KIDNEY AND LIVER PATHOLOGY IN HUMAN AND EXPERIMENTAL LEPTOSPIROSIS
Abstract
A light and electron microscopy of human and experimental leptospirosis of the guinea pig was done. The human study was carried out in kidney biopsies. The experimental work, in guinea pigs, was done both in the kidney and liver and histochemical techniques were also performed. The earliest lesion found was at the cell membrane, with partial or total disappearance of the brush border of the cells of the proximal tubuli as well as partial disappearance and distortion of the microvilli of the hepatic cells. Intercellular spaces were found to be enlarged both in the liver and kidney. Capillaries of the experimental animal showed endothelial cell tumefaction and, sometimes, disjunction of the endothelial lining, a finding also in accordance with the basic pathology of the disease. Mitochondrial pathology, seen in humans, was seen in the experimental animal only at the late phase of the disease. However, a definite increase of so called 'dense bodies,' whose origin was discussed, was seen in both cases. Also described, a mild but definite focal glomerular lesion, which provides anatomical basis for the proteinuria seen in the disease. The above described pathology is in accordance with the possibility of a toxin as the main mechanism acting in leptospiral pathogenicity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0623610
Entities
People
- D. O. Penna
- E. Freymueller
- H. S. Santos
- S. Soares De Almeida
- Thales De Brito
Organizations
- University of São Paulo