Discriminant and multiple regression analysis of anemia and opportunistic infection in Fell pony foals.
Abstract: A condition resembling acquired immunodeficiency with anemia has been described in British Fell pony foals. The pathogenesis is unknown. The present study involved 322 foals of which 164 were of Fell breed and 12 were affected. Discriminant and multiple regression analyses were used to test the results of all clinical pathology parameters from these foals for statistical association with (1) breed origin and (2) presence of disease. Only hematocrit associated significantly with presence of disease. However, significant associations were found with Fell breed origin, including serum albumin concentration and lymphocyte count. The unexpected discovery of sporadic lymphocytosis in the breed indicates the value of this kind of analysis and may be evidence that Fell foal immunodeficiency is associated with retroviral infection.
Publication Date: 2002-06-19 PubMed ID: 12070803DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-165x.2000.tb00408.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study examines a disease similar to acquired immunodeficiency in British Fell pony foals characterized by anemia, using statistical methods to determine associations with breed origin and presence of disease. Key findings include the significant association of hematocrit levels with the disease, and serum albumin concentration and lymphocyte count with Fell breed origin.
Research Context and Aims
- This research takes place within the context of Fell pony foals, which have been found to exhibit a condition similar to acquired immunodeficiency, routinely characterized by anemia. The exact origin and progression of this disease remains unclear.
- The main goal of the study was to leverage the power of statistical analysis, notably discriminant and multiple regression analyses, to unravel any potential associations between clinical pathology parameters from the foals and (1) their breed origin and (2) the presence of the disease.
Methods and Results
- A total of 322 foals composed the subject group for the study, of which 164 were of the Fell breed and 12 were affected by the disease. All clinical pathology parameters from these foals were subjected to statistical tests to find any significant correlations.
- The findings revealed that hematocrit levels, a measure of red blood cell concentration in blood, showed a significant association with the presence of the disease.
- Other clinical parameters demonstrated strong correlations with the Fell breed origin, specifically the serum albumin concentration and lymphocyte count.
Significance and Implications
- The study signifies the utility of statistical analyses in uncovering meaningful patterns in disease research. This approach revealed unforeseen connections in the Fell pony breed, such as the sporadic occurrence of lymphocytosis, an increase in the number of lymphocytes in the blood.
- This unexpected discovery suggests that the immune deficiency in the Fell foal may be linked to a retroviral infection, thereby indicating a new perspective for further investigation into the cause and management of the disease.
- More research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms of this health condition and to confirm the potential link to retroviral infection.
Cite This Article
APA
Dixon JB, Savage M, Wattret A, Taylor P, Ross G, Carter SD, Kelly DF, Haywood S, Phythian C, Macintyre AR, Bell SC, Knottenbelt DC, Green JR.
(2002).
Discriminant and multiple regression analysis of anemia and opportunistic infection in Fell pony foals.
Vet Clin Pathol, 29(3), 84-86.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-165x.2000.tb00408.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK. daysman@liverpool.ac.uk
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Fox-Clipsham LY, Carter SD, Goodhead I, Hall N, Knottenbelt DC, May PD, Ollier WE, Swinburne JE. Identification of a mutation associated with fatal Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome in the Fell and Dales pony. PLoS Genet 2011 Jul;7(7):e1002133.
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