Bilateral renal abscessation and chronic active pyelonephritis in a male camel (<i>Camelus dromedarius</i>) caused by <i>Escherichia coli</i>

Abstract

This report summarizes the clinical, hematobiochemical, ultrasonographic, histopathological and bacteriological findings in a male Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) with bilateral renal abscessation and chronic active pyelonephritis. Owner complaint included a decreased appetite and loss of body condition with occasionally voiding red urine. In the right kidney, ultrasonographic changes included a hypoechoic fluid surrounding the renal parenchyma. Within the left kidney, a large volume of hypoechoic contents were imaged. Bacteriological examination yielded only Escherichia coli. To the authors’ knowledge this is the first reported case of bilateral renal abscessation and chronic active pyelonephritis in dromedary camels. In conclusion, renal ultrasonography provides a precise and non-invasive technique for diagnosis and subsequent clinical decision making of renal abscessation and chronic pyelonephritis camels.

Ultrasonography of the liver in healthy and diseased camels (<i>Camelus dromedaries</i>)

“…Ultrasound-guidance in biopsy of hepatic and renal specimens [29] and in portocentesis [28] has also been reported in camels. In diseased camels, diagnostic ultrasonography has been applied for the evaluation and determining the prognosis of camels with abdominal distension [25], paratuberculosis [27], trypanosomiasis [18], abdominal disorders [30], urinary disorders [31], thoracic diseases [32], renal tumors [26], pyelonephritis [37,38], renal abscessation [37], gastrointestinal tumors [33], chronic peritonitis [20] and splenic abscessation [21].…”

Ultrasonography of the Kidneys in Healthy and Diseased Camels (Camelus dromedarius)

“…Renal ultrasonography provides a precise, noninvasive, and fast technique for the evaluation and subsequent clinical decision-making of renal abscessation and chronic active pyelonephritis in dromedary camels. Recently, bilateral, and unilateral chronic active pyelonephritis together with renal abscessation caused by E. coli and Staphylococcus lugdunensis infection was reported in a 12-year-old male and 6-year-old female camel, respectively [ 30 , 31 ]. In the male camel with bilateral pyelonephritis caused by E. coli , the transabdominal ultrasonographic examination of the right kidney revealed a hyperechogenic renal capsule with fibrin tags and echogenic renal cortex.…”

“…In the male camel with bilateral chronic active pyelonephritis caused by E. coli , histopathological findings of both kidneys showed congested renal glomeruli and tubules with colloid casts and a fibrous and granulation tissue part at the periphery. The interstitial tissue showed active and chronic cells infiltrate ( Figure 16 ) [ 31 ]. In the other female camel with unilateral pyelonephritis caused by Staphylococcus lugdunensis , histopathological findings of the affected kidney showed congestion and periglomerular fibrosis, with atrophic tubules, hyaline, and RBCs casts.…”

“… Gross pathological findings in a female dromedary camel with chronic suppurative pyelonephritis caused by Staphylococcus lugdunensis. Image (a) shows an enlarged abscessed kidney, while image (b) shows a longitudinal section of the affected kidney with corticomedullary abscess [ 31 ]. 1, cortex; 2, medulla; 3, abscess cavity.…”

“…Ultrasound-guided hepatic and renal biopsy and portocentesis have also been carried out in camels [ 17 , 20 , 21 ]. In diseased camels, diagnostic ultrasonography has been done for the evaluation and prognosis of abdominal distension [ 22 ], Johne's disease [ 23 ], trypanosomiasis [ 24 ], abdominal disorders [ 19 , 25 , 26 ], urinary disorders [ 27 ], thoracic affections [ 14 , 28 ], renal neoplasms [ 29 ], pyelonephritis and renal abscessation [ 30 , 31 ], GIT masses [ 32 , 33 ], chronic peritonitis [ 34 ], splenic abscessation [ 35 ], and hepatic disorders [ 17 ].…”