100 SWINE DISEASES 



obstruction of collecting tubules and favor cyst formation. 

 Cicatrization of newly formed fibrous tissue may obstruct 

 the outflow of urine and cause cyst formation. Complete 

 obstruction of the ureters or kidney pelvis will not as a 

 rule result in hydronephrosis, as this condition results in 

 a compensatory activity on the part of the normal 

 kidney. 



Lesions. Hydronephrosis may occur as cysts in the 

 renal substance or the kidney may be practically replaced 

 by a variable-sized watery bag. The cysts vary in size 

 from a pinhead to an inch in diameter. There may be 

 myriads of the small cysts scattered throughout the 

 kidney but occurring primarily in the cortical portion. 

 The larger cysts are usually not numerous and they 

 frequently represent the fusion of small cysts. The cysts 

 have a bluish-white color, are definitely surrounded by a 

 distinct capsule, and the content is thin and watery. 

 The kidney substance between the cysts is atrophied, 

 due to pressure. In extreme cases the kidney capsule 

 may serve as the cystic capsule, the entire mass being 

 much enlarged and the small atrophied kidney floating 

 within. Richter reported a case of a hydronephrotic 

 kidney weighing over ninety pounds. 



Hemorrhage 



Kidney hemorrhage is relatively common in swine, 

 not as a primary condition, but associated with some 

 disease. The extravasated blood may escape into the 

 uriniferous or collecting tubules, producing hematuria, 

 or it may escape into the kidney tissue. 



Etiology. Injury of the capillaries, either glomerular 

 or tubular, may result in hemorrhage. The vessels are 

 most frequently damaged by chemical substances that 

 are being eliminated in the urine or by products of 

 bacteria produced in the kidney or elsewhere in the 

 body. 



Lesions. Escaped blood into the uriniferous tubules 

 may be detected by examination of the urine, which, by 

 the way, is very infrequently done. The urine will be 



