A case of hepato-renal syndrome associated with paratuberculosis in goat

Abstract

Hepato-renal syndrome is a type of functional kidney failure due to acute or chronic liver diseases. A five year old female, crossbred goat was presented for post-mortem examination. On necropsy, icteric discoloration of carcass with enlarged liver, thickened jejunal and ileal mucosa and enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes were observed. Severe lipidosis of liver, hypertrophied hepatocytes, mononuclear cell infiltration of parenchyma and portal triads, fusion of villi, and extensive infiltration by mononuclear cells (epithelioid-macrophages, plasma cells and lymphocytes) and occasional giant cells were observed around a central caseated and calcified mass surrounded by fibrous tissue proliferation in the lamina propria of intestine. Calcification of the mesenteric lymph node was confirmed by Von Kossa staining as dark brown to black deposits. Severe glomerular and tubular degeneration, necrosis and presence of bile casts were observed in kidney, which was confirmed by Hall's staining. Diffuse golden yellow hemosiderin pigment deposits were observed in the splenic parenchyma, which wasconfirmedbyPerl's Prussianbluestainingasbluishblackpigments. Ziehl-Neelsenstainingrevealedacid-fastbacilli inthelamina propria of intestine. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) using anti-M. aviumsubspp. paratuberculosis immune serum showed positive brown signals intracellularly in the macrophages and epithelioid cells in the lamina propria of intestine. Demonstration of acid-fast organism and IHC confirmed paratuberculosisinfection and the cascade of injury consequent to the disease might have resulted in hepato-renal syndrome and death of the affected animal.