ABSTRACT
Three cats and 1 dog that had undergone renal transplantation because of end-stage renal disease were examined because of complications 3 to 6 weeks after surgery. One cat died prior to treatment of the complications; Toxoplasma cysts were found in sections of the renal allograft, and Toxoplasma tachyzoites were found in other organs. The other 2 cats and the dog died despite treatment, and protozoal cysts, as well as tachyzoites, were identified in other organs but not within the allografts, suggesting that reactivation of latent infection following immunosuppression was the most likely cause of disseminated toxoplasmosis. These cases illustrate that toxoplasmosis can be a fatal complication in renal transplant recipients. We currently recommend that feline and canine donors and recipients undergo serologic testing for toxoplasmosis prior to surgery. In addition, we suggest that seropositive donors not be used for seronegative recipients and that seropositive recipients and that seropositive recipients be monitored closely after surgery for clinical signs of toxoplasmosis.
Subject(s)
Cat Diseases/etiology , Dog Diseases/etiology , Kidney Transplantation/veterinary , Toxoplasmosis, Animal/etiology , Acute Disease , Acute Kidney Injury/surgery , Acute Kidney Injury/veterinary , Animals , Cat Diseases/surgery , Cats , Dog Diseases/surgery , Dogs , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Kidney Failure, Chronic/surgery , Kidney Failure, Chronic/veterinary , Kidney Transplantation/adverse effects , Male , Toxoplasma/immunology , Toxoplasma/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
A 3-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat had renal lymphoma and infiltrative cardiomyopathy, both of which responded to combination chemotherapy. Diagnosis was made on the basis of results of renal biopsy and echocardiography. Cardiac lesions included hypertrophy of the left ventricular free wall and interventricular septum, ventricular hypokinesis, and diminishment of the left ventricular chamber. Cytologic evaluation of pericardial fluid did not contribute to a diagnosis. Combination chemotherapy resulted in rapid improvement of renomegaly and cardiac structure and function. Although it might be assumed that the myocardial infiltration was attributable to metastatic lymphoma, histologic diagnosis of the heart disease was not established.
Subject(s)
Cardiomyopathies/veterinary , Cat Diseases/drug therapy , Kidney Neoplasms/veterinary , Lymphoma/veterinary , Animals , Cardiomyopathies/complications , Cardiomyopathies/drug therapy , Cats , Cephalexin/therapeutic use , Drug Therapy, Combination , Echocardiography/veterinary , Kidney Neoplasms/complications , Kidney Neoplasms/drug therapy , Lymphoma/complications , Lymphoma/drug therapy , Male , Prednisone/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Chronic bronchopneumonia associated with microlithiasis was diagnosed in a 9-year-old domestic shorthair cat with a 3-month history of coughing and dyspnea. Thoracic radiography revealed multifocal patchy alveolar infiltrates in all lung fields. Numerous acellular, concentrically laminated, periodic acid-Schiff-positive microliths were seen in mucus from tracheal washing. Microliths were composed primarily of calcium carbonate. A definite cause could not be identified. There was no response to treatment and the cat was euthanatized. Marked type-II alveolar cell proliferation, peribronchiolar smooth muscle proliferation, and alveolar microlithiasis were seen histologically. Microliths are rarely encountered in tracheal washings from companion animals. Their pathophysiologic properties and meaning remain to be established.