Persistência de Lobulação Renal Fetal em Gato Doméstico: Relato de dois casos

Abstract

Anomalies or birth defects may be abnormalities of structure, function or metabolism present at birth, many don't present major animal health issues. Congenital urinary tract anomalies are common, but many remain asymptomatic or symptoms appear belatedly. The persistence of fetal lobulation is an abnormality of shape, being the irregularity of renal contour, without loss of function. When any morphological difference is observed that doesn't cause functional impairment to the organ, it's called anatomical variation. This paper reports two cases of persistent fetal renal lobulation without loss of function. The anatomical alteration was observed in a cat without clinical symptoms, and then four other cats of the same litter and the matrix were investigated. Ultrasound examinations of all animals were performed, besides hematological examinations, urinalysis and computed tomography of the felines that presented the morphological abnormalities. Animals with persistent fetal lobulation showed no clinical signs of pathology and serum biochemistry (urea, creatinine, and phosphorus) and urinalysis were within normal limits. Ultrasound examination was suggestive of persistent fetal lobulation, which was confirmed with computed tomography. SDMA, an early indicator of chronic kidney disease, was high in both animals. Persistence of fetal renal lobulation may occur in domestic cats as an anatomical variation, without impairing organ function. The monitoring of clinical cases of domestic animals is important in determining the possible disappearance of this anatomical change throughout the life of the animal, and more importantly in determining the possible functional loss due to morphological variation..