SPONTANEOUS GLOMERULONEPHRITIS IN SWINE

In this investigation, 32 cases of naturally occurring glomerulonephri tis in swine were studied retrospectively (1973-1993). Almost all affe cted pigs were crossbred and more than half were growing pigs. Nearly two thirds of the pigs showed gross renal lesions characterized by bil ateral kidney enlargement, paler, edema, and/or cortical petechiation. The most commonly encountered extrarenal lesions were serous bodily e ffusions and gastric ulcers. The renal disease was considered the prim ary cause of death in 11 pigs. Histologically, the renal lesions in al l pigs were characterized by a generalized and global proliferative gl omerulonephritis. Mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis was diagnos ed in 2 pigs, whereas the glomerular lesions found in the other pigs ( 30/32) were characterized by a proliferative and exudative glomerulone phritis frequently associated with crescent formation. In all pigs, th ere was histologic evidence of proteinuria. A focal necrotizing vascul itis was found in the kidneys of 7 pigs. Although probably of immune o rigin, the precise etiopathogenesis of the porcine glomerulonephritis described herein after remains unknown.