germinal centers and periarteriolar lymphocytic sheaths in all of 11 spleens examined microscopically. Thymic hypoplasia occurred in all of 9 foals from which tissue was available. The 12 foals with combined immunodeficiency were susceptible to and died of a variety of infections, especially adenoviral infection.
Publication Date: 1974-01-01 PubMed ID: 4358832
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study investigated a fatal, genetic, combined immunodeficiency affecting the B- and T-lymphocytes of Arabian foals, with it being found in a number of sick and clinically normal Arabian foals and linked to susceptibility to fatal infections.
Study Population and Diagnosis
- The study involved testing 108 Arabian foals, 30 of which were sick and 78 appeared clinically normal. Testing for combined B- and T-lymphocyte immunodeficiency was conducted through examining lymphocyte counts, serum immunoglobulin content, and microscopic examination of lymphoid organs.
- Out of these, 12 foals (10 from the 30 sick and 2 from the 78 clinically normal) were found to have the combined immunodeficiency. Notably, the two seemingly healthy foals later developed fatal pneumonia.
Testing Results
- Lymphocyte counts were recorded from 9 of the 12 immunodeficient foals. Counts ranged from 0 to 936/cmm, significantly lower than the normal mean count of 4,119/cmm.
- Immunoglobulin M (IgM) was not detectable in any of the 9 serums tested from the affected foals, while Immunoglobulin A (IgA) was absent in 3 of the serums.
- Microscopic analysis showed an absence of splenic germinal centers and periarteriolar lymphocytic sheaths in all 11 spleens examined.
- Thymic hypoplasia, or underdeveloped thymus glands, were observed in all 9 foals whose tissue was available for testing.
Combined Immunodeficiency Effects
- The combined immunodeficiency left the 12 affected foals particularly susceptible to a variety of infections, the most frequent of which was an adenoviral infection.
- All 12 of the immunodeficient foals eventually died from such infections, highlighting the fatal nature of this genetic disease in Arabian foals.
The study thus evidenced a fatal, genetic combined immunodeficiency in Arabian foals that impacts both B- and T-lymphocytes, leading to highly lowered immune responses and fatal susceptibility to infections.
Cite This Article
APA
McGuire TC, Poppie MJ, Banks KL.
(1974).
Combined (B- and T-lymphocyte) immunodeficiency: a fatal genetic disease in Arabian foals.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 164(1), 70-76.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Adenoviridae Infections / veterinary
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- B-Lymphocytes
- Diarrhea / veterinary
- Erythrocyte Count
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Immunodiffusion
- Immunoglobulin A / analysis
- Immunoglobulin G / analysis
- Immunoglobulin M / analysis
- Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / complications
- Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / genetics
- Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / immunology
- Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / pathology
- Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / veterinary
- Leukocyte Count
- Pneumonia / veterinary
- Spleen / pathology
- T-Lymphocytes
- Thymus Gland / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 22 times.- Ramsay JD, Ueti MW, Johnson WC, Scoles GA, Knowles DP, Mealey RH. Lymphocytes and macrophages are infected by Theileria equi, but T cells and B cells are not required to establish infection in vivo. PLoS One 2013;8(10):e76996.
- Brosnahan MM, Brooks SA, Antczak DF. Equine clinical genomics: A clinician's primer. Equine Vet J 2010 Oct;42(7):658-70.
- Taylor SD, Leib SR, Carpenter S, Mealey RH. Selection of a rare neutralization-resistant variant following passive transfer of convalescent immune plasma in equine infectious anemia virus-challenged SCID horses. J Virol 2010 Jul;84(13):6536-48.
- Flaminio MJ, Tallmadge RL, Salles-Gomes CO, Matychak MB. Common variable immunodeficiency in horses is characterized by B cell depletion in primary and secondary lymphoid tissues. J Clin Immunol 2009 Jan;29(1):107-16.
- Mealey RH, Littke MH, Leib SR, Davis WC, McGuire TC. Failure of low-dose recombinant human IL-2 to support the survival of virus-specific CTL clones infused into severe combined immunodeficient foals: lack of correlation between in vitro activity and in vivo efficacy. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2008 Jan 15;121(1-2):8-22.
- Mealey RH, Littke MH, Leib SR, Davis WC, McGuire TC. Cloning and large-scale expansion of epitope-specific equine cytotoxic T lymphocytes using an anti-equine CD3 monoclonal antibody and human recombinant IL-2. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2007 Jul 15;118(1-2):121-8.
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- Mealey RH, Fraser DG, Oaks JL, Cantor GH, McGuire TC. Immune reconstitution prevents continuous equine infectious anemia virus replication in an Arabian foal with severe combined immunodeficiency: lessons for control of lentiviruses. Clin Immunol 2001 Nov;101(2):237-47.
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- Perryman LE, Mason PH, Chrisp CE. Effect of spleen cell populations on resolution of Cryptosporidium parvum infection in SCID mice. Infect Immun 1994 Apr;62(4):1474-7.
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- McGuire TC, Banks KL, Poppie MJ. Animal model of human disease. Combined immunodeficiency (severe), Swiss-type agammaglobulinemia. Am J Pathol 1975 Sep;80(3):551-4.
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- McGuire TC, Pollara B, Moore JJ, Poppie MJ. Evaluation of adenosine deaminase and other purine salvage pathway enzymes in horses with combined immunodeficiency. Infect Immun 1976 Mar;13(3):995-7.
- Targowski SP. Serum immunoglobulin, dermal response, and lymphocyte transformation studies in horses with chronic diarrhea. Infect Immun 1975 Jul;12(1):48-54.
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- Splitter GA, Incefy G, Iwata T, McGuire TC. Evaluation of functional thymic hormones in Arabian horses with severe combined immunodeficiency. Clin Exp Immunol 1979 Oct;38(1):37-44.
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