Polycystic kidney and liver disease in Springbok: I. Morphology of the lesions

Abstract

Spontaneous polycystic kidney and liver disease in an inbred herd of Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) was studied by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and microdissection. Springbok are a small species of gazelle of the family Bovidae native to South Africa. Since 1976, 18% of all live calves born have had nephromegaly and died within 2 weeks of birth. Examination of kidney and liver from ten calves which had died or were sacrifices since 1978 revealed bilateral, symmetrical nephromegaly due to moderate to marked focal dilatation of tubules predominately in the outer zone of the medulla. Microdissection of renal tissue from three affected calves indicated polycystic kidneys had cysts in all of the bends of Henle's loops, over half of the ascending limbs, and about one fourth of the collecting ducts. All of these calves had proliferation and cystic dilatation of bile ducts in most hepatic portal areas. The bile ducts were irregularly dilated and confluent with only a slight increase in periductular connective tissue. Ultrastructural studies revealed no consistent changes in the basement membranes of either the renal or hepatic cysts. This disease has several features similar to the autosomal recessive form of polycystic kidney disease in man and may prove a useful animal model.

Polycystic Kidneys and GM2Gangliosidosis-Like Disease in Neonatal Springboks (Antidorcas marsupialis)

“…23,30 In the present study, renal cysts were not associated with cysts in other organs, in contrast to 1 previous study. 23 In cats and humans, PKD is associated with cysts in other organs such as exocrine pancreas and liver.…”

“…22,59 The gross pathology of the kidney, characterized by fluidfilled cysts and renomegaly, was reminiscent of 2 previously described cases of neonatal springboks from animal parks in France and the United States. 23,30 In addition, histopathologic, neuronal, and renal changes were very similar. 23,30 Information from the breeding data of the German zoo pointed toward obligate carriers in the pedigree analysis, which originated from an animal park in France, where the diseases had previously occurred.…”

“…There was no predilection of proximal convoluted tubules as previously described. 23 However, animal Nos. 3 and 4 lacked widespread tubular vacuolation.…”

Congenital Cystic Disease of the Liver and Kidney in a Pygmy Goat

“…The literature contains reports of polycystic disorders in African gazelles, cats, dogs, mice, pigs, and, most recently, a 3.5-week-old Nubian goat. 4,6,8,[10][11][12][13][14] The present case has a clinical and pathologic presentation similar to 1 case described previously in a Nubian goat kid, but, in contrast, there were both gross and histologic lesions in the kidney and liver and the pancreas was unaffected.…”

Polycystic Kidney Disease in Adult Brazilian Agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina)

“…2,14 Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is found in several domestic and laboratory animal species as well as in humans, but little is known about PKD in wildlife and zoo animals. Only a few case reports of PKD in exotic or wildlife species, including young springboks (Antidorcas marsupialis), 16 an adult raccoon (Procyon lotor), 12 adult and infantile rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), 3,17 young and adult slender lorises (Loris lydekkerianus), 27 and a stillborn white-tailed deer (Odocoileus viriginianus), 26 have been published. In general, PKD is described as either 1) a congenital form or 2) an adult form.…”