Person:
Pérez Alenza, María De Los Dolores

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First Name
María De Los Dolores
Last Name
Pérez Alenza
Affiliation
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Faculty / Institute
Veterinaria
Department
Medicina y Cirugía Animal
Area
Medicina y Cirugía Animal
Identifiers
UCM identifierORCIDScopus Author IDWeb of Science ResearcherIDDialnet IDGoogle Scholar ID

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
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    Histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in lymphoid tissues of the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus)
    (Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 2006) Peña Fernández, Laura Luisa; García Palencia, María Del Pilar; Jiménez Martínez, María De Los Ángeles; Benito, Alberto; Pérez Alenza, María De Los Dolores; Sánchez Maldonado, María Belén
    The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is the most threatened wild feline in the world. Little is known about the diseases and pathology that affect this animal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histopathological status of the peripheral lymphoid tissues and thymus of Iberian lynxes necropsied between 1998 and 2003. Seventeen animals including females (n=8) and males (n=9), age range of 10 months to 16 years, with different causes of death were histopathologically and immunohistochemically (anti-CD3, CD79, MAC387, CD68) studied. Feline immunosuppressive virus laboratorial tests were negative. Five individuals presented neoplasia and/or tuberculosis. All animals presented some degree of both B and T cells depletion in peripheral lymphoid tissues and follicular hyalinosis in the center of depleted follicles. A viral origin of the lymphoid depletion is postulated although other causes (inbreeding, stress, toxic) are not ruled out. The loss of the effectiveness of the immune system increases the vulnerability of the critically endangered Iberian lynx to pathogens
  • Item
    Membranous glomerulonephritis in the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus)
    (Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 2008) Jiménez Martínez, María De Los Ángeles; Sánchez Maldonado, María Belén; Pérez Alenza, María De Los Dolores; García, Pilar; López, Jose Vicente; Rodriguez, Alejandro; Muñoz, Álvaro; Martínez, Fernando; Vargas, Astrid; Peña Fernández, Laura Luisa
    The Iberian lynx is the most endangered felid species in the world, confined nowadays to two isolated metapopulations in the southwest of Spain, where less than 200 individuals survive. Little is known about the diseases that affect these animals in the wild or in captivity. Kidney samples from necropsies of 27 Iberian lynxes, wild and captive, were examined by histopathology, immunohistochemistry (IgG, IgM, IgA, laminin, type IV collagen, and fibronectin), electron microscopy (n = 8) and immunogold labelling for IgM, IgG and IgA in one case, in order to characterize the glomerulopathy prevalent in this species. Urinalyses from records were available for 9 of the necropsied animals and blood and urine samples from 23 free ranging and captive Iberian lynxes were prospectively obtained in order to evaluate the renal function of the living population. A focal, diffuse membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) that progressed with age was diagnosed in all but one of the animals in different stages not associated to concurrently known infectious diseases. Positive immunoexpression of IgM and IgG was observed in the glomerular capillary basement membranes and intramembranous electron-dense deposits, compatible with immune complexes (ICs) were seen with electron microscopy. The immunogold labelling was also positive for IgM and IgG in the electron-dense areas. The serum biochemistry and urinalyses also revealed signs of mild chronic kidney disease in 16 of the 23 animals evaluated. In conclusion, the membranous glomerulopathy affecting the Iberian lynx is a progressive disease of immune origin. We postulate a possible genetic predisposition towards the disease, enhanced by inbreeding and a possible connection to an immune-mediated systemic disease.