title: Nephrolithiasis and pyelonephritis in two West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus spp.).
abstract: Two West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus spp.) were reported with severe emaciation. One animal was a Florida manatee from the Everglades; the other was an Antillean manatee from Cuba. On necropsy, both animals had nephrolithiasis, pyelonephritis, and moderate to severe renomegaly. Histopathology revealed multifocal to diffuse pyelonephritis, interstitial nephritis, and nephrocalcinosis. The stones were analyzed and consisted primarily of calcium carbonate. Serum chemistry values for the Florida animal revealed no renal abnormalities. The mechanism of calculus formation remains unclear in manatees. In horses, another hindgut fermenter, the most common urolith is also calcium carbonate. Urinalyses performed on manatees are very similar to those of horses (i.e., alkaline urine, low specific gravity, and calcium carbonate crystals). Formation of uroliths in manatees may have a pathogenesis similar to equine urolithiasis.
authors.affiliation: Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory, 3700 54th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33711, USA. martha.keller@gmail.com
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Moliner
authors.forename: Grettys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vásquez
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Orestes
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bello
authors.forename: Alex M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Costidis
authors.forename: Sentiel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rommel
authors.forename: Maron B Calderwood
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mays
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gearhart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D005260:Female; D053040:Nephrolithiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D020457:Trichechus manatus