NEUTROPHIL FUNCTION AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN HOLSTEIN CALVES WITHLEUKOCYTE ADHESION DEFICIENCY

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency was diagnosed in 4 Holstein calves from 1 to 4 months old. Calves had severe ulcers on oral mucous membranes, gingivitis, severe periodontitis, chronic pneumonia, and stunted growt h associated with severe neutrophilia. Neutrophils from affected calve s had function defect, characterized by severely decreased adherence, chemotactic movements, phagocytosis, luminol-dependent chemiluminescen t response, and O2--producing activities. Deficient CD18 expression (0 .1 to 1.7%) on neutrophils was clearly detected by use of flow cytomet ric analysis. These affected calves were linked to a common ancestral sire that has been documented to be a carrier. Clinical features, leuk ocyte functional abnormalities, deficient expression of CD18, and mode of inheritance indicated that affected calves had leukocyte adhesion deficiency. In vitro leukocyte functional abnormalities were associate d with deficiency in the expression of CD11/CD18. Pathologic findings indicated possible increased susceptibility to infection associated wi th this disease.