Obstructive Uropathy and Nephropathy

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—RADIOGRAPHY AND ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF BILATERAL CONGENITAL URETEROVESICAL JUNCTION STENOSIS CAUSING HYDRONEPHROSIS AND HYDROURETER IN A FERRET (MUSTELA PUTORIUS FURO)

“…Vesicoureteral reflux is the most common urological anomaly in children with potentially serious consequences such as hypertension, renal scarring, and renal failure . Reflux may be primary, or secondary to obstruction, ectopic ureters, infection, neuropathies, neoplasia, or iatrogenic causes . The association of vesicoureteral reflux and ureterovesical junction obstruction with consequent hydroureter and hydronephrosis has also been described in human patients …”

“…Ureteral obstruction is a potentially life‐threatening condition which leads to a restriction of urine flow that results in hydronephrosis and hydroureter, and in severe or prolonged cases progressive loss of renal function develops . Ureteral obstruction may occur from intraluminal, extramural, or mural causes . Differential diagnosis in ferrets include urolithiasis, gross pyuria, urethral compression due to prostatic disease or other cystic paraurethral structures, iatrogenic ligation, nodular steatonecrosis, ureteral strictures, and neoplasia …”

“…Disruptions of diverse factors and genetic pathways involved in the normal development processes of the urinary tract (induction of the metanephric kidney, establishment of the urinary conduit, or maturation of the pyeloureteral peristaltic machinery) have been linked with ureteral obstruction in humans . Patients suffering from this condition may remain asymptomatic, and can be diagnosed later in life, or may present with clinical signs such as dysuria, hematuria, abdominal pain, vomiting, anorexia, weight loss, and lethargy, or signs of severe anuric acute renal failure in bilateral ureteral obstruction …”

“…Vesicoureteral reflux is a retrograde urine movement from the urinary bladder to the ureters. It is common in young animals and probably results from undeveloped ureterovesical junctions; it is often transient as the length of the ureteral submucosal portion increased during maturation . Vesicoureteral reflux is the most common urological anomaly in children with potentially serious consequences such as hypertension, renal scarring, and renal failure .…”

“…7 Ureteral obstruction may occur from intraluminal, extramural, or mural causes. 8,9 Differential diagnosis in ferrets include urolithiasis, gross pyuria, urethral compression due to prostatic disease or other cystic paraurethral structures, iatrogenic ligation, nodular steatonecrosis, ureteral strictures, and neoplasia. 1,3,10 Ureteral stricture is defined as a circumscribed narrowing or stenosis, usually consisting of scar contraction, 11,12 and can be classified as congenital or acquired.…”