Ovine mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis type I and crescent formation

Morphologic examination of four Finnish Landrace mixed-breed lambs, 27 to 35 days of age, affected with mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis type 1, demonstrated a progressive glomerulonephritis. By 27 days of age, three lambs had crescents in 58 to 93% of glomeruli. These three lambs were also uremic. The accelerated rate of crescent formation was attributed to infiltrating polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes, the result of discontinuities (gaps) in the glomerular basement membrane, and to the loss of the integrity of Bowman's capsule. In the three lambs, platelets were identified adjacent to the endothelium or denuded glomerular basement membrane. Two distinctly different types of crescents were noted, apparently dependent on the integrity of Bowman's capsule. One type resulted from the influx of inflammatory cells and dissociation of parietal epithelial cells from Bowman's capsule. The other type was more extensive and contained collagen and was associated with damage to Bowman's capsule resulting in cellular infiltration from the interstitium and sclerosis. Based on morphologic similarities, ovine mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis is a suitable model for studying the pathogenesis and treatment of mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis type 1 in human beings.     

The role of colostrum in glomerulonephritis of Finnish Landrace lambs: effect of cross-fostering newly born Finnish Landrace and Cheviot lambs.

Newly-born Finnish Landrace and Cheviot lambs were cross-fostered to determine the role of colostrum in the development of mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis of the Finnish Landrace breed. Severe glomerulonephritis occurred in four Finnish Landrace lambs reared by their own dams. One of six siblings of affected lambs, all reared by Cheviot foster mothers, developed a milder focal form of the disease. No glomerulonephritis occurred in three Cheviot lambs reared by Finnish Landrace foster mothers whose own naturally reared lambs died of the disease. An artificially reared colostrum-free Finnish Landrace lamb became severely affected, though its naturally reared sibling had no renal disease in sequential biopsies. It is concluded that colostrum has no primary role in the development of the disease.     

Glomerular lesions in renal biopsies of Saimiri boliviensis (primate) examined by light and electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry

In order to determine the existence of glomerular lesions in Saimiri boliviensis, renal biopsies were performed in 20 clinically healthy animals of similar age and both sexes. Biopsies were obtained by laparotomy with a Tru-Cut biopsy needle. Mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis characterized by an increased number of mesangial cells and increased mesangial matrix was present in 35% of the animals. Proliferative glomerulonephritis characterized by increased numbers of epithelial and endothelial cells with narrowed capillary lumen, and membranous glomerulonephritis characterized by diffuse thickening, wrinkling, and occasional lamellation of basement membranes, were present in 15% of the samples. Ultrastructural features included increased mesangial matrix, fusion of the visceral epithelial foot processes, thickened glomerular basement membranes, and incipient lamellation. Immunohistochemical examination revealed granular deposits of immunoglobulin M in the cytoplasm of mesangial cells and in the mesangial matrix in 50% of the samples.     

Membranous glomerulonephritis in dogs infected with Dirofilaria immitis.

Membranous glomerulonephritis was diagnosed in five dogs with patent Dirofilaria immitis infections. Electron-dense deposits were present on the epithelial side of the glomerular basement membrane. An immunofluorescent study demonstrated immunoglobulins in the capillary wall and mesangium of the glomeruli. The glomerular lesions were considered to represent an immune complex form of glomerulonephritis induced by the D. immitis infection.     

Onset of puberty and duration of the breeding season in Suffolk, Rambouillet, Finnish Landrace, Dorset and Finn-Dorset ewe lambs

Sixty ewe lambs, 12 each of Suffolk, Dorset, Finnish Landrace, Finn-Dorset and Rambouillet born in January and February were used in a study of puberty and duration of the first breeding season. Ovulation was monitored via progesterone assay of weekly blood samples beginning in July, and estrus via daily checking with vasectomized rams. All 60 ewes ovulated but three, one Dorset and two Rambouillet failed to show estrus although each had five to seven ovulatory cycles. Several ewes showed small progesterone rises, 300 to 500 pg/ml, before first ovulation and six (10%) failed to initiate regular cyclicity following the first ovulation as defined by progesterone greater than 500 pg/ml. Mean number of ovulatory events before the first behavioral estrus ranged from 1.25 for Finnish Landrace to 2.20 for Rambouillet ewe lambs (P less than .1). Rambouillets were older (277 d; P less than .05) at first estrus than Finns (258 d) and Finn-Dorsets (260 d), but differences in age at first ovulation were not significant: Finn-Dorset, 233 d; Dorset, 234 d; Finn, 235 d; Rambouillet, 240 d; Suffolk, 245 d. Most cycles were of normal length, with 91.4% between 14 and 20 d. Repeatability of cycle length within breed group was .38. Suffolks had significantly shorter cycles (16.1 d) than the other four groups (17.0 to 17.4 d). Finnish Landrace and Finn-Dorset ewes continued to cycle much longer than the other groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Mesangioproliferative Glomerulonephritis in Mink with Encephalitozoonosis

