Immunodeficiencies - WikiBlood

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Introduction

Immunodeficiency Diagram - Copyright nabrown RVC

Like any system in the body the immune system can go wrong. Autoimmunity is when the immune system begins to attack itself. Immunodeficiency is when the immune system fails to protect itself from disease.

If the immunodeficient defect is present at birth and is therefore a result of a genetic or developmental abnormality, it is called a primary immunodeficiency.

Secondary immunodeficiency, sometimes called aquired immunodeficiency, is the loss of immune function during life, caused by exposure to harmful agents.

Immunodeficiencies can be treated by the replacement of the defective or missing protein, cells or gene. However, in veterinary medicine, vaccinations and drugs are the most common treatments for immunodeficiency.

Primary Immunodeficiency

• Primary immunodeficiencies may affect either the innate immune system or the adaptive immune system
• They are categorised by either the type or the developmental stage of the cells involved
• Lymphoid cell disorders affect T cells or B cells (or both)
• Myeloid cell disorders affect phagocytic function
• The severity of the immunodeficiency depends on at which stage in development the problem occurs
  • E.g. Defects early on in development will affect the entire immune system
• T cell deficiencies can affect both the cell-mediated and humoral response as T cells play a central role in the immune system

Deficiencies of Innate Immunity

Appearance of a puppy with Grey Collie syndrome - Copyright Michelle Tennis & Peggy Melton

Canine Cyclic Haematopoiesis

• Also called Grey Collie Syndrome
• Autosomal recessive
• Insertion mutation in AP3B1 gene
• Diluted grey coat colour, stunted growth, poor wound healing
• Neutropenia every 2 weeks which lasts 3-4 days due to cyclic production of cells from bone marrow
• Animals are prone to recurrent infections, mainly from the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract
  • E.g. pyrexia, diarrhoea, gingivitis and arthritis
• Puppies can be distinguised from other litter mates by the diluted grey collouring
• Affected puppies show symptoms such as fever, joint pain and eye, skin and respiratory infections from 8 weeks of age
• Affected animals rarely live beyond 2-3 years with most puppies dying withing a few weeks of birth

Canine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency (CLAD)

• Occurs in Irish Setters
• Missence mutation of -Cys-36-Ser- in CD18 molecule
  • CD18 is required for neutrophil migration and phagocytosis
• Recurrent bacterial infection
• Neutrophilia (neutrophils remain in the blood and are unable to fight infection in the tissue)

Bovine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency (BLAD)

• Occurs in Holstein cattle
• Missence mutation of -Asp-128-Gly in CD18 molecule
• Recurrent infection, e.g. pneumonia

Deficiencies of Adaptive Immunity

Equine Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (Equine SCID)

• Autosomal recessive
• Occurs in 2-3% of Arabian foals
• Defect in DNA-dependent protein kinase gene
  • Gene codes for a DNA repair enzyme involved in V(D)J recombination for antigen receptors of lymphocytes (e.g. Ig and TCR)
• No functional B cells or T cells
• Foals develop infections (usually aorund 8 weeks of age as maternal antibody in colostrum wanes around this time)
• Foals usually die from bronchopneumonia

Canine X-Linked Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (Canine SCID)

• Affects Basset Hounds and Corgis
• X-linked recessive defect in the gene conding for the IL-2 receptor
  • IL-2 receptor is a receptor for the cytokine IL-2 which causes T cells to proliferate
• Causes lymphoid hypoplasia, stunted growth and increases the animal's susceptibility to infection
• Animal usually dies from pneumonia or sepsis as the level of maternal antibody decreases

Selective IgA deficiency of German Shepherd Dogs

• Poorly understood
• Linked to other disease syndromes such as deep pyoderma, inflammatory bowel disease, anal furunculosis and disseminated aspergillosis
• IgA deficiency so more susceptible to mucosal disease

