Canine necrotizing encephalitis associated with anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis.
A 2-year-old male West Highland white terrier with a 4-month history of seizures was referred for investigation. Depressed mentation, proprioceptive deficit and decreased menace response were noted at neurological examination. Post-mortem examination of the brain revealed multifocal lesions located principally in the left side of the diencephalon and mesencephalon. The lesions consisted of non-suppurative inflammation and large areas of cavitation. The clinical evaluation and histopathological findings were consistent with a diagnosis of necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME). Immunofluorescence performed on frozen sections of kidney revealed strong smooth linear labelling of the glomerular basement membrane with anti-IgG serum as well as weaker linear labelling with anti-IgM serum. This histomorphological pattern was consistent with anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis. The association of this type of glomerulonephritis with a necrotizing encephalitis would support the hypothesis of an immune-mediated aetiology for NME.
Aresu
L
L
Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Via L. da Vinci 44-10095 Grugliasco, Torino, Italy. luca.aresu@unito.it <luca.aresu@unito.it>
D'Angelo
A
A
Zanatta
R
R
Valenza
F
F
Capucchio
M T
MT
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D050533:Glomerular Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*