Renal specimens from 6 mink with encephalitozoonosis were studied by light and electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The glomeruli of affected kidneys had a mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis which was characterized by an increase in mesangial cells and matrix in most glomeruli. Some glomeruli were partially or completely sclerosed. There were protein or granular casts in the cortical and medullary tubules. Interstitial nephritis, vasculitis and tubular cysts were found. Electron microscopy demonstrated extensive matrix and increased cellularity in the mesangial areas. Glomeruli showed segmentally thickened or wrinkled capillary basement membranes. Electron dense deposits were found in the glomerular basement membranes and mesangium. Peroxidase-anti-peroxidase immunohistochemistry demonstrated that IgG and IgM positive material was present as granular deposits in the glomerular basement membrane and occasionally in the mesangium.     

Nephropathy in young lambs

Renal disorders in lambs may be congenital, infectious, toxic, immunologically mediated or secondary to urethral obstruction. Congenital abnormalities are uncommon. Kidney infections often are only one aspect of more widespread diseases, for example, tick pyaemia or salmonellosis. Toxic diseases, which affect mainly the renal tubules, may be caused by bacterial, chemical or plant toxins, although in lamb nephrosis the cause is unknown. Immunecomplex glomerulonephritis is uncommon, and one form, mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis of Finnish landrace lambs, is under genetic control. Urolithiasis may have secondary effects on the kidneys.     

Results of a crossbreeding experiment with sheep for different systems of fat lamb production. I. Reproductive traits

A crossbreeding experiment with sheep was carried out at two of the University's experimental stations between 1969 and 1973. On farm I ewes of five groups of different first crosses were tested against the indigenous purebred Merinoland sheep for five lambing periods. The ewes were kept under an accelerated lambing programme, the lambs were reared artificially. On farm II the same domestic breed was tested against three first cross lines with spring lambing and ewes suckling their lambs for 5 to 8 weeks. Each test group consisted of at least 50 ewes made up of 10 halfsib groups. 10 rams of each of four exotic fat lamb sire lines were hand-mated to the ewes. In addition, purebred and special control matings were carried out. All ewes in the experiment were of the same age.The data were analyzed by least squares procedures for different reproductive traits (gestation length, litter size for lambs born and reared, litter weight, score for lambing difficulties) and by simple one-way classifications for various others (lambs born and reared per ewe and year, lambing frequency, body weight, fleece weight, wool income).Since no significant interactions among main effects were detected for any trait, the presentation of the results emphasizes the general combining ability of the sire and dam lines. No significant differences were found between sire lines on both farms in all traits except gestation length. For the most important reproductive traits the differences between the dam lines were highly significant, the Finnish Landrace crosses being the best in both lambing frequency and number of lambs per litter. The superiority of these crosses cannot be maintained for the number of lambs reared and slaughtered, if, like in farm II, facilities are not available to rear lambs of large litters without high losses.     

The secretion of luteinizing hormone in ewes of Finnish landrace during estrus

The secretion of luteinizing hormone in ewes of Finnish Landrace during estrus. Acta vet. scand. 1979, 20, 216–223. — Luteinizing hormone immunoreactivity was measured in the venous plasma of four cycling Finnish Landrace sheep during the breeding season in connection with one synchronized estrus and the subsequent one. The ewes were slaughtered after the second estrus to establish the number of ovulations. To determine the LH concentration, a heterologous method of assay was used; this was based on the cross reaction of sheep plasma LH in a human LH radioimmunoassay system.As a result of the investigation, it was found that the peaks of LH were lower during the time of synchronized estrus and that these peaks occurred earlier than in the subsequent estrus. However, the differences were not statistically significant. On account of the limited material, the effect of the occurrence of the LH peak on the number of ovulations could not be established.     

