Nutritionally induced necrotizing glomerulonephritis and polyarteritis nodosa in pigs.

A florid necrotizing glomerulonephritis was found in all 48 pigs that were fed a waste product from the industrial production of the proteolytic enzyme Alcalase NOVO. In addition, three of the animals developed a lesion identical to polyarteritis nodosa. Focal necrosis of the glomeruli was observed in all animals. Electron microscopy showed electron dense deposits at the subendothelial and subepithelial side of the basement membrane of the glomerular capillary wall and in the mesangium. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed IgM in a fine granular pattern in the glomeruli of all 48 pigs. This appears to be the first report on nutritionally induced glomerulonephritis and polyarteritis nodosa in pigs.