Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease (SCID)

Severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) is a serious genetic immunodeficiency disorder, which can cause an early mortality rate in young dogs, because of impaired immune response to infections. The disease is associated with extremely low levels of immunoglobulins and lymphocytes, the consequence of arrested B and T lymphocyte development. Clinical signs of affected dogs include immunodeficiency, lymphopenia and lymphoid hypoplasia, retarded growth, diarrhoea, lethargy, eye and ear infections, vomiting, inability to gain wight or weight loss. Affected puppies die of opportunistic infections at age of 8 to 12 weeks. The disease was described in several different dog breeds, but in each breed is caused by a distinct causative mutation.

Inheritance: autosomal recessive

Mutation: RAG1 gene

Genetic test: The method used for genetic testing is extremely accurate and allows complete differentiation between affected animals, carriers and healthy dogs. DNA testing can be done at any age.