Urine sediment from a Chihuahua.
A 6-year-old, intact male Chihuahua was presented with stranguria and painful urination of 5 days duration. Cystine crystals were observed in low numbers in unstained urine sediment preparations, and a diagnosis of cystinuria was made. Uroliths were removed surgically from the urethra and the bladder, and mineral analysis indicated the stones were composed of 100% cystine. Cystinuria results from an inherited defect in renal tubular transport of cystine that affects many breeds and has been found as an autosomal recessive trait in Newfoundlands. Accurate identification of cystine crystals in urine is an important means of diagnosing cystinuria.
Pallatto
Valarie
V
Department of Population Health, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, USA. valarie_pallatto@ncsu.edu
Wood
Michael
M
Grindem
Carol
C
D000818:Animals; D003460:Crystallization; D003553:Cystine / Q000032:analysis; D003555:Cystinuria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D004285:Dogs; D008297:Male; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000662:veterinary*; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary*
D003553:Cystine