Bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD) is an autosomal recessive hereditary disease affecting young Holstein calves. The disease is characterized by the lack of leukocyte defence that is present in healthy animals. The first clinical signs appear in 1-2 weeks old calves. Affected animals show signs of recurrent bacterial infections, pneumonia, diarrhoea, enteritis, ulcerative and granulous stomatitis and usually die in the first year of life. Laboratory findings can show mature neutrophilia, lymphocytosis, monocytosis and low creatinine.

Inheritance: autosomal recessive - read more

Mutation: ITGB2 gene

Disease control: read more

DNA test sample: EDTA whole blood (1.0 ml), buccal swabs, hair, semen.