Atypical membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in a cat

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis was observed in a 2-year-old male Japanese domestic cat with clinical renal failure. In the glomeruli, moderate mesangial hypercellularity with an increased mesangial matrix and thickening of the capillary walls were prominent. In addition, frequent duplication of the capillary walls, splitting, and spike formation were observed in the glomerular basement membrane. Granular cat IgG and complement component deposition were detected globally along the glomerular capillary walls and in the mesangium. Transmission electron microscopy revealed dense deposits in the subendothelial and subepithelial regions and the mesangium. Mesangial interposition was also observed. These glomerular lesions are also found in humans with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type III, which has not been reported in animals.     

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis possibly associated with over-vaccination in a cocker spaniel

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis was observed in a seven-month-old male cocker spaniel dog. The clinical, microbiological, biochemical, radiographic and ultrasonographic examinations ruled out neoplasia, congenital disease and infectious disease. The anamnesis revealed that the owner had vaccinated the dog seven times, one vaccination per month, without veterinarian supervision. In both kidneys, severe thickening of the glomerular capillary walls was observed. Electron microscope examination revealed a large number of electron-dense deposits that were primarily in the glomerular subendothelial spaces and the basal membrane, which is compatible with antigen-antibody complexes. The immunohistochemical examination revealed that the antigen present in the glomeruli corresponded with the antigen present in the vaccine. We report a type III hypersensitivity nephropathy in a young dog, which was possibly caused by over-vaccination.     

Scanning electron microscopy of cellular and acellular glomeruli of male dogs affected with Samoyed hereditary glomerulopathy and a carrier female.

Glomeruli isolated from three male dogs affected with Samoyed hereditary glomerulopathy were compared by scanning electron microscopy with glomeruli of one carrier female and six unaffected dogs. Scanning electron microscopy was performed before and after removal of podocytes and endothelial cells with enzyme and detergent, producing cellular and acellular glomeruli respectively. Cellular glomeruli of unaffected dogs showed podocytes with normally arranged foot processes, while in acellular glomeruli, the subepithelial surface of glomerular capillary basement membranes appeared smooth to finely granular. In contrast, cellular glomeruli of affected males showed microvilli, globular cytoplasmic projections from podocytes, and effacement of foot processes; acellular glomeruli demonstrated ridges and plaque-like irregularities on the subepithelial surface of glomerular capillary basement membranes. Changes in the glomeruli of the carrier female were intermediate between those of unaffected and affected male dogs. The appearance of the subepithelial surface of glomerular capillary basement membranes of acellular glomeruli seen by scanning electron microscopy correlated with the extent of multilaminar splitting of glomerular capillary basement membranes seen by transmission electron microscopy.     

Spontaneous early-onset glomerulonephritis in a 8-week-old male Crj:CD1 (ICR) mouse

Glomerular lesions including membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis occur spontaneously in aged mice, but they are rare in young animals. In our laboratory, spontaneous glomerulonephritis was observed in an 8-week-old male Crj:CD1 (ICR) mouse. Macroscopically, the bilateral kidneys were discolored, but no edema or ascites was observed. Glomerular lesions were characterized by a thickening of capillary walls, a double-contoured basement membrane and mesangial expansion due to increased amounts of matrix. Ultrastructurally, mesangial interposition in the capillary wall and subendothelial deposition of basement membrane-like material were observed. No evidence of immune complex deposition or amyloid was found. On the basis of the observed clinical pathology and histopathology, a secondary form of glomerular lesion was excluded. The glomerular lesion was compatible with glomerulonephritis in a young Crj:CD1 (ICR) mouse.     

Canine glomerulonephritis: new thoughts on proteinuria and treatment

Glomerular disease in the dog is not only a common form of renal disease but also an important cause of chronic renal failure. The presence of immune complexes in glomerular capillary walls is a major cause of canine glomerular disease and is commonly referred to as glomerulonephritis. Leakage of plasma proteins, principally albumin, across the damaged glomerular capillary walls results in persistent proteinuria--the clinicopathological hallmark of glomerulonephritis. Recent evidence suggests that, in addition to being a marker of disease, persistent proteinuria is associated with progressive glomerular and tubulointerstitial lesions and loss of additional nephrons. Perhaps the best treatment for glomerulonephritis is the identification and correction of any underlying inflammatory, immune-mediated or neoplastic disease that results in the deposition or formation of glomerular immune complexes. In cases of idiopathic glomerulonephritis, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have been shown to decrease proteinuria and potentially slow disease progression.     

