Immunodeficiency

Question 1

What is immunodeficiency?

Answer 1

The failure of the immune system to respond to threats
* Frequently manifests clinically with recurrent opportunistic infections
* Can affect specific (adaptive) or nonspecific (innate) immunity
* Defects in CD4+ T cells will affect antibody production

Question 2

What is primary immunodeficiency?

Answer 2

• Most are congenital or genetic defects
• Defect is present at birth but may not manifest immediately
• Failure to thrive and susceptible to recurrent infections
• The type of infections can give a clue to the nature of the defect

Question 3

What is secondary immunodeficiency?

Answer 3

• Acquired loss of function due to infection, aging, malnutrition, chemotherapy,
  radiation, immunosuppressive therapy, etc.
• More common than primary immunodeficiency

Question 4

What is SCID?

Answer 4

Deficiency in B cells- and or cell mediated immunity (T-Cells)

Question 5

What is agammaglobulinaemia?

Answer 5

• Absence of mature B cells and plasma cells (no immunoglobulins)
• Thoroughbred, quarter horse,standardbred
• Prone to bacterial infections
• All reported cases male; possibly X-linked

Question 6

What is leukocyte adhesion deficiency?

Answer 6

Defect in the migration of leukocytes into the sites of inflammation -> leukocytosis