What is an allergy?
Over-reaction of the immune system to a harmless antigen (allergens)
How are hypersensitivity reactions grouped?
Grouped into four types according to the effector mechanism responsible for producing the reaction
Type I
Binding of antigen to surface IgE, primarily on mast cells. Degranulation causes the release of inflammatory mediators
Type II
Small molecules binding to cell surface components modify the antigenicity of the molecule rendering them immunogenic. B cell response to the antigen destroys the cell
Type III
Soluble protein antigens bind to immunoglobulin forming immune complexes. These complexes deposit on small blood vessels triggering complement cascade and inflammation
Type IV
Antigen-specific effector T cell
Type 1 hypersensitivity - what is the antigen, what is the effector mechanism and reaction
Antigen = soluble antigen
Effector mechanism = mast cell degranulation
Reaction = Allergic rhinitis, asthma, systemic anaphylaxis
FceRI
Expressed constitutively on mast cells/basophils induced on activated eosinophils binds IgE in the absence of antigen
What are allergic reactions mediated by
H1 receptors on smooth muscle and endothelial cell
What are histamines derived from
histidines
What receptors do histamines bind to
H1, H2 and H3
What is the purpose of a histamine?
Increase permeability/edema, smooth muscle contraction
How is an invading parasite attacked and expelled from the host?
By breaking down the ECM proteins allowing invasion by leukocytes - enables the leukocytes to attack the parasite
What type of hypersensitivity is Asthma/allergic Rhinitis
Type I
What is Asthma/allergic rhinitis
Reaction to an inhaled allergen such as pollen, house dust mite, dander
What are 20% of the allergies in North America against?
Cysteine protease of D. pteronissimus
Wheal and flare
(a reaction) rash or hives (irregular, blanch raised areas with redness)
-Local urticarial reaction (hives!)
How does anaphylaxis present in felines?
Coughing, dyspnea (respiratory), vomiting and diarrhea (GI)
-Common sources of allergens = house dust mites, fleas
-Presentation = atopic dermatitis
Common allergies in equine
Sweet itch = allergy to culicoides (midge bite)
Heaves = respiratory manifestation of allergy to mold ex: aspergillum fumigates, alternaria tenuis
Sweet Itch
Equine
-Summer seasonal recurrent dermatitis - allergy to the saliva of biting insects such as culicoides (midge), sand flies and black flies
How does sweet itch manifest
Intense itching (pruitis) local hair loss (alopecia) and a thickening and ridging of the skin in the affected area
Heaves
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
-Respiratory manifestation of allergy to mold ex: aspergillum fumigates, alternaria tenuis
Type II hyper sensitivity antigen
Altered cell surface component
Type II hypersensitivity effector mechanisms
IgG binds to novel antigen which triggers the complement cascade
-FcR targets leukocytes
-IgG binds to cell surface receptor (autoimmunity)
Type II hypersensitivity reaction
Hemolytic anemia, autoimmunity
Haptenisation
The reaction of an antigenic compound (a hapten) with a carrier protein in order to stimulate an immune response.
-Drug modification of a protein antigen
-Penicillin derivatives - anemia
Neonatal isoerythrolysis
Ex: Foal's red blood cells are destroyed by antibodies in the mare's colostrum
Ex: Cats - kitten with blood group A or AB is born to a B mother
-All type B cats have high titer anti -A IgM
-Is rare in canines, spontaneously arising alloantibodies are infrequent
Clinical signs of neonatal isoerythrolysis in cats
Hemolytic anemia, jaundice, hemoglobinuria, weakness, lethargy
Hyperacute graft rejection
Immediate and rare
Preexisting antibody to the antigens of the graft
-Rhesus D reaction
What do A erythrocytes express on gangliosides
N-Glycolyl neuraminic acid
What do B erythrocytes express
N-acetyl neuraminic acid
AB erythrocytes express both ______ and _______
N-glycolyl neuraminic acid and N-acetyl neuraminic acid
Cats with B blood group lack the _____ enzyme that converts _____ to _______
Hydroxylase, acetyl to glycolyl
How to treat neonatal isoerythrolysis in cats
Blood type and prevent exposure to colostrum - Type A foster queen or milk replacement
Type III hypersensitivity antigen
Soluble antigen
Type III Hypersensitivity effector mechanisms
Immune complexes, complement, phagocytes
Type III hypersensitivity reaction
Arthus reaction (ex: to a tetanus vaccine), serum sickness (to drugs or antitoxins), Farmer's lung (hypersensitivity pneumonitis)
Type III hypersensitivity high dose antigen
vasculitis, nephritis, arthritis
Type III hypersensitivity Subcutaneous antigen
Arthus reaction
Type III hypersensitivity inhaled antigen
Famer's lung
What is an example of an infectious disease with an immune complex component and an example of one with autoimmune conditions?
