Clinical and morphological manifestation of nephrosclerosis in cattle

The aim of the study was to establish the features of the clinical and morphological manifestation of nephrosclerosis in cattle. The object of lifetime and postmortem research was a Holstein black-and-white breeding bull at the age of two years. Blood and urine samples served as the material for laboratory studies. After forced slaughter, the bull was subjected to a pathological examination, with sampling of renal tissue for its pathohistological examination. The selected material was fixed in a 10.0% solution of neutral formalin. Then it was poured into paraffin according to the generally accepted method. Sections 5-7 microns thick were made from the obtained paraffin blocks, which were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. It has been established that the clinical picture of nephrosclerosis in cattle includes a variety of nonspecific clinical signs. It should be noted that this disease is most characterized by proteinuria, associated with a decrease in urine density, as well as anemia, manifested by a decrease in the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin levels. Among the biochemical abnormalities, it should be noted a significant increase in serum levels of urea, creatinine and phosphorus, which indicates renal failure, as well as increased activity of ALT and AST, which indicates damage to the liver and heart muscle. An autopsy reveals changes characteristic of bilateral chronic interstitial nephritis at the stage of sclerosis and atrophy of the parenchyma, catarrhal erosive abomasitis, catarrhal enteritis, cloudy swelling (granular dystrophy) of the liver, pulmonary edema and "asphyxiated heart", which is characteristic of acute systemic intoxication. At the microscopic level, extensive areas of renal tissue atrophy are detected in the kidneys, as well as significant inflammatory proliferates consisting of lymphocytes, macrophages, fibroblasts, and collagen fibers.