Novel insights into canine proteinuria

Abstract

Albuminuria and proteinuria are both hallmarks of glomerular dysfunction. As albuminuria often precedes proteinuria, its measurement can be helpful in the early recognition of kidney diseases. Albuminuria has been detected in dogs with several inflammatory, infectious, and neoplastic diseases. It has long been known that Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) can cause proteinuria and albuminuria as consequences of glomerular damage. Many studies described membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in dogs with spontaneous and experimentally induced heartworm infection. Although glomerular lesions can be pronounced, kidney failure and azotemia are usually absent. In Europe, Dirofilaria repens, and D. immitis are both dispersed. D. repens causes subcutaneous and ocular dirofilariasis in canids and is considered a less harmful infection than heartworm. It is unknown whether D. repens is capable of causing similar glomerular lesions to those caused by D. immitis.