http://www.vetpathology.org/cgi/content/abstract/45/3/417

ENVIRONMENTAL PATHOLOGY

Characterization of Melamine-containing and Calcium Oxalate Crystals in Three Dogs with Suspected Pet Food–induced Nephrotoxicosis

M. E. Thompson, M. R. Lewin-Smith, V. F. Kalasinsky, K. M. Pizzolato, M. L. Fleetwood, M. R. McElhaney and T. O. Johnson
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC (MET,1 MRL-S, VFK, KMP, MLF, TOJ,1), Idexx Veterinary Services, West Sacramento, CA (MRM)

Abstract

The histomorphologic characteristics and chemical composition of the crystals associated with suspected pet food–induced nephrotoxicosis in 3 dogs are described. Kidney specimens from 2 dogs, a 3-year-old Parson Russell Terrier and a 3-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, were examined. Both developed acute renal failure after eating canned pet food on the 2007 Menu Foods recall list. The third case was a kidney specimen from a 1-year-old mixed-breed dog from a similar 2004 outbreak of canine renal failure in Taiwan, which occurred after eating a commercial dog food. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE), 72-hour Oil Red O (ORO72h), Alizarin Red S (pH 4.1–4.3), and Von Kossa stains; infrared (IR) spectroscopy; and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDXA) were performed to determine the histomorphologic characteristics and chemical composition of the crystals observed in each case. Histomorphologic findings in each case included acute, marked tubular degeneration and necrosis with many intratubular birefringent crystals, and lymphoplasmacytic interstitial nephritis. In each case, most of the crystals were rough, pale brown, and stained with ORO72h but did not stain with Alizarin Red S (pH 4.1–4.3) or Von Kossa stains; these features were consistent with a plastic or lipid. IR spectroscopy and SEM/EDXA results were consistent with melamine-containing crystals. A second crystal type identified in each case was smooth and platelike with staining characteristics and IR spectroscopy and SEM/EDXA results consistent with calcium oxalate crystals. Melamine-containing crystals have distinct light microscopic, histochemical, and SEM/EDXA characteristics that facilitate their identification in tissue.

http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.233.5.729

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
September 1, 2008, Vol. 233, No. 5, Pages 729-737
doi: 10.2460/javma.233.5.729

Clinicopathologic, histologic, and toxicologic findings in 70 cats inadvertently exposed to pet food contaminated with melamine and cyanuric acid

Rachel E. Cianciolo, VMD; Karyn Bischoff, DVM, DABVT, MS; Joseph G. Ebel, BS; Thomas J. Van Winkle, VMD, DACVP; Richard E. Goldstein, DVM, DACVIM; Laurie M. Serfilippi, VMD, DACLAM
Department of Pathology and Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (Cianciolo, Van Winkle); Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. (Bischoff); Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. (Ebel); Hospital for Animals, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. (Goldstein); Aspen Hollow Veterinary Services, RR1 Box 105, Thompson, PA 18465. (Serfilippi)
Dr. Cianciolo's present address is the Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606.

The authors thank Joseph Hillebrandt and Kerry Manzell for technical assistance, Randall Lovell and Scott Moroff for expertise and guidance, and Hollis Erb for assistance with statistical analysis.

Address correspondence to Dr. Bischoff.
Objective—To document clinicopathologic, histologic, and toxicologic findings in cats inadvertently exposed to pet food contaminated with melamine and cyanuric acid.

Design—Case series.

Animals—70 cats from a single cattery inadvertently fed contaminated food that was the subject of a March 2007 recall.

Procedures—Clinical signs, clinicopathologic and histopathologic findings, and results of toxicologic analyses were recorded

Results—Clinical signs were identified in 43 cats and included inappetence, vomiting, polyuria, polydipsia, and lethargy. Azotemia was documented in 38 of the 68 cats for which serum biochemical analyses were performed 7 to 11 days after consumption of the contaminated food. One cat died, and 13 were euthanized. Histologic examination of kidney specimens from 13 cats revealed intratubular crystalluria, tubular necrosis with regeneration, and subcapsular perivascular inflammation characterized by perivascular fibroplasia or fibrosis and inflammation with intravascular fibrin thrombi. Toxicologic analyses revealed melamine and cyanuric acid in samples of cat food, vomitus, urine, and kidneys.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In cats unintentionally fed pet food contaminated with melamine and cyanuric acid, the most consistent clinical and pathologic abnormalities were associated with the urinary tract, specifically tubular necrosis and crystalluria.

Our legal system isn't much better - Nancy Nord, Nancy Cook, Andrew V., etc - PFI. The money controls the legal system and the enforcement.  Lawyers that would write a settlement like Menu Foods.... no words can express the disgust. Thousands of pets have no justice and no solution for the damage done to the surviving pets.

Over a year later  & many of us have no closure and have as much pain & grief as last year... and here we are watching the same thing happen to babies

History repeats itself unless we learn our lessons about food safety

What amazes me is how fast numbers & testing stats & suppliers are being released. Maybe they could teach the FDA how to be transparent and work faster. Or maybe get the FDA science more current. We suffered and our animals were sickened & killed for months on end and the FDA was less than forthcoming during the whole thing.

In spite of the delay admitting it (which is close to the same amount of time Menu Foods just sat on the issue), they sure have been "fast" getting the information out, and you cannot say that at all about the FDA or the pet food companies.

