Clinical Manifestations of Bovine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency

A Newly-Recognized, Inherited Disease of Holstein-Friesian Cattle

Abstract

Bovine granulocytopathy (now recognized as bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency or BLAD, a disease analogous to the human condition called leukocyte adhesion deficiency) was described in the U.S.A. in 1983 by Hagemoser et al.¹ These authors described a Holstein heifer with a disease complex characterized by a generalized increase in susceptibility to infectious agents over the two year lifespan of the heifer. They documented impaired neutrophil function in this animal, which had persistent circulating neutrophilia, but seemed unable to mount a peripheral inflammatory response. Neutrophils appeared structurally normal when examined by electron microscopy (there were no lysosomal inclusions characteristic of Chediak-Higashi syndrome), but random migration, bacterial ingestion, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction and iodination were depressed relative to normal controls. Antibody-dependent, cell-mediated cytotoxicity was not affected.