Pathological aspects of vasa recta fibrosis in kidney of dromedary camels

Gross and microscopic lesions of the kidneys were examined in 50 adult camels of both sexes at the point of slaughter in AL-Ahsa abattoirs. Grossly out of 50 camels examined, 17 (34%) showed some gross pathological alterations. The affected kidneys were pale, enlarged with swollen capsule. Microscopic examination after staining with Hematoxylin and Eosin, Trichrome and Congo red stains was carried out in all grossly affected renal tissues (n=17). Renal tissues stained with H&E revealed focal areas of degenerative changes in both cortical and medullary tubules. In addition, widening in the interstitial matrix at the medullary vasa recta with capillary congestion was observed in 12 (70.58 %) renal tissue samples. However, using trichrome stain confirmed vasa recta fibrosis, which is characteristic by collagen fibre deposition. Moreover, intratubular homogenous material within vasa recta were shown in 5 (29.41 %) renal tissue samples. No evidence of amyloidosis was seen in renal samples after staining with Congo red stain. None of the renal tissue samples showed a defined inflammatory response. These results showed that the camels may be exposed to nephrotoxins in the study area possibly from agrochemicals or from the soil around they graze.