[Infectious canine hepatitis in 4 dogs in Switzerland]. / Hepatitis contagiosa canis Infektion bei 4 Hunden in der Schweiz.

Infectious canine hepatitis in 4 Dogs in Switzerland. Four dogs presented with nonspecific symptoms of lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and weakness. Laboratory results were consistent with hepatopathy and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Three dogs died, one survived. In the three deceased dogs, a diagnosis of infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) was made based on histological findings and positive immunhistochemistry results for canine adenovirus-1 (CAV-1). In the surviving dog, an antemortem diagnosis of ICH was determined via positive polymerase chain reaction results from blood, occular, nasal and preputial discharge as well as from urine. Since the introduction of widespread vaccination, the incidence of CAV-1 infection in dogs is low. However, the disease has not been eradicated and should be considered when clinical signs consistent with ICH are present.

Chronic active hepatitis in 26 Doberman pinschers.

Chronic active hepatitis with increased hepatic copper concentration was diagnosed in 25 female and 1 male Doberman Pinscher dogs. Common clinical signs included polyuria/polydipsia, weight loss, anorexia, icterus, and ascites. Increased liver enzyme activities and abnormal liver function test results were the most consistent clinicopathologic changes. The dogs were assigned to 3 groups on the basis of clinical course of the disease. Group 1 dogs (n = 12) had clinical signs of advanced liver failure and died within one week. Group 2 dogs (n = 7) had less severe clinical signs of liver disease and died within one month. Group 3 dogs (n = 5) did not have clinical signs of illness or had mild clinical signs of liver disease and died 1 to 42 months after initial evaluation. One dog could not be reevaluated and another dog was alive 3 months after initial examination. Treatments consisted of supportive care for dogs in group 1, and dietary manipulations and corticosteroids for dogs in groups 2 and 3. The association of increased liver copper concentration and chronic active hepatitis is not known.

Spur cell anemia in a dog.

Marked spiculation of red blood cells was observed in a young dog with severe hepatic disease. The resulting anemia was similar to spur cell anemia associated with hepatocellular disease in man. Though the exact cause of spur cell formation is not known, abnormalities in serum lipids and red cell membrane lipids are likely involved. A peculiar pattern of serum lipoproteins may have been involved in formation of this dog's spur cells.

Infectious canine hepatitis: animal model for viral-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation.

The objective of this study was to characterize the hemostatic defect in dogs with infectious canine hepatitis (ICH), a naturally occurring viral disease of dogs. Five littermate dogs were inoculated with 10(3) TCID50 of ICH virus intravenously. Two littermates were controls. The clinicopathologic manifestations of ICH were fever, depression, anorexia, hematemesis, melena, widespread mucocutaneous petechiae, prolonged bleeding from venipunctures, faceial edema, leukopenia, and proteinuria. The hemostatic defect of ICH was characterized by thrombocytopenia, abnormal platelet function, prolonged one-stage prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time, normal thrombin times, depressed factor VIII activity, and increased fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products. These findings suggested that the central pathologic mechanism of the abnormal hemostasis in ICH was disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). ICH is an example of DIC induced by viral infection. This disease is a suitable model for investigation of the detection, pathogenesis, and therapy of DIC.