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Glomerulosclerosis in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)
1Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA.
Veterinary Pathology
|January 28, 1999
Summary
Glomerulosclerosis, a kidney disease, affects 82% of captive cheetahs, causing premature death. Adrenal hyperplasia and high-protein diets may contribute to this widespread condition in endangered cheetahs.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Nephrology
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) are endangered with high captive mortality.
- Renal failure due to glomerulosclerosis is a primary cause of death in captive cheetahs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the morphologic, histochemical, and epidemiologic features of glomerulosclerosis in captive cheetahs.
- To investigate potential contributing factors to this kidney disease.
Main Methods:
- Kidney examination of 87 cheetahs using light microscopy.
- Ultrastructural, histochemical, and immunohistochemical analysis of six cheetah kidneys.
- Assessment for advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs), collagen, glycoproteins, reticulin, and fibrin.
Main Results:
- Glomerulosclerosis was found in 82% of cheetahs, with 30% showing moderate to severe lesions.
- Affected kidneys exhibited thickened glomerular and tubular basement membranes positive for collagen, glycoproteins, reticulin, and AGEs.
- Adrenal cortical hyperplasia was prevalent and strongly correlated with glomerulosclerosis; no diabetic lesions were observed.
Conclusions:
- Cheetah glomerulosclerosis resembles human diabetic glomerulopathy and rat chronic progressive nephropathy.
- Hypercorticoidism, potentially linked to adrenal hyperplasia, may drive lesion progression via hyperglycemia and glomerular hypertension.
- High-protein diets and low genetic diversity may exacerbate glomerulosclerosis in captive cheetah populations.