BOVINE LEUKOCYTE ADHESION DEFICIENCY CLINICAL COURSE AND LABORATORY FINDINGS IN 8 AFFECTED ANIMALS

The clinical course of Bovine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency (BLAD) in eight Holstein Friesian cattle is described. Affected animals were pre sented with a history of poor thriving and recurrent bacterial infecti ons. Five of these animals had to be killed because of severe respirat ory disease shortly after admittance. Three affected animals survived calfhood only as a result of frequent antibacterial treatments. At one year of age, failure to thrive and stunted growth were still evident, but infections requiring antibiotic treatments occurred only sporadic ally. Clinical manifestations of BLAD were found in the digestive syst em (gingivitis, periodontitis, alveolar periostitis, diarrhoea), the r espiratory system and the skin (impaired wound healing, chronic dermat itis). A leukocytosis based on a mature neutrophilia, which persisted during infection-free periods, was observed in all animals. Granulocyt es were substantially deficient of beta 2-integrin expression on their membranes. Anaemia, which was noted in four animals, may be related t o the Anaemia of Inflammatory Disease Complex (AID). The serum total p rotein content increased with time and was associated with elevated ga mma-globulin levels. We suggest that, at a certain age, animals affect ed with BLAB are able to cope with environmental agents due to compens atory mechanisms of the immune system.