title: Common variable immunodeficiency in a horse.
abstract: A 12-year-old Quarter Horse mare that was nonresponsive to medical treatment was evaluated for chronic respiratory disease and hepatobiliary disease. Serum immunoglobulin concentrations were measured by use of radial immunodiffusion that revealed trace to nondetectable concentrations of IgG, IgG(T), IgM, and IgA. Use of serum protein electrophoresis confirmed agammaglobulinemia by the absence of the expected peak in the gamma region. In addition, vaccination with tetanus toxoid did not result in specific immunoglobulin production. Flow cytometric analysis of blood lymphocyte subpopulations revealed the absence of B cells in blood. Immunohistochemical analysis of tissue sections revealed the absence of B lymphocytes in bone marrow and spleen, with occasional B cells in the peripheral lymph nodes. Blood lymphocyte proliferation assays revealed weak responses to pokeweed mitogen and no response to stimulation with lipopolysaccharide. Considering the age and sex of the horse, results of the immunologic tests suggested a diagnosis of common variable immunodeficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: M Julia B F
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Flaminio
authors.forename: Veronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: LaCombe
authors.forename: Catherine W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.forename: Douglas F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Antczak
mesh_terms: D000361:Agammaglobulinemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D017074:Common Variable Immunodeficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006736:Horses; D017098:IgA Deficiency / Q000662:veterinary; D017099:IgG Deficiency / Q000662:veterinary; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000172:deficiency; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M