Polycystic kidney disease associated with multiple cysts in ovaries and uterus in an adult donkey

Abstract

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a disorder of the nephron characterised by the presence of multiple cysts in kidney. Human beings and various animal species may be affected by this disease. PKD is heritable and classified either as autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) or autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The present study describes polycysts in the kidneys, ovaries and uterus in a 3 year-old donkey. Cortex and medulla of both kidneys were affected by several fluid filled cysts ranging from 5 mm to over 3 cm in diameter. The histopathological examination of the kidneys revealed multiple circular, ovoid to polygonal cysts. Renal cysts walls were lined by a single layer of low cuboidal to squamous cells that originated from every segment of nephrons. Connective tissue and lymphoplasmacytic inflammation was observed around the renal cysts. No other inflammatory reaction was detected in the kidneys. Medulla showed fibrosis and hyperplastic changes in the epithelial cells of collecting tubules. Ovaries had multiple follicular cysts up to 10 cm in diameter. The uterus mucosal membrane was slightly pale, thickened and edematous and showed variable sizes of translucent cysts containing clear fluid that bulged into the endometrial surface of uterine body and horns. The size of cysts ranged from approximately 5 mm to 3 cm in diameter and the larger ones were found in the uterus horns. The pathology findings of this case of PKD were similar to those found in human ADPKD.