RENAL-DISEASE IN YOUNG JAPANESE BLACK CATTLE

This paper reports the occurrence of renal disease in six young Japane se Black cattle. Their kidneys were atrophic and of granular appearanc e. Histologically, they exhibited interstitial fibrosis with inflammat ory cell infiltration, clusters of atrophic and cystic tubules, and th ickening of tubular and Bowman's basement membranes. Glomeruli were ma rkedly reduced in numbers and were hypercellular due to mesangial prol iferation. The affected cattle had a disease. common male ancestor, su ggesting a familial basis for this disease. (C) 1997 W.B. Saunders Com pany Limited.