Leukocyte function in Pelger-Huët anomaly of dogs.

Leukocyte function was evaluated in five dogs with Pelger-Huët (P-H) anomaly and in five control dogs. No significant differences were found between groups in neutrophil adherence, random movement, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, or bacterial killing of Staphylococcus intermedius. Neutrophils migrated rapidly into inflammatory sites where progressive nuclear lobulation was noted over time. Antibody titers to exogenous antigens were similar in the P-H and control groups indicating B- and T-lymphocyte cooperation in humoral immunity. Lymphocyte blastogenesis to phytohemagglutinin also was similar in both groups suggesting the presence of a responsive T-lymphocyte population. These findings indicate that no apparent predisposition to infection or immunodeficiency exists in dogs with P-H anomaly.