Early diagnosis of XXXX in English cocker spaniels.

@entity235 @entity644 @entity8 @entity2629
Two litters of English cocker spaniels (ECSs) produced by @entity8 ( @entity8 ) carriers were evaluated to characterize the early features of this disease. Three puppies developed @entity8 . @entity644 , which began when these puppies were five-to-eight months old, was the first abnormality detected. @entity644 persisted while each puppy's growth rate slowed, and renal function gradually deteriorated. The interval from onset of @entity644 to development of @entity2629 was two-to-nine months. Characteristic glomerular capillary basement membrane (GCBM) lesions were seen with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of renal biopsy specimens obtained during this interval. Ultrastructural GCBM lesions progressed substantially during the interval from biopsy to necropsy. However, routine light microscopic findings did not allow definitive diagnosis of @entity8 in either biopsy or necropsy specimens. Detection of @entity8 can be accomplished by screening at-risk ECSs for @entity644 . Renal biopsies are required to confirm the diagnosis in @entity235 for which @entity644 cannot be explained otherwise. Percutaneous needle biopsy specimens sufficient for TEM must be used to examine the GCBM to make a definitive diagnosis.
