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Mesangioproliferative Glomerulonephritis in Mink with Encephalitozoonosis

Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Bent Aasted, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark, for providing the rabbit anti-mink sera and Dr. Johan Høgset Jansen for valuable suggestions. We thank Birgit Røe, Ingjerd Andersen and Anne Kristine Fevang for skilled technical assistance.

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Zhou, ZY., Nordstoga, K. Mesangioproliferative Glomerulonephritis in Mink with Encephalitozoonosis. Acta Vet Scand 34, 69–76 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548225

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