Evaluation of kidney function in dogs suffering from canine encephalitozoonosis by standard clinical pathological and radiopharmaceutical techniques.

Canine encephalitozoonosis can be responsible for a severe renal disease in dogs which may develop into progressive, irreversible kidney failure. Three pure-bred Boxer littermates with confirmed encephalitozoonosis were subjected to sequential clinical pathological tests and renal biopsies. The endogenous serum creatinine and urea levels showed an initial temporary reduction but later increased steadily. The phenolsulphonphthalein retention test confirmed this end-stage renal disease. Initial hyper-gamma globulinaemia showed a rapid decline. Urinalysis was an indicator of chronic renal disease and the kidney biopsies confirmed progressive irreversible kidney lesions. Evaluation of sequential tests are advocated for the setting of a prognosis. The radiopharmaceutical techniques employed proved to be sensitive indicators of renal dysfunction and a means of evaluating the function of the left and right kidney separately.