Congenital polycystic kidney disease in lambs

Authors: Davidson BI, Roe AR, Johnstone AC, Eccles MR, Jolly RD
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 53, Issue 5, pp 307-314, Oct 2005
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Breed/breeding, Congenital disease, Genetics, Inherited disease/conditions, Kidney/renal disease, Pathology, Disease/defect, Urinary system/urology
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: AIM: To describe the pathology and inheritance of a congenital polycystic kidney disease (PKD) of sheep.
METHODS: Mode of inheritance of PKD was investigated by evaluation of results of the disorder from planned matings in two consecutive years within subsets of a flock that had a high prevalence of PKD in lambs. Gross pathological and histopathological studies were based on tissues derived from this study. Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained paraffin sections of kidney, liver, extrahepatic biliary and pancreatic ducts, pancreas and epididymis were used to describe the lesions.
RESULTS: Twenty-five lambs affected by PKD, of both sexes, were born, numbers in accord with those expected for an autosomal recessive disorder in the population studied. In all cases for which tissues were available, the renal, bile ductal (intrahepatic and extrahepatic), pancreatic and epididymal tissues had widespread dysplastic changes and associated cyst formation.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings of renal cysts in conjunction with cysts in other organs are unifying features in many of the human and animal forms of PKD and suggest a related pathogenic and genetic base consistent with an autosomal recessive disorder.
KEY WORDS: Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease, sheep, congenital, kidney, liver, extrahepatic biliary ducts, pancreatic ducts, pancreas, epididymis

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