Chapter 21 Immunodeficiencies Flashcards
What is immunodeficiency?
A rare disorder of the immune system that results in failure to build protection against pathogens and predisposes to recurrent or fatal infections.
What clinical manifestations should alert for the possibility of an immunodeficiency disorder?
Recurrent fevers and infections.
What are common clinical signs of immunodeficiency?
Fever, inflammatory blood work, system-related inflammatory signs, recurrent pneumonia, sinus infections, pyodermatitis, deep skin or organ abscesses, meningitis, osteomyelitis, prolonged antibiotic therapy, opportunistic infections, failure to gain weight, and familial history of immunodeficiency.
What types of infections are most common in immunodeficient horses?
Bacterial infections.
What might accompany immunodeficiency reflecting an imbalance of the immune system?
Autoimmunity and neoplasia.
What are primary immunodeficiencies?
Congenital processes associated with a genetic hereditary defect, often manifesting in young horses.
What are secondary immunodeficiencies?
Acquired disruptions in immune function due to conditions like immunosuppressive treatment, infectious diseases, cancer, metabolic/endocrine diseases, age, and nutritional deficiencies.
What are the five groups of immunodeficiencies based on affected immune system components?
Humoral disorders (B cell deficiency), cytotoxic and helper cell deficiencies (T cell deficiency), combined B and T cell deficiencies, phagocytic deficiency, and complement deficiency.
What is transient hypogammaglobulinemia of the young?
A delay in endogenous immunoglobulin production by foals, resulting in susceptibility to bacterial infections.
What are typical clinical signs of transient hypogammaglobulinemia in foals?
Recurrent infections at 2-3 months of age, requiring antibiotic therapy.
What is agammaglobulinemia in horses?
A very rare and fatal immunodeficiency caused by failure in B lymphopoiesis, leading to impaired immunoglobulin production.
What is selective IgM deficiency?
A condition where serum IgM concentration is significantly below normal, affecting foals and sometimes adults, leading to recurrent infections.
What is selective IgA deficiency?
A common primary immunodeficiency in humans, often asymptomatic, with a possible higher incidence in certain horse cohorts like endurance horses.
What is Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome (FIS)?
An inheritable and fatal condition characterized by profound anemia and septicemia in breeds like the Fell Pony and Dales Pony.
What is common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) in horses?
A rare, late-onset, fatal immunologic disorder of B cell depletion and inadequate antibody production, manifesting in adult horses.
What are common clinical signs of CVID?
Recurrent infections, pneumonia, sinusitis, meningitis, abnormal gait, peritonitis, gingivitis, weight loss, muscle atrophy, and low serum IgG concentrations.
What is the role of plasma transfusions in managing humoral deficiencies in horses?
They help through life-threatening infectious phases, particularly in foals with transient immunodeficiencies.
What is severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)?
An autosomal recessive hereditary condition affecting B and T cell development in Arabian foals, leading to severe immunodeficiency.
What is the typical lifespan of SCID foals?
They generally die before five months of age due to severe respiratory infections.