HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Brown, C. A. Articles by Brown, S. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Brown, C. A. Articles by Brown, S. A.

Outbreaks of renal failure associated with melamine and cyanuric acid in dogs and cats in 2004 and 2007

Correspondence: ¹Corresponding Author: Cathy A. Brown, Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, e-mail: cabrown{at}vet.uga.edu

Sixteen animals affected in 2 outbreaks of pet food–associated renal failure (2 dogs in 2004; 10 cats and 4 dogs in 2007) were evaluated for histopathologic, toxicologic, and clinicopathologic changes. All 16 animals had clinical and laboratory evidence of uremia, including anorexia, vomiting, lethargy, polyuria, azotemia, and hyperphosphatemia. Where measured, serum hepatic enzyme concentrations were normal in animals from both outbreaks. All animals died or were euthanized because of severe uremia. Distal tubular lesions were present in all 16 animals, and unique polarizable crystals with striations were present in distal tubules or collecting ducts in all animals. The proximal tubules were largely unaffected. Crystals and histologic appearance were identical in both outbreaks. A chronic pattern of histologic change, characterized by interstitial fibrosis and inflammation, was observed in some affected animals. Melamine and cyanuric acid were present in renal tissue from both outbreaks. These results indicate that the pet food–associated renal failure outbreaks in 2004 and 2007 share identical clinical, histologic, and toxicologic findings, providing compelling evidence that they share the same causation.

Key Words: Cyanuric acid • melamine • nephrotoxicosis • pet food • renal

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Puschner, R. H. Poppenga, L. J. Lowenstine, M. S. Filigenzi, and P. A. Pesavento Assessment of melamine and cyanuric acid toxicity in cats J Vet Diagn Invest, November 1, 2007; 19(6): 616 - 624. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]