Extent of linkage disequilibrium and effective population size in Finnish Landrace and Finnish Yorkshire pig breeds

The extent of linkage disequilibrium (LD) and effective population size in Finnish Landrace and Finnish Yorkshire pig populations were studied using a whole genome SNP panel (Illumina PorcineSNP60 BeadChip) and pedigree data. Genotypic data included 86 Finnish Landrace and 32 Finnish Yorkshire boars. Pedigree data included 608,138 Finnish Landrace 554,237 and Finnish Yorkshire pigs, and on average 15 ancestral generations were known for the reference animals, born in 2005 to 2009. The breeding animals of the 2 populations have been kept separate in the breeding programs. Based on the pedigree data, the current effective population size for Finnish Landrace is 91 and for Finnish Yorkshire 61. Linkage disequilibrium measures (D' and r(2)) were estimated for over 1.5 million pairs of SNP. Average r(2) for SNP 30 kb apart was 0.47 and 0.49 and for SNP 5 Mb apart 0.09 and 0.12 for Finnish Landrace and Finnish Yorkshire, respectively. Average LD (r(2)) between adjacent SNP in the Illumina PorcineSNP60 BeadChip was 0.43 (57% of the adjacent SNP pairs had r(2) > 0.2) for Finnish Landrace and 0.46 (60% of the adjacent SNP pairs had r(2) > 0.2) for Finnish Yorkshire, and average r(2) > 0.2 extended to 1.0 and 1.5 Mb for Finnish Landrace and Finnish Yorkshire, respectively. Effective population size estimates based on the decay of r(2) with distance were similar to those based on the pedigree data: 80 and 55 for Finnish Landrace and Finnish Yorkshire, respectively. Thus, the results indicate that the effective population size of Finnish Yorkshire is smaller than of Finnish Landrace and has a clear effect on the extent of LD. The current effective population size of both breeds is above the recommended minimum of 50 but may get smaller than that in the near future, if no action is taken to balance the inbreeding rate and selection response. Because a moderate level of LD extends over a long distance, selection based on whole genome SNP markers (genomic selection) is expected to be efficient for both breeds.     

Reproductive performance of Finnish Landrace and Suffolk sheep maintained indoors year-round

The reproductive performance (fertility and prolificacy) of Finnish Landrace (Finn) and Suffolk sheep on an accelerated breeding program was evaluated. Both breeds were contained in each of two separate flocks housed indoors year-round on expanded metal floors in windowless buildings. The two flocks were bred alternately at 4-mo intervals in January, May and September. The sheep were exposed to either an abrupt (ALR) or constant (CLR) lighting regimen. Data from nine breedings during a 4-yr period were considered. Fertility was significantly higher for ewes in the ALR lighting regimen. Fertility was lower for ewes bred in September. For ewes that had lambed from breeding 8 mo earlier, fertility was higher for Finn ewes than for Suffolk ewes; however, similar fertility levels were observed in both breeds if the ewes had not lambed following the previous breeding. Higher prolificacy was observed in the Finn ewes than in the Suffolk ewes, but the differences in prolificacy varied with the month of breeding. The probability of a ewe having more than one lamb was significantly higher for Finn ewes than for Suffolk ewes in both January and May breedings, but was similar in September breedings. Incorporating the Finnish Landrace breed into an accelerated breeding program for sheep maintained indoors year-round is a practical way to increase the number of lambs born. Controlling daylength and dividing the flock into smaller flocks are also practical procedures to increase lamb production.     

猪三元杂交体系中不同二元母本繁殖性能的研究

利用长×约7头,长×杜7头杂交母猪分别与杜洛克和大约克公猪生产三元杂交猪,着重研究约×(长×杜),杜×(长×约)三元杂交体系中,长×杜和长×约杂交母猪的繁蕴性能。研究表明:长×约、长×杜杂交母猪繁殖性能各指标均达到较好水平,第二胎产仔数、泌乳力(21日龄窝重)、断奶窝重,二组合分别达到13.5和11.75头、61.83和60.28kg、130.53和130.51kg。综合繁殖性能各指标,长×约杂交母本优于长×杜母本,特别是在产仔性能上长×约母本表现突出。因此,杜×(长×约)应是三元杂交猪推广的首选组合。约×(长×杜)组合中长×杜母本繁殖性能表现不差,三元后代哺乳期长势较好,终端父本约克夏猪适应能力强,毛色易于农户接受并与以往的杂交生产具备兼容性,也不失一个良好的杂交组合。     

