The Pathology of Nephrotoxicity of Gentamicin in Snakes

Two gopher snakes (Pitophis melanoleucus catenifer) each were given 5 mg/kg body weight of gentamicin every 72 hours (group 1); two snakes each were given 5 mg/kg/day (group 2). Doses for both groups were given over a 2-week period. After the second week, the dose for one snake in each group was increased to 50 mg/kg/day for 2 more weeks and then discontinued. Weekly renal biopsies taken from snakes in group 1 showed no abnormalities by light microscopy during and at the completion of the experiment. Snakes in group 2 had cloudy swelling of the proximal tubules at 2 and 4 weeks after the gentamicin was administered. Snakes given the high dose of gentamicin had hydropic degeneration of the proximal tubules 2 weeks after the dose was raised to 50 mg/kg/day. This progressed to tubular necrosis 1 week after the gentamicin was discontinued. These snakes (high dose) also developed visceral gout, apparently as the result of the extensive tubular necrosis. Tophi were in the pericardium, serosal membranes and parenchyma of the kidneys, liver, spleen and lungs.

[1]  M. Debroe,et al.  Nephrotoxicity of Gentamicin in the Human-kidney , 1980 .

[2]  M. Bush,et al.  Effect of feeding on plasma uric acid levels in snakes. , 1978, American journal of veterinary research.

[3]  R. Arthur,et al.  Biological half-life of gentamicin in gopher snakes. , 1978, American journal of veterinary research.

[4]  R. Eisinger,et al.  Gentamicin-associated acute renal failure. , 1976, Archives of internal medicine.

[5]  D. Ginsburg,et al.  Renal glycosuria due to gentamicin in rabbits. , 1976, The Journal of infectious diseases.

[6]  D. Houghton,et al.  A light and electron microscopic analysis of gentamicin nephrotoxicity in rats. , 1976, The American journal of pathology.

[7]  E. Jacobson.  Gentamicin-related visceral gout in two bold snakes. , 1976, Veterinary medicine, small animal clinician : VM, SAC.

[8]  F. Cuppage,et al.  Gentamicin nephrotoxicity in rats. I. Acute biochemical and ultrastructural effects. , 1975, Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology.

[9]  G. Kaloyanides,et al.  Effect of gentamicin on renal function in the rat. , 1975, The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.

[10]  J. Pennington,et al.  Pharmacokinetics of gentamicin sulfate in bronchial secretions. , 1975, The Journal of infectious diseases.

[11]  J R Pattison,et al.  Experience in Monitoring Gentamicin Therapy during Treatment of Serious Gram-Negative Sepsis , 1974, British medical journal.

[12]  R. Cole,et al.  Impaired renal clearance of uric acid in chickens having hyperuricemia and articular gout. , 1972, The American journal of physiology.

[13]  Marcus Lc.  Infectious diseases of reptiles. , 1971 .

[14]  J. Burke,et al.  Renal insufficiency associated with gentamicin therapy. , 1971, The Journal of infectious diseases.

[15]  H. Miyata,et al.  Experimental ototoxicity of gentamicin in squirrel monkeys. , 1971, Journal of Infectious Diseases.

[16]  L. C. Marcus.  Infectious diseases of reptiles. , 1971, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

[17]  J. Wallach,et al.  Visceral gout in captive reptiles. , 1967, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

[18]  C. Kunin.  A guide to use of antibiotics in patients with renal disease. A table of recommended doses and factors governing serum levels. , 1967, Annals of internal medicine.

[19]  L. Page.  Diseases and Infections of Snakes: A Review1 , 1966 .

[20]  B. Calesnick,et al.  PHARMACOLOGY OF GENTAMICIN, A NEW BROAD-SPECTRUM ANTIBIOTIC. , 1963, Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy.

[21]  W. Siller,et al.  Some cases of gout in reptiles. , 1960, The Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology.

[22]  J. Bishop,et al.  A histological and histochemical study of the kidney tubule of the common garter snake, thamnophis sirtalis, with special reference to the sexual segment in the male , 1959, Journal of morphology.