| Abstract: | Extensive kidney involvement is reported in golden hamsters infected with Leishmania donovani. The lesion is characterised grossly by pale and enlarged kidneys, and histologically by thickening of the basal lamina of the glomerulus, distended convuluted tubules containing protein casts, constricted glomerular capillaries and infiltration of the interstitial tissues with mononuclear cells. Quantitative measurement of the glomerular cells labelled in vivo with tritiated thymidine showed a striking increase in the glomerular cell proliferation as the infection progressed. Using direct immunofluorescent technique, granular deposits of IgG, complement C3 and fibrinogen were detected in the glomeruli of the infected animals. A positive protamine sulphate test, as well as histological evidence, showed that disseminated intravascular coagulation had occurred in the infection. Although the antigens have not been identified, antigen-antibody complexes are strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of the proliferative glomerulonephritis observed in this study. |
