Infection-related glomerulonephritis

Abstract

The epidemiology of infection related glomerulonephritis has been changing during recent decades. With the successful treatment of streptococcal infections, the incident of classic post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is decreasing in most developed countries. In contrast, we see staphylococcus infection related glomerulonephritis more frequently. Animal models reproducing these glomerulonephritides are scant, particularly because it is difficult to develop clinically relevant animal models of infection related glomerulonephritis. Species specific immune responses as well as differences in susceptibility between species and even between animal strains make the interpretation of animal models difficult. Still, these models significantly contributed to our understanding of infection related glomerulonephritis. This is a short review focusing on the existing animal models of infection associated glomerulonephritis.