title: Glomerular lesions in dogs infected with Leishmania organisms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To histologically identify glomerular lesions in dogs infected with Leishmania organisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  41 dogs (17 sexually intact males and 14 sexually intact and 10 ovariohysterectomized females) that had positive results when tested for leishmaniosis as determined by use of serologic evaluation (indirect fluorescent antibody test, titers of 1:80 to 1:640) and direct microscopic identification of the protozoal organisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urine samples were collected by use of cystocentesis and examined by qualitative SDS-agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE). All dogs had non-selective (glomerular) or mixed (glomerular and tubular) proteinemia. Specimens were obtained from each dog during ultrasound-assisted renal biopsy and used for histologic examination. Each specimen was stained with H&E, periodic acid-Schiff, Goldner's trichrome, methenamine silver, and Congo Red stains. Specimens were adequate for evaluation when they contained at least 5 glomeruli/section, except for specimens stained with Congo Red in which 1 glomerulus/section was adequate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Examination of renal biopsy specimens revealed various glomerular lesions in all dogs and interstitial or tubular (or both) lesions in 23 of 41 (55%) dogs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glomerular lesions that develop in dogs during infection with Leishmania organisms can be classified histologically as mesangial glomerulonephritis, membranous glomerulonephritis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and focal segmental glomerulonephritis. Tubulointerstitial histopathologic conditions were not observed as the primary lesion, despite being evident in 23 of 41 (55%) dogs. Use of SDS-AGE for qualitative evaluation of proteinuria and successive collection of specimens during renal biopsies following diagnosis of nonselective glomerular proteinuria provides the possibility for early identification of renal lesions.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Veterinaria Pirani, Via Majakowski, 2/N 42100 Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zatelli
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borgarelli
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santilli
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bonfanti
authors.forename: Evandro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nigrisoli
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zanatta
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tarducci
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guarraci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000652:urine; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000150:complications