Immunodeficiency of Weimaraners, Irish Wolfhounds and Miniature Dachshunds

• Unknown aetiology
• Inherited defects
• Low levels of circulating IgM and IgG
• Impaired neutrophil function
• Causes recurrent pyrexia and infections
  • E.g. Rhinitis and bronchopneumonia in Irish Wolfhounds due to low IgA
  • E.g. Pneumocytosis in Miniature Dachshunds due to low IgG

Labatory Examples of Severe Combined Deficiency

• Severe Combined Immune Deficiency(SCID)
  • No functional B cells or T cells

• Athymic nude mice (no thymus)
  • No functional T cells
  • Cell-mediated immunodeficiency

• Knock-out mice
  • E.g. Gene coding for CD4, CD8, IL-10 removed

Secondary Immunodeficiency

• There are many causes of secondary immunodeficiency
  • Most deficiencies are not genetic
  • Most are agent-induced, such as from X-ray radiation and immunosuppressive drugs

Viral Causes

Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV)

FeLV Electron Micrograph Public Health Image Library Image #5610

• Oncogenic retrovirus
• Causes neoplasia (lymphoma), myelosuppression (anaemia) and immunosuppression (of T cells)
• 2 strains:
  • FeLV-A
    • Natural strain
  • FeLV-B
    • Formed through FeLV-A recombining with endogenous retroviral sequences in the feline genome
    • Increases the risks of lymphoma
  • FeLV-C
    • Formed from the spontaneous mutation of FeLV-A
    • Is more myelosuppressive
• Virus replicates in the oropharyngeal lymphoid tissue causing a viraemia (virus circulating in the bloodstream) which then spreads to the systemic lymphoid tissue
• Shed in saliva
• Passed by oronasal route, e.g. mutual grooming
• Kittens between 6 weeks and 6 months are most susceptible
• 60% of cats will become immune to the disease and recover
• Cats that are persistantly viraemic will progress to develop FeLV-associated diseases
• Some cats will become viraemic again if treated with corticosteroids or stressed if the infection lies dormant in the bone marrow
• Diagnosis:
  • ELISA
  • Rapid-Immuno-Migration
  • Western Blot
  • Virus Isolation
  • Immunofluorescence
  • PCR
• Treatment:
  • Antibiotics for secondary infection
  • Anti-retroviral therapy
• For vaccinations see here

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

• Lentivirus
• Subtypes A, B and D
• Causes increased suscepitbilty to infections and neoplasia
• Specifically destroys CD4+ T cells
• Virus is present in saliva, blood and other bodily fluids
• Feral and outdoor cats (mostly tom cats) are most at risk
• Virus replicates in lymphoid tissue
• Can remain asymptomatic
• Causes pyrexia and lymphadenopathy
• Transmitted by biting
• Diagnosis:
  • ELISA
  • Rapid-Immuno-Migration
  • Western Blot
  • Virus Isolation
  • Immunofluorescence
  • PCR
• Treatment:
  • Antibiotics for secondary infection
  • Anti-retroviral therapy
• For vaccinations see here

Bovine Immunodeficiency Virus (BIV)

• Lentivirus (non-oncogenic)
• Causes a persistent viral infection and lymphocytosis
• Immunocompromised cattle may develop secondary infections
• The tranmission is not well known, but the following possibilities are being researched:
  • Through milk
  • Through infected semen (e.g.artificial insemination)
  • Placental transfer
• Diagnosis:
  • Western Blot
  • PCR

Toxic Causes

• Poisons

Iatrogenic Causes

• Drugs
  • Corticosteroids
  • Ciclosporin
  • Cytoxic cancer therapy

Other Causes

• Malnutrition

• Chronic disease

• Stress

• Senescence

Links

• Collie Syndrome Information on Grey Collie Syndrome including new research into treating the condition and a clinical example

• Viruses - WikiBugs

• Innate Immune System - WikiBlood

• Adaptive Immune System - WikiBlood

References

• Ivan Roitt: Essential Immunology, Ninth edition

• Goldsby, Kindt, & Osbourne KUBY Immunology, Fourth edition

• Dr Brian Catchpole BVetMed PhD MRCVS

Creators

Natalie Brown