An experimental animal model of Kashin-Beck disease.

Twelve young macaque monkeys were fed with grain and water from areas actively endemic or non-endemic for Kashin-Beck disease. Both dietary grain and water from geographical areas endemic for Kashin-Beck disease induced a sequence of pathological changes in the growth plates and articular cartilage and biochemical changes in the serum and urine of monkeys. These changes are similar to those in human Kashin-Beck disease. It is considered that this may be a simple and valuable model for the further study of this disease and its management and control. The results suggest that the pathogenetic factors of Kashin-Beck disease relate both to grain and to water in the diet in endemic areas. The experiment also shows that certain serum enzyme concentrations correlate with chondronecrosis.