Rhinitis/bronchopneumonia syndrome in Irish wolfhounds

This study describes the clinical, immunologic, genetic, and pathologic features of Irish Wolfhounds with rhinitis/bronchopneumonia syndrome. The dogs examined were from Belgium, The Netherlands, UK, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland. Signs included transient to persistent mucoid or mucopurulent rhinorrhea, cough, and respiratory dyspnea. Radiographic, rhinoscopic, and bronchoscopic findings were variable. Analysis of ciliary ultrastructure was performed in 5 affected dogs, but no characteristic primary ciliary defects (primary ciliary dyskinesia) were detected. Serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) concentrations of IgA, IgG, and IgM were determined in some affected dogs and clinically normal Irish Wolfhounds. Serum IgA concentration was below the reference range in 5 of 8 affected dogs tested, whereas BALF IgA concentration was above the normal range in 2 affected adult dogs. The CD4 to CD8 lymphocyte subset ratio (CD4: CD8) in peripheral blood was tested in 3 affected dogs and was within the normal range. BALF CD4: CD8 was tested in I affected dog and was higher than the normal range. Decreased neutrophil phagocytosis was observed in I of the 4 dogs tested. Analysis of pedigrees of the Belgian, Canadian, German, and Swiss dogs revealed common ancestry, suggesting a heritable syndrome.