Total plasma corticosteroid concentrations in horses with combined immunodeficiency

Plasma corticosteroid concentrations of seven Arabian foals with combined immunodeficiency (CID) and five non-CID Arabian foals were measured. Plasma corticosteroid concentrations were quantitated throughout gestation for ten mares heterozygous for the CID trait and pregnant with CID foals, as well as for 20 mares heterozygous for the CID trait and pregnant with non-CID foals. Five nonpregnant mares heterozygous for the CID trait also were tested during the same period. Concentrations of plasma corticosteroids in foals with CID (34.4 +/- 5.2 ng/ml) were not different from those of non-CID foals (37.6 +/- 8.4 ng/ml). Significant differences in corticosteroid concentrations were not detected between mares pregnant with CID foals (61.5 +/- 16.4 ng/ml) and mares pregnant with non-CID foals (61.5 +/- 12.& ng/ml) or between pregnant mares and nonpregnant mares (77.9 +/- 10.7 ng/ml).