Immune complex component = feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)
Autoimmune = Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Type IV hypersensitivity antigen
Cell associated antigen
Type IV hypersensitivity effector mechanism
macrophages, eosinophils, CTLs
Type IV hypersensitivity reaction
chronic asthma, allergic rhinitis, contact dermatitis, tuberculin reaction
Type IV hypersensitivity is synonymous with what kind of reaction? What does it consist of? Example?
Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), occurs 1-3 days after antigen exposure
ex: tuberculin reaction = small amount of protein extract from m.tuberculuosis is infected subcutaneously - if immune M. tuberculosis proteins are processed, used to stimulate Th cells with then promote a local inflammatory response recruiting leukocytes at the site of injection
(other examples : nickel allergy, poison ivy)
Atopic dermatitis in canines and felines
Type I hypersensitivity reaction to allergens: dust mite (dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) , flour mite (dermatophagoides farinae) or saliva of flea (ctenocephalides felis)
Treatment for atopic dermatitis
Identify allergen, prevent further exposure to allergen
-Hyposensitization may be a good treatment for house dust mites
Immunodeficiency results from
A defect at any stage of the immune response
Are congenital immunodeficiencies rare?
Yes, many are X-linked and more common in males
Complement deficiency - C3 example
Autosomal recessive - single base pair deletion in the C3 gene
-Brittany spaniels had increased susceptibility to bacterial infection
Inherited IgA deficiency
secreted immunoglobulin resistant to proteolytic degradation
secretory component mediates transport across epithelial surfaces
high affinity receptor on monocytes and neutrophils
What condition in Irish setters is a deficiency of b-chain LFA-1 and what does it cause?
LAD (Leukocyte adhesion deficiency)
-There is an absence of a functional LFA molecule - prevents adhesion of granulocytes to the endothelium - no migration!
Secondary immunodeficiency following drug treatment
Corticosteriods - anti-inflammatory agent
Increased production of IkBa - binds transcription factor NFkB preventing it from entering the nucleus and enhancing cytokine gene expression
Cyclosporin A (secondary immunodeficiency following drug treatment)
Inhibits T cell activation by disrupting the transduction of signals from the T cell receptor
Cancer (secondary immunodeficiency following drug treatment)
Affects rapidly dividing cells in the gut and bone marrow - causes immunosuppression
-WBC count should be monitored
immunodeficiency in response to viral infection - Lentiviruses (FIV, HIV,)
T helper cell depletion
immunodeficiency in response to viral infection - FeLV
Thymic atrophy
immunodeficiency in response to viral infection - distemper, parvo
Transient lymphocytolysis
immunodeficiency in response to viral infection- parasite infection
Generalized immunosuppression
Neonatal isoerythrolysis - foals
Foal's red blood cells are destroyed by antibodies in the mare's colostrum
Inflammation
A complex, regulated yet non-specific response to physical/chemical injury or biological agent
tumor, rubor, calor, dolor, functio laesa
The signs of inflammation in spanish; swelling, redness, heat, pain, loss of function
What are some of the benefits of inflammation?
-Dilution/inactivation of pathogens and toxins
-Killing pathogens/foreign materials/Necrotic tissue/neoplastic cells
-Wound healing factors
-Restrict movement for healing
-Increase temp to induce vasodilation and inhibit replication of pathogens
What are some of the disadvantages of inflammation
-Collateral damage
-Excessive and/or prolonged inflammatory response can cause problems (IBD, Johne's disease, pemphigus, lupus, anaphylaxis, glomerulonephritis)
-Anti inflammatory meds
What suffix means inflammation?
-itis
Inflammation of the skin
Dermatitis
Inflammation of the kidney
Nephritis