Primary, severe, combined immunodeficiency disease of Arabian foals.
Abstract: Set in a context of immunodeficiency diseases in general this paper provides a brief, illustrated review of a primary, severe, combined immunodeficiency (PSCID) disease of Arabian foals. Affected foals are clinically normal at birth but beginning at about 10 days of age they develop a range of clinical signs particularly bronchopneumonia and diarrhoea with which adenoviruses are peculiarly associated. Despite intensive therapy foals invariably die by about 3 months of age. Affected foals are profoundly lymphopagenic (greater than 1000 lymphcoytes per mm3). There is thymic and lymph node hypoplasia and all lymphoid tissues are profoundly depleted of both T and B lymphocytes. The depletion of both T and B lymphocytes suggests that the primary defect is at the level of bone marrow stem cells which are the precursor cells for both lymphocyte populations. PSCID of Arabian foals is inherited as a simple, autosomal, recessive gene. Some 2 to 3% of all such foals may be born with PSCID, this frequency corresponds to a gene frequency of about 30% in parents. The syndrome is, therefore, an important cause of economic wastage. It also represents the only occurrence of the syndrome in an animal species other than man and as such has considerable comparative interest.
Publication Date: 1978-09-01 PubMed ID: 217327DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1978.tb05562.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article focuses on a primary, severe, combined immunodeficiency disease (PSCID) that affects Arabian foals, causing symptoms like bronchopneumonia and diarrhea, and leading to death by the age of about three months. This condition, inherited as a simple, autosomal, recessive gene, also has a considerable economic impact and comparative interest as it’s seen only in this animal species other than humans.
Understanding PSCID in Arabian Foals
- PSCID in Arabian foals is a serious disease that results in the foals being unable to mount a successful immune response against pathogens.
- Even though newborn foals do not show any signs of the disease, symptoms start to appear around 10 days after birth, particularly bronchopneumonia and diarrhea. Despite proper medical care, the foals usually pass away by around three months of age.
- Adenovirus infections are especially prevalent in foals with PSCID, further complicating their medical condition.
Biological Basis of Disease
- The disease is marked by an extreme deficiency of lymphocytes in the body of the affected foals, known as profound lymphopagenic condition.
- There is also hypoplasia (underdevelopment) of the thymus gland and lymph nodes, which are crucial components of the immune system. This directly results in a severe depletion of both T and B lymphocyte populations, vital for immunity.
- The shortage of both lymphocyte types hints that the primary defect lies with the bone marrow stem cells, which are precursor cells for these lymphocyte populations.
Genetic Background and Occurrence Rate
- The disease is caused by an autosomal recessive gene and has a high occurrence rate in Arabian foals. It is estimated that around 2 to 3% of all Arabian foals inherit PSCID, which corresponds to a parent gene frequency of around 30%.
- This indicates that PSCID in Arabian foals is not only a serious health concern but also a significant cause of economic losses in the horse breeding industry.
- Interestingly, PSCID in Arabian foals is the only known occurrence of the syndrome in an animal species outside of humans, making this a matter of comparative interest for scientists studying immunodeficiency diseases.
Cite This Article
APA
Studdert MJ.
(1978).
Primary, severe, combined immunodeficiency disease of Arabian foals.
Aust Vet J, 54(9), 411-417.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1978.tb05562.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Adenoviridae Infections / pathology
- Adenoviridae Infections / veterinary
- Animals
- Dysgammaglobulinemia / pathology
- Dysgammaglobulinemia / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Immunoglobulin M
- Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / genetics
- Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / pathology
- Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / veterinary
- Lymph Nodes / pathology
- Pancreas / pathology
- Pancreatitis / pathology
- Pancreatitis / veterinary
- Thymus Gland / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Brosnahan MM, Brooks SA, Antczak DF. Equine clinical genomics: A clinician's primer. Equine Vet J 2010 Oct;42(7):658-70.
- Julia M, Felippe B. Equine common variable immunodeficiency: lessons from 100 clinical cases. Equine Vet Educ 2024 Oct;36(10):543-554.
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