Renal Medullary Amyloidosis in Dorcas Gazelles

Abstract

Abstract. Between January 1976 and September 1987 renal medullary amyloidosis (RMA) was diagnosed in 17 Dorcas gazelles; the necropsy prevalence rate was 17/32 (53%). The most severe amyloid deposits were in the renal medulla; glomeruli were spared. Renal cortical lesions of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy and dilatation significantly correlated with RMA (P < 0.01) and were considered to be secondary changes.There were varying degrees of lymphoplasmacytic inflammation and tubular cast formation which did not significantly correlate with RMA. Amyloid was confirmed histochemically and by electron microscopy and was identified as AA type by the permanganate method. Progressive renal failure was the cause of death or necessitated euthanasia in 7/17 (4 1 Yo) gazelles. RMA in Dorcas gazelles does not appear to be familial. A high prevalence of chronic or recurring Actinomyces (Corynebacterium) pyogenes infections may be an important factor.Currently, classification of the amyloidoses is based in part on the nature of the fibril p r~t e i n .~ Reactive systemic amyloidosis, in which the fibril protein (AA) is believed to be derived by proteolytic cleavage from an acute phase protein (SAA), is the most common form in manZZ and is the only form of systemic amyloid reported in nonhumans.' Any organ can be involved in reactive systemic amyloidosis, but renal involvement occurs with greatest f r e q u e n~y . '~.~~ Renal amyloid also has the most serious consequences, since deposition of amyloid in glomeruli causes disruption of the glomerular filtration bamer, with resultant proteinuria and associated sequelae. l 5 In addition, deposition of amyloid in the pentubular interstitium can lead to ischemia and pressure atrophy of nephrons with subsequent interstitial scarring and loss of renal function.I5Involvement of the renal medulla with amyloid is rare in man26 and most animals,I5 but may be the predominant form of renal amyloidosis in cats3J5J8 and ~a t t l e .~J~J~ In cattle, there is a spectrum from predominantly glomerular to predominantly medullary amy10idosis;~~l~ the glomerular form can lead to the nephrotic ~y n d r o m e~~J~J~ as in other species, but the medullary form is usually subclinical.I0We have identified a syndrome of renal medullary amyloidosis (RMA) in a herd of Dorcas gazelles at the National Zoological Park (NZP). In contrast to medullary amyloidosis in cattle, RMA in Dorcas gazelles frequently leads to renal failure and death. This paper reports the occurrence and describes the gross and light microscopic features of renal medullary amyloidosis in Dorcas gazelles. The clinical aspects of the disease will be published elsewhere. Materials and MethodsDorcas gazelles are small ruminants indigenous to desert regions of Northeast Africa. Body weights in adults range from 10 to 15 kg. The National Zoological Park (NZP) maintains a herd of Dorcas gazelles with an average year-end population of about 20 animals. Twice yearly each animal is treated prophylactically with anthelminthics, and a complete...

Pathology of AA Amyloidosis in Domestic Sheep and Goats

“…9,13 Remarkably, the only detailed study on reactive amyloidosis in small rumi-nants was done in wild bighorn sheep and in captive Dall sheep, where a pathologic condition similar to the one described in this study was presented. 11,18,45 We found in our sheep and goat that, as previously observed in these species as well as in cows, 16,18,26,33,39 bighorn sheep, 11 and Dorcas gazelles, 32 the organ most involved was the kidney. The kidney was the only organ harboring macroscopic lesions that consisted of miliary foci on the cortical surface of the kidney and, on cut surfaces, radial striations located only in the renal cortex.…”

“…1, 43 Microscopically, we found that the amyloid deposits in sheep and goat were predominantly located within the glomeruli and, to a lesser degree, the medulla, as found in dogs and occasionally in cattle. 7,16,26 However, AA amyloid deposits were observed almost exclusively in the medulla of Dorcas gazelles, 32 and others authors have found it most frequently in the renal medulla of cows. 10 Initially, the amyloid in our animals was localized to the glomerular capillary subendothelium, as also seen in the cow, 28 but as the disease progressed, involved additional areas of the kidney.…”

“…15 AA amyloidosis occurs in a wide variety of domestic animal species including canine, equine, bovine, avian, and less frequently porcine and feline. 4,7,12,13,20,36,48 This type of amyloidosis has also been documented in various wild mammalian and avian species such as cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), 16,24 Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica), 35 mink (Mustela vison), 27 Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas), 32 mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella), 21 and anatidae. 34 Among small ruminants, AA amyloidosis has been reported in wild bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) 11 and Dall sheep (Ovis dalli); 18 however, descriptions in domestic sheep Ménsua, Carrasco, Bautista, Biescas, Fernández, Murphy, Weiss, Solomon, and Luján and goats are rare and normally refer to single cases.…”

Amyloidosis in Domestic Animals: Pathology, Pathogenesis, Gross and Microscopic Lesions and Clinical Findings

“…In the cheetahs and the Siberian tigers, the deposits were primarily in the medullary interstitium, with minimal glomerular involvement (Papendick et al, 1997;Schulze at al., 1998). Deposition of the amyloid in renal amyloidosis reported in the Dorcas gazelle was also mainly in the renal medulla, sparing the glomeruli (Rideout et al, 1989). …”

“…AA amyloidosis is also reported in a wide variety of domestic animal species including canines, equines, bovines, avian species, porcines, felines, sheep and goats (Jakob, 1971;Johnson & Jamison, 1984;Hayden et al, 1988;Zschiesche & Jakob, 1989;DiBartola, et al, 1990;Blunden & Smith, 1992;Seifi et al, 1997;Landman, 1998;Ménsua et al, 2003). It is described in association with different chronic diseases, in captive cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica), mink (Mustela vison), black-footed cats (Felis nigripes), black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes), Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas), mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella), bighorn and Dall's sheep, free living lioness and in swans and other anatidae (Panthera leo) (Hadlow & Jellison, 1962;Sato et al, 1981;Kingston et al, 1982;Linke et al, 1986;Rideout et al, 1989;Munson, 1993;Nieto et al, 1995;Papendick et al, 1997;Schulze et al, 1998;Williams et al, 2005;Garner et al, 2007;Terio et al, 2008). It is reported in association with chronic lymphoplasmacytic gastritis in the cheetahs and as idiopathic in the Siberian tigers.…”