High incidence of glomerulonephritis associated with inclusion body hepatitis in broiler chickens: routine histopathology and histomorphometric studies

During the routine histologic evaluation of an outbreak of inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) in Mississippi broilers, a high incidence of renal enlargement and glomerulonephropathy was observed in the birds presenting classic hepatic pathology. Characteristic intranuclear adenoviral inclusion bodies were demonstrated in the livers of these birds, and fowl adenovirus was identified by viral isolation and by PCR. The glomerular lesions were consistent with proliferative or membranoproliferative forms of glomerulonephritis. Histomorphometric evaluations were performed to generate a more quantitative analysis of altered glomerular size and cellularity, to detect statistically significant borderline changes, and to get a clearer insight into the incidence of the glomerular alterations. Marked increases in both the average glomerular size (area) and the total glomerular cellularity were observed for the affected glomeruli relative to normal controls. The average glomerular area values for normal glomeruli in the peripheral subcapsular cortical and central cortical kidney regions were 1791 microm2 and 5302 microm2, respectively. In contrast, glomerular measurements for kidneys exhibiting glomerulonephritis by routine histopathology, had average values for the two regions of 4429 microm2 and 11,063 microm2. The average glomerular cell counts for the two regions in controls were 44 and 107 cells/ glomeruli, while averages for birds with glomerulonephritis were 85 and 193 cells/glomeruli. The proportion of IBH-associated glomeruli greater than two standard deviations above the mean glomerular size of the normal controls was 52% for the central region and 62% for the peripheral region.     

Glomerulonephritis associated with simultaneous canine adenovirus-1 and Dirofilaria immitis infection in a dog

This article describes a case of glomerulonephritis and immunocomplex (IgM, IgG and C3c) deposition in the mesangium and basement membranes of a 2-year-old dog with canine viral hepatitis and dirofilariasis. The deposits observed in the mesangium were in the vicinity of cells with viral replication. However, no clear relationship was found between viral replication and the deposition of immunocomplexes in the glomerular capillary basement membranes, which may be the reason why these deposits have only been tentatively related to the concomitant infestation by Dirofilaria immitis.     

Influence of genetic type, slaughter weight and sex on ovine muscle fiber and fat-cell development

Histological properties from the longissimus (LD) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles of 51 wether and ewe lambs from Hampshire rams and two ewe genetic types (SR, 1/2 Suffolk and 1/2 Rambouillet, and FS, 1/2 Finnish Landrace and 1/2 Southdown) and three slaughter live weights (32, 41 and 50 kg) were compared. Fibers in both muscles were classified as beta R (red), alpha R (intermediate) or alpha W (white). All LD muscle fiber types from FS ewe lambs increased in diameter from 32 to 41 kg, but decreased in diameter from 41 to 50 kg. Also, this quadratic effect with slaughter weight was found in alpha R and alpha W fibers from the SM muscle of FS wether and ewe lambs. However, diameters of alpha R and alpha W fibers from SR wether and ewe lambs and beta R fibers from SR ewe lambs increased linearly in the SM muscle with increasing slaughter weight. As slaughter weight increased, the proportion of alpha R fibers decreased in both the LD and SM muscles for SR wether and FS wether and ewe lambs. Concurrent with the increase in slaughter weight and decrease in alpha R fiber percentage, the proportion of alpha W fibers increased in the LD muscle of SR wether lambs, the SM muscle of SR ewe lambs and both muscles of FS wether and ewe lambs. Genetic type and sex groups, except SR ewe lambs, support the theory of transformation of alpha R to alpha W fibers with increasing slaughter weights. Fat-cell diameters increased in both muscles of SR wether and FS ewe lambs with increasing slaughter weights. Increases in fat traits of lamb carcasses were related to increases in red-fiber size. Alpha red fiber numbers were inversely related (P less than .05) to alpha W fiber numbers in both the LD and SM muscles (r = -.83 and -.79). The proportion of alpha R to alpha W fibers might be used as an indicator of physiological maturity for lambs.