Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Common variable immunodeficiency in three horses with presumptive bacterial meningitis.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 2005
- Authors:
- Pellegrini-Masini, Alessandra et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Studies · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Three adult horses were examined because they showed signs of pain in their muscles and joints, low energy, unsteady movements, and seizures. They were diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, which is a rare infection of the brain and spinal cord in horses that usually occurs after severe illness or injury. To understand why this happened, tests were done to check their immune systems, revealing that all three horses had low levels of certain immune cells and antibodies. This led to a diagnosis of common variable immunodeficiency, which means their immune systems were not functioning properly. The treatment and management details were not specified, but the diagnosis indicates a serious underlying issue with their immune health.
Abstract
Three adult horses were evaluated for signs of musculoskeletal pain, dullness, ataxia, and seizures. A diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was made on the basis of results of CSF analysis. Because primary bacterial meningitis is so rare in adult horses without any history of generalized sepsis or trauma, immune function testing was pursued. Flow cytometric phenotyping of peripheral blood lymphocytes was performed, and proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes in response to concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, and lipopolysaccharide was determined. Serum IgA, IgM, and IgG concentrations were measured by means of radial immunodiffusion, and serum concentrations of IgG isotypes were assessed with a capture antibody ELISA. Serum tetanus antibody concentrations were measured before and 1 month after tetanus toxoid administration. Phagocytosis and oxidative burst activity of isolated peripheral blood phagocytes were evaluated by means of simultaneous flow cytometric analysis. Persistent B-cell lymphopenia, hypogammaglobulinemia, and abnormal in vitro responses to mitogens were detected in all 3 horses, and a diagnosis of common variable immunodeficiency was made.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16013546/