title: Outbreaks of renal failure associated with melamine and cyanuric acid in dogs and cats in 2004 and 2007.
abstract: Sixteen animals affected in 2 outbreaks of pet food-associated renal failure (2 dogs in 2004; 10 cats and 4 dogs in 2007) were evaluated for histopathologic, toxicologic, and clinicopathologic changes. All 16 animals had clinical and laboratory evidence of uremia, including anorexia, vomiting, lethargy, polyuria, azotemia, and hyperphosphatemia. Where measured, serum hepatic enzyme concentrations were normal in animals from both outbreaks. All animals died or were euthanized because of severe uremia. Distal tubular lesions were present in all 16 animals, and unique polarizable crystals with striations were present in distal tubules or collecting ducts in all animals. The proximal tubules were largely unaffected. Crystals and histologic appearance were identical in both outbreaks. A chronic pattern of histologic change, characterized by interstitial fibrosis and inflammation, was observed in some affected animals. Melamine and cyanuric acid were present in renal tissue from both outbreaks. These results indicate that the pet food-associated renal failure outbreaks in 2004 and 2007 share identical clinical, histologic, and toxicologic findings, providing compelling evidence that they share the same causation.
authors.affiliation: Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. cabrown@vet.uga.edu
authors.forename: Cathy A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Kyu-Shik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Poppenga
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Puschner
authors.forename: Doris M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Angela E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Kyung-Il
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sum
authors.forename: Alexis M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cistola
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005506:Food Contamination; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013997:Time Factors; D014227:Triazines / Q000633:toxicity*