Glomerulopathy with IgA deposition in the dog.

In 100 dogs autopsied, glomerular IgA deposition was examined by the immunofluorescence technique and the histopathological features of glomeruli with IgA deposition were examined by light and electron microscopy. The incidence of the IgA deposition was age-related but there were no sex and breed predisposition. Deposition of IgA was observed mainly in mesangial areas in approximately a half (47%) of dogs examined. IgG, IgM and C3 often co-deposited. Histopathology of the glomeruli with IgA deposition indicated increase of mesangial cells, crescent formation, hemispherical deposits in paramesangial areas and glomerular sclerosis. Ultrastructurally electron dense substances positive for IgA deposited in mesangial and paramesangial areas. The examination to know the relation between the severity of IgA deposition and the number of mesangial cells or percent of the cells to total glomerular cells indicated that mesangial cells increased at the early stage of the disease and subsequently epithelial and endothelial cells proliferated as the increasing amount of IgA. Dogs suffering from enteritis or liver diseases showed high incidence of glomerular IgA deposition.