Renal Lesions in Cetaceans from Brazil

Author(s)

Gonzales-Viera, O. ^{[1, 2]} ; Ruoppolo, V. ^{[1, 3]} ; Marigo, J. ^{[1, 4]} ; Carvalho, V. L. ; Groch, K. R. ^[1] ; Bertozzi, C. P. ^[4] ; Takakura, C. ^[5] ; Namiyama, G. ^[6] ; Vanstreels, R. E. T. ^[1] ; Catao-Dias, J. L. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Vet Zootecnia, Dept Patol, Lab Patol Comparada Anim Selvagens LAPCOM, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Calif Davis, Dept Pathol Microbiol & Immunol, Davis, CA 95616 - USA

^[3] Int Fund Anim Welf, Yarmouth Port, MA - USA

^[4] Projeto Biopesca, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Lab Disciplina Patol Doencas Transmissiveis, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Adolfo Lutz Inst, Ctr Procedimentos Interdisciplinares, Nucleo Microscopia Eletron, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Comparative Pathology; v. 152, n. 4, p. 345-354, MAY 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

This study reports the occurrence of renal lesions in cetaceans from the coast of Brazil subjected to necropsy examination between 1996 and 2011. The animals (n = 192) were by-caught in fishing nets, were found dead on beaches or died despite attempted rehabilitation. Kidney samples were evaluated grossly and microscopically and, depending on the histopathological findings, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analyses were conducted. Due to autolysis, a diagnosis was reached in only 128 animals, of which 82 (64.1%) had kidney lesions. Cystic renal disease was the most common lesion observed in 34 cases (26.6%) and these were classified as simple cysts in eight cases (6.3%), polycystic kidney disease in one rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), secondary glomerulocystic disease in 16 cases (12.5%) and primary glomerulocystic disease in nine cases (7%). Other lesions included membranous glomerulonephritis (28 cases; 21.9%), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (20 cases; 15.6%), lymphoplasmacytic interstitial nephritis (21 cases; 16.4%), lipidosis (19 cases; 14.8%), glomerulosclerosis (8 cases; 6.3%) and pyogranulomatous nephritis (five cases; 3.9%); two of the later were associated with the migration of nematode larvae. Additionally, tubular adenoma was identified in a Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei). The pathological implications of these lesions are discussed according the cause of death, age or sex of the animals. Furthermore, the lesions were compared with those of other marine and terrestrial mammals, including man. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)