25/07/2020
■■■ Infectious Canine Hepatitis
■■■ Etiology:::
Canine Adenovirus-1 (CAV-1), antigenically related to CAV-2 which causes infectious canine
tracheobronchitis (Kennel cough). CaV-1 is non-enveloped DNA virus.
■■■Epidemiology:::
Canines are affected such as dogs, foxes, wolves, bear etc. occurs worldwide and not zoonotic.
■■■ Transmission:::
Transmission occurs through ingestion of urine, f***s, and saliva of infected animals. Fomites act as a source of infection.
■■■ Clinical findings:::
■ Incubation period is 4-9 days. Severely affected dogs die within hrs. and owner believe
death due to poisoning.
■ Biphasic fever of 103-106F
■ Serous oculonasal discharge
■ Anorexia but thirst
■ Diarrhea with or without blood
■ Abdominal pain and vomiting intense hyperemia of oral mucosa
■ Pneumonia
■ Enlarged tonsils
■ Subcut edema of head, neck, and trunk may occur
■ Bleeding tendency (evident as bleeding around gums and spontaneous hematoma),
epistaxis, small hemorrhagic spots on the skin of abdomen may be present.
■ In severe case paresis, convulsions, and coma may occur.
■ Bilateral corneal opacity after 7-10 days of recovery (due to antigen antibodies complexes
deposited in small blood vessels, interfering with the normal fluid exchange within the
cornea). Normal recovery of eyes is evident by 21 days’ post infection.
■■■ Diagnosis:::
■On the basis of clinical signs
■Laboratory tests
● Virus isolation
● ELISA
● FAT
● LFTs
■■■ Differential diagnosis:::
●Canine distemper; most of the signs are similar except no edema, bleeding tendency.
●Canine Parvovirus enteritis; main signs are diarrhea/ dysentery. Respiratory signs are
absent. Mostly affects puppies.
■■■ Necropsy findings:::
● Paint brush hemorrhages on subcut tissues, gastric serosa, lymph nodes, and pancreas.
● Liver is enlarged, necrotized, and mottled.
● Gallbladder walls are edematous and thickened.
■■■ Treatment:::
● Broad spectrum antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections
● Fluid therapy, 50% dextrose is given @ 0.5ml/Kg, over a 5 min to correct hypoglycemia.
then ringer’s solution or 5% dextrose mixed with normal saline may be given as required.
● Blood transfusion @5-8ml/pound of body weight, to provide clotting factors.
● Decrease the intake of protein (less ammonia production).
■■■ Prevention and control:::
● Vaccination (modified live virus vaccine).