Infectious Canine Hepatitis | Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention

   

    It is an acute contagious and a viral disease of dog caused by adenovirus( a virus containing DNA). This virus secretes in the urine, feces, and saliva of an infected animal. A typical thing for this virus is that it continues to come in the urine for up to 196 days( more than 6 months) even after the animal is recovered.

          Susceptible hosts for this virus is canine family but especially dog and fox. This disease in fox is called fox encephalitis because it causes inflammation of the brain in fox. This disease is transmitted by the contact with the secretion of an infected animal. Fomites also play a role in the transmission of this disease. So take care because virus comes in the urine for months after the recovery of the animal.

Pathogenesis:

After the ingestion of the virus, the virus goes to the tonsils and Peyer's patches and then viremia occurs. this virus has the affinity for the epithelial cell and hepatic cell, the hepatocytes. So virus goes to the liver and causes hemorrhages and necrosis of hepatic cells. The virus also causes pathological changes in the spleen. So the liver and spleen and liver congested and enlarged. When the disease extends the superficial lymph nodes also become enlarged, edematous and hemorrhagic.

Clinical Findings:

Apathy, anorexia, jaundice, fever 105 F, vomiting, and diarrhea. Feces are blood tinged. The animal feels abdominal pain. Fever after some time may fall but without balancing at a certain level again rise and remain up to the end of the disease.
The buccal mucous membrane may turn fiery red but often remain yellow as indicating jaundice. If palpate the xiphoid region the animal shows the sign of pain. "Tucked up" condition of the abdomen. Small hemorrhagic spots may also be noted on the ventral abdomen. Hypoglycemia also occurs. After 1-3 weeks following the disappearance of clinical signs, a transient corneal opacity may occur and it is called Hepatic blue eye.

Diagnosis:

• On the basis of clinical signs.
• Histopathological examination: Intranuclear inclusion bodies can be found in the liver, gallbladder, brain, and cornea.
• LFT
• Hematological examination: Leukemia can be found with CBC.
• ELIZA

Treatment:

1. No specific treatment because it is a viral disease.
2. Antiserum if available can be used.
3. Broadspectrum antibiotics to avoid secondary bacterial infection.
4. Fluid and electrolyte therapy.
5. Vit. K and other supportive therapy.

Prevention & Control:

• Vaccination
• Isolation of infected animal.
• Use iodine-based disinfectants to clean the area and utensils under the use of the infected animal.
• Take care of the animal after recovery. And remember the presence of virus in the urine for 6 months.

Reference: A Textbook of Veterinary Preventive Medicine by A.Chakrabarti.