Infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) is an
acute liver infection in dogs caused by ''Canine mastadenovirus A'', formerly called ''Canine adenovirus 1'' (CAV-1). CAV-1 also causes disease in
wolves,
coyote
The coyote (''Canis latrans'') is a species of canis, canine native to North America. It is smaller than its close relative, the wolf, and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf. It fills much of the same ecologica ...
s, and
bear
Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Nor ...
s, and
encephalitis
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain. The severity can be variable with symptoms including reduction or alteration in consciousness, headache, fever, confusion, a stiff neck, and vomiting. Complications may include seizures, hallucinations, ...
in
fox
Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush'').
Twelv ...
es.
The
virus is spread in the feces, urine, blood, saliva, and nasal discharge of infected dogs. It is contracted through the mouth or nose, where it replicates in the
tonsils. The virus then infects the
liver and
kidneys. The
incubation period is 4 to 9 days.
Symptoms include
fever, depression, loss of appetite, coughing, and a tender abdomen.
Corneal
edema
Edema, also spelled oedema, and also known as fluid retention, dropsy, hydropsy and swelling, is the build-up of fluid in the body's Tissue (biology), tissue. Most commonly, the legs or arms are affected. Symptoms may include skin which feels t ...
and signs of liver disease, such as
jaundice
Jaundice, also known as icterus, is a yellowish or greenish pigmentation of the skin and sclera due to high bilirubin levels. Jaundice in adults is typically a sign indicating the presence of underlying diseases involving abnormal heme meta ...
, vomiting, and
hepatic encephalopathy, may also occur. Severe cases will develop
bleeding disorders, which can cause
hematoma
A hematoma, also spelled haematoma, or blood suffusion is a localized bleeding outside of blood vessels, due to either disease or trauma including injury or surgery and may involve blood continuing to seep from broken capillary, capillaries. A he ...
s to form in the mouth.
[ Death can occur secondary to this or the liver disease. However, most dogs recover after a brief illness, although chronic corneal edema and kidney lesions may persist.]antibody titer
Titer (American English) or titre (British English) is a way of expressing concentration. Titer testing employs serial dilution to obtain approximate quantitative information from an analytical procedure that inherently only evaluates as positiv ...
to CAV-1 is also seen. The disease can be confused with canine parvovirus because both will cause a low white blood cell
White blood cells, also called leukocytes or leucocytes, are the cell (biology), cells of the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders. All white blood cells are produced and de ...
count and bloody diarrhea in young, unvaccinated dogs.
Treatment is symptomatic. Most dogs recover spontaneously without treatment. Prevention is through vaccination ( ATCvet code and various combination vaccines). Most combination vaccines for dogs contain a modified canine adenovirus type-2. CAV-2 is one of the causes of respiratory infections in dogs, but it is similar enough to CAV-1 that vaccine for one creates immunity for both. CAV-2 vaccine is much less likely to cause side effects than CAV-1 vaccine.[ One study has shown the vaccine to have a duration of immunity of at least four years.][
]
References
External links
Canine antibody diagnosis tests
{{DEFAULTSORT:Infectious Canine Hepatitis
Dog diseases
Animal viral diseases
Adenoviridae