Immune complex glomerulonephritis of suspected iatrogenic origin in five Japanese Black calves

• Published in: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Vol. 80; no. 5; pp. 823 - 828
• Main Authors: GOSSELIN, Véronique BERNIER, KIM, Dae Y., NAGY, Dusty W., SHOEMAKE, Brian M., SHAW, Daniel P., ROYAL, Angela B., EVANS, Tim J., MIDDLETON, John R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan JAPANESE SOCIETY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 2018; Japan Science and Technology Agency; The Japanese Society of Veterinary Science
• Subjects: Calves; Core protein; Creatine; Creatine kinase; Embryo transfer; Glomerulonephritis; Hyperbilirubinemia; Hyperkalemia; Hyperphosphatemia; Iatrogenesis; Immunization; Internal Medicine; Kidney diseases; Necropsy; nephrotic syndrome; Proteinuria; Salmonella; vaccine; vasculitis; vaccine; glomerulonephritis; vasculitis; proteinuria; nephrotic syndrome
• ISSN: 0916-7250; 1347-7439
• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.17-0544

Five Japanese Black embryo transfer calves from a single embryo flush, 30 to 45-days-old, including 4 live animals for clinical examination and 1 dead for necropsy, were presented with a history of decreased milk intake and hypoproteinemia. Consistent clinicopathological abnormalities in the 4 calves presented for clinical evaluation included hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperbilirubinemia, increased creatine phosphokinase activity, and proteinuria. Four calves ultimately were necropsied and all had histologic evidence of immune complex glomerulonephritis. Glomerulonephritis in these calves was hypothesized to have resulted from the interaction of passively acquired antibodies at birth and active immunization at 7 and 28 days of age with a Salmonella Typhimurium core antigen vaccine.