The distribution of leptospires in the kidney tubules of some British wild mammals.
Histological examination of 69 pairs of infected kidneys from 12 species of Rodentia, Lagomorpha, Carnivora and Insectivora revealed that leptospires were confined mainly to the proximal and distal convoluted tubule, were less often found in the thick loop of Henle and only rarely in the collecting duct. On no occasion were the organisms present in the thin loop of Henle. Preliminary observations on the relationship of leptospires to tubule epithelium indicate some degree of physical attachment. It is suggested that the avoidance of the thin loop of Henle might be a reflection of its structural properties.
Department of Zoology, Royal Holloway College, Egham, Surrey, UK.
G I
GI
Twigg
P J
PJ
Cox
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000382:microbiology*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007919:Leptospira / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008138:Loop of Henle / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology