Immunodeficiency in Weimaraners by DR GUILLERMO COUTO
Acknowledgement to the following article is given to the author, Dr G. Couto and the Weimaraner Club of America.
The following is a summary of an article, which appeared in the W.C.A. magazine. (The summary was sent to W.C.A. by Weimaraner Club of the Washington D.C. Area).
Dr Couto has discovered a disturbing problem in Weimaraners, an immune system deficiency similar to Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD), which is seen in children. It may be similar to the human Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
SYMPTOMS AND LABORATORY CHANGES INCLUDE:
- High white blood cell count - normal is 6,000 to 14,000 Affected Weimaraners showed 20,000 to 45,000 some as high as 95,000
- Low levels of gamma globulins - antibody fraction
- Abnormal white blood cell function - fever Temperatures have been observed slightly over 106, off the top of many thermometers. Quick, sharp strikes have been observed with a fever over 105 following normal temperatures by only two hours.
- Diarrhoea
- Skin infections - especially Staphylococcus Aureus
- Demodexicosis - as an apparent result of depressed T-cell function
- Pneumonia
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD)
- Polyarthritis - joint inflammation
- Enlarged spleen - some times as much as 600% Blood symptoms, coupled with three or more of the physical manifestations listed above seem to be indicative of the syndrome.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS:
- Most dogs have REPEATED EPISODES with 3 weeks to 3 months between episodes
- Most symptoms STARTED AFTER WEANING/VACCINATING
- Some evidenced WORSENING AFTER VACCINATING
- Most with SEVERE SYSTEMIC SYMPTOMS were males
- Most with SKIN INFECTIONS/DEMODEX were female
- Four of the affected males had RETAINED TESTICLES
- Response to VITAMIN C/CORTIZONE-TYPE ANTIBIOTIC documented
- EARLIEST EPISODES at weaning/vaccinating of pups
- LATEST KNOW FIRST EPISODE at 14 months
- RIGHT SIDE HEART ENLARGEMENT has been observed
- No known cases where all in a litter were affected. In a few cases 2-3 in a litter were affected
- Response seen to IMMUNOMODULATORY TREATMENT
- EVERY WEIMARANER TESTED healthy or affected has evidenced depressed white cell function with readings below 115. No non-Weimaraner control was seen below 115. Many Weimaraners range from 60-70
- E-ray exam showed many with INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNG TISSUE (Pneumonia) but without clinical signs of pneumonia
- DISEASE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE CONTAGIOUS
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