Ochratoxicosis in Beagle Dogs. II. Pathology

Abstract

The gross lesions in 23 young male Beagle dogs given daily oral doses of 0.2–3.0 mg/kg body weight ochratoxin A consisted of moderate to severe mucohemorrhagic enteritis of the cecum, colon, and rectum; tonsillitis: and enlargement of lymph nodes, which were edematous, hyperemic and focally necrotic. Histopathologic alterations in the kidneys consisted of necrosis and desquamation of epithelial cells mainly in, but not limited to, proximal convoluted tubules. Many proximal and distal convoluted tubules contained eosinophilic, granular casts. Necrosis of lymphoid tissues was a prominent feature of the mycotoxicosis and focally occurred in, but was not limited to, germinal centers in the spleen, tonsils, thymus, and lymph nodes and the lymphoid nodules of the jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon, rectum and nictitating membrane. Necrosis did not occur in bone marrow. Hepatic alterations consisted of slight to moderate centrilobular necrosis and fatty change and occurred mainly in dogs receiving 0.2–0.3 mg/kg body weight ochratoxin A daily for 11–14 days.