You & Rikers are in our prayers.. huggers...

Yes, the Nestle was reported at 1.4. Hong Kong article? I can't find the thing now.

http://en.ce.cn/National/Local/200809/22/t20080922_16870154.shtml

A sample of pure milk was found to contain melamine. The product was Nestle Dairy Farm Pure Milk (Catering use only) (1L) and the level of melamine detected was 1.4 ppm.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10533201&pnum=0

Testing by China's State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine found the melamine content in San Lu's milk powder sample to be 2563mg a kilogram, far higher than others, which ranged from 0.09mg to 619mg a kilo, said the official Xinhua News Agency.


(I gotta snark - PURE? Tickle me! Nestle originally said their product had no melamine..then discounted the amount found in theirs.)

http://itchmoforums.com/recall-nonpet-food/melamine-suspected-chinese-officials-say-baby-formula-tied-to-kidney-stones-t6256.0.html;msg88142#msg88142

I think one is across the country (12000) and one is across the nation (39000)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/China/12000_babies_hospitalized_for_taking_contaminated_milk_China_/articleshow/3511260.cms

A total number of 12,892 babies were hospitalised throughout the country, of which condition of 104 were serious, the Xinhua news agency quoted officials from the Ministry of Health as saying.

About 39,965 babies were hospitalised, across the nation, after they fell ill following the consumption of contaminated milk powder, while 1,579 babies had been treated and released from the hospital.

How did they treat the babies? With what for what? That part truly puzzles me.

Wow, 3Cat, take a look at the linked report you posted and then look at this one...

There's an additional paragraph:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/China/12000_babies_hospitalized_for_taking_contaminated_milk_China_/articleshow/3511260.cms

About 39,965 babies were hospitalised, across the nation, after they fell ill following the consumption of contaminated milk powder, while 1,579 babies had been treated and released from the hospital.

Anybody a member of consumer labs?

Maybe they'll pick this up and test.

Cos we've got Nestle quoted as saying there is no melamine in theirs , then the test saying there is and Nestle saying that's  ok , just a small amount.

Maybe not to consumers...

Well, some time back a Darling rendering employee said they got stuff from Menu.. so it might not be as "proprietary"....

Does Nestle make a powdered milk? Like in a box, just add water? Who else makes it?
I have the Kroger storebrand coffee creamer.  I have to go to the grocery this week and will take a look at the stuff & around the oriental/asian food products for gluten/dairy products.

Lots of use for the powdered milk products... goes out with a lot of packages to help needy folks too.

If this has been happening like the guy in China said since April 2005, then sheesh.. I think expired dates like found around BigLots or Family Dollar type stores might be a good check.

I sincerely hope there's a public outcry by consumers to denounce any level of melamine - in/from any country.

Who tests below 10ppm for melamine & how much? How much is the quantification (or whatever it's called) to determine the amount of it if it's found?

Menusux.. my non-diary coffee creamer has "sodium caseinate (a milk derivative)" on the label... "contains: milk derivative, soy"

I'm so brain dead at the moment that I have no clue if that's good/bad as far as melamine contamination...

Sigh, the word I dreaded - non-dairy coffee creamer - and here's it comes...
(running to check the store brand)...

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/taipei/2008/09/22/175684/Melamine-taints.htm

Public health officials announced yesterday melamine taints instant coffee, milk tea and chicken-and-corn soup that have non-dairy creamer mixed with them.
All tainted products came from China.

"It's the first time the non-dairy creamer was found to have been tainted by melamine," said Dr. Song An-jen, deputy director-general of the Department of Health (DOH).

I don't know what to think anymore about businesses & our governments... I mean I have a sailor's vocabulary *^&% already how much lower can it get?


This is an excerpt from an email I received from a reporter last year during the recalls:
It apparently has been proven to be true & the FDA complicit in the adulterations with their dilution theories/risk assessments with NO long term science studies to support them allowing us all to be poisoned.

"We actually had a group of Chinese journalists at __ (redacted -their office) on __ (redacted-day of the week) and one of my colleagues asked them about the melamine.  They said it's in everything.  FDA probably doesn't want to cause widespread panic.  But all of this raises a lot of questions that, at least, I know journalists are beginning to look into."

Robin Tickle said today in a telephone interview.

""This is not made from milk adulterated with melamine,'' Tickle said. "These are very minute traces.''

Now, I vote that Robin Tickle finds a new job. And, I vote that there's an international boycott earned by Nestle for that statement.

Long term health consequences aren't even part of the consideration, so IMO, Tickle, just said they don't care about our long term health, only concern is the quick buck & their financial gratification from continuing to sell their products with known toxins (no matter the level) .....

At the very least, all the chocolate lovers should immediately switch brands...

 Bernard seems to have been right. Uric acid from metabolizing high levels of nitrogen compounds can most likely replace the cyanuric acid part of the equation. Pets sick/dead with cyanuric acid & no melamine in the food or with melamine & no cyanuric acid in the food.

All the things shown in Gout, are most likely going to be the long term consequences and a clue to caring for damaged animals.. but Gout is human, is this what it looks like in animals?? pretty darn close is my bet. which is why this off chart pet owner is emailing anybody I can to ask about it. ..  If I'm an idiot that's ok.. but I have to ask.