Changes

[[Image:pulpy kidney gross.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Pulpy kidney disease- gross (Courtesy of Bristol BioMed Image Archive)]]

[[Image:pulpy kidney gross.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Pulpy kidney disease- gross (Courtesy of Bristol BioMed Image Archive)]]

In young lambs, the only change observable on post-mortem examination may be the presence of a few hyperaemic areas on the intestine and a fluid-filled pericardial sac⁴. Intestinal lesions may even be absent². Animals, particularly older ones, may have myocardial haemorrhages as well as petechiation of visceral surfaces and abdominal muscles^{2, 4, 6}. Pulmonary oedema and congestion is often present and there may be pleural, peritoneal or pericardial effusions^{2, 4}.. The fluid is variable in volume and can be straw or red coloured, sometimes containing fibrin clots^ivis. The kidneys often rapidly autolyse, as suggested by the name "pulpy kidney", but this is not a pathognomic finding.  

In young lambs, the only change observable on post-mortem examination may be the presence of a few hyperaemic areas on the intestine and a fluid-filled pericardial sac⁴. Intestinal lesions may even be absent². Animals, particularly older ones, may have myocardial haemorrhages as well as petechiation of visceral surfaces and abdominal muscles^{2, 4, 6}. Pulmonary oedema and congestion is often present and there may be pleural, peritoneal or pericardial effusions^{2, 4}. The fluid is variable in volume and can be straw or red coloured, sometimes containing fibrin clots^ivis. The kidneys often rapidly autolyse, as suggested by the name "pulpy kidney", but this is not a pathognomic finding.  

Lesions of the central nervous system account for the neurologic signs sometimes seen. There is a bilaterally symmetrical focal malacia of the basal ganglia and thalamus, with demyelination occuring in the internal capsule, subcortical white matter and cerebellar peduncles⁶. Histological examination of the brain is often used to confirm a diagnosis of pulpy kidney¹. Capillaries are occluded by aggregated platelets, and gorssly this gives petechiation of the damages areas. The cerebellar white matter shows periaxonal and intramyelinic oedema, and there is swelling of axon terminals and dendrites near the lateral ventricles⁶. The nuceli of damaged endothelial cells appear pyknotic, and astrocyte end feet are markedly swollen. Swelling of mitochondria may also be seen ⁶.

Lesions of the central nervous system account for the neurologic signs. There is a bilaterally symmetrical focal malacia of the basal ganglia and thalamus, with demyelination occuring in the internal capsule, subcortical white matter and cerebellar peduncles⁶. Histological examination of the brain is often used to confirm a diagnosis of pulpy kidney¹. Capillaries are occluded by aggregated platelets, and grossly this gives petechiation of the damaged areas. The cerebellar white matter shows periaxonal and intramyelinic oedema, and there is swelling of axon terminals and dendrites near the lateral ventricles⁶. The nuceli of damaged endothelial cells appear pyknotic, and astrocyte end feet are markedly swollen. Swelling of mitochondria may also be seen ⁶.

==Treatment and Control==

==Treatment and Control==