Changes in lymphocyte function and subsets in dogs with naturally occurring chronic renal failure.

Chronic renal failure (CRF) causes immunosuppresion in humans and is thought to be one of the causes of noninfectious secondary immunosuppression in dogs. Hematological, biochemical, and immunological examinations were performed on blood samples obtained from dogs in various stages of CRF. The number of dogs with lymphopenia increased with the progression of clinical signs. All main subsets of lymphocytes were decreased, but more considerable reduction was detected in B-cells, Tc-cells, and NK cells. Depressed lymphocyte response to concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen was found in dogs with severe clinical signs and lymphopenia. Our results, showing impaired immunological functions, are similar to results obtained from uremic humans, suggesting that infection may be an important complication in dogs with CRF.

Feline exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: 16 cases (1992-2007).

Medical records of 16 cats diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) were reviewed. The diagnosis was confirmed with either a serum feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI) concentration

Evaluation for immune system failures in horses and ponies.

Between January 1973 and September 1979, 2,092 horses and ponies were evaluated for immunologic disorders. A total of 418 abnormalities were detected in 416 (20%) of the animals tested. Disorders encountered were failure or partial failure of colostral immunoglobulin transfer from mare to foal (228 cases), combined immunodeficiency (159 cases), selective immunoglobulin M deficiency (19 cases), agammaglobulinemia (3 cases), transient hypogammaglobulinemia (2 cases), and lymphosarcoma (7 cases). Four conclusions were drawn from the study. (1) Immunologic abnormalities occur commonly in horses and ponies. (2) Failure and partial failure of passive transfer were the most common disorders, involving 19.7% of surveyed foals at risk. (3) Combined immunodeficiency remains a disease limited to Arabian horses. (4) Considering the high frequency of immunologic disorders in horses and the availability of diagnostic tests for the disorders, older animals with recurrent infections as well as all newborn foals should be evaluated for immune disorders.

Combined immunodeficiency with failure of colostral immunoglobulins transfer in foals.

Foals with combined immunodeficiency (CID), a fatal genetic defect in the production of both B and T lymphocytes, are born without immunoglobulins and are unable to synthesise them. CID foals receiving immunoglobulins via the dam's colostrum may live up to four months of age. Those CID foals with failure of passive transfer (FPT) die at a much earlier age. The occurrence of CID is of value in studying passive transfer of immunoglobulins, as no confusion exists as to when passive transfer ends and active synthesis of immunoglobulins begins. A high correlation has been found between early foal disease and deaths and lack of passive transfer of immunoglobulins, even though many of these foals appear to nurse normally during the first few hours post partum. Evaluation of immunoglobulin levels in 24 hour post suckle samples would prove of value not only in diagnosing CID foals, but in recognising FPT in otherwise normal foals.