Canine infectious hepatitis (ICH) is an acute highly contagious septic disease in dogs caused by type I adenovirus, characterized by hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, circulatory disorders, centrilobular necrosis, and liver parenchyma and Endothelial cells are characterized by intranuclear inclusions.

【Pathogens and Epidemiology】

1. Pathogen: Canine type I adenovirus, also known as canine infectious hepatitis virus, belongs to the family Adenoviridae, the genus Mammalian Adenovirus, and is a double-stranded DNA virus. It is mainly transmitted through the digestive tract, but can also be transmitted vertically.

2. Source of infection: Affected dogs and virus-carrying dogs detoxify through secretions and excretions such as tears, saliva, feces and urine, and contaminate the surrounding environment, feed and utensils, etc.

3. Susceptible animals: mainly dogs and foxes. There is no difference in breed, age and gender, but it is more common in puppies under 1 year old. Puppies that have been weaned soon have the highest morbidity and mortality. Adult dogs generally show latent infection. Recovered dogs can obtain lifelong immunity, but the virus can survive in the kidneys and can be excreted in the urine for 6 to 9 months, making it an important source of infection in healthy dogs.

【Symptoms】

The incubation period of this disease is 6 to 9 days. Some of the most acute puppy diseases initially involve elevated body temperature and high depression. Usually, no other symptoms appear and death occurs within 1 to 2 days.

1. Symptoms similar to colds: Most dog diseases initially resemble acute colds, with elevated body temperature, depression, loss of appetite, and a small amount of serous or mucus secretions from the eyes and nose, but no cough symptoms.

2. Gastrointestinal symptoms: Vomiting, jam-like stool or bloody diarrhea are the main symptoms of this disease. Bleeding spots or bleeding spots on the gums are important symptoms of this disease.

3. Other symptoms: Many affected dogs have enlarged abdomens. A large amount of cool, light red liquid can be discharged by thoracoabdominal puncture, and the xiphoid cartilage area is sensitive and painful when touched. Many affected dogs develop proteinuria. The cornea of ​​one or both eyes of some dogs becomes cloudy during the recovery period of the disease and seems to be covered by a light blue film, which is called "hepatitis blue eye". The cornea turns clear after a few days.

【Diagnosis】

This disease should be suspected based on clinical symptoms, but attention should be paid to distinguishing it from canine distemper, parvovirus enteritis, cold or traumatic corneal opacity. Compared with canine distemper, this disease has no respiratory and nervous system infection symptoms; compared with parvovirus enteritis, both have symptoms of bloody diarrhea, but parvovirus infection does not show gum bleeding spots, spots, or abdominal distension; Compared with a cold, there are no symptoms of respiratory tract infection, but no symptoms of digestive tract infection; compared with traumatic corneal opacity, the corneal surface of "hepatitis blue eye" is smooth and has no external scars.However, dogs with simple traumatic corneal opacification do not have systemic symptoms such as elevated body temperature and digestive tract infection.

Autopsy of dead dogs usually shows slightly enlarged liver, edema of the gallbladder wall, bleeding in the small intestine, and a large amount of cool, light red liquid in the chest and abdomen. Histological changes include varying degrees of degeneration of the liver parenchyma, with intranuclear inclusions in hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells. There is currently no clinical rapid diagnostic test strip for this disease, and there are many laboratory diagnostic methods, including micro-hemagglutination and hemagglutination inhibition tests, fluorescent antibody tests, and PCR methods.

【Treatment】

Early use of high-dose hyperimmune serum against canine adenovirus type 1 or type 2, while focusing on liver protection and control of bleeding symptoms.

For liver protection measures, you can try Ganyanling (Sandougen) injection, inosine injection, VB6, etc. Because this disease leads to insufficient synthesis of coagulation factors in the liver and a significant decrease in platelets, conventional hemostatic drugs are often ineffective. It is best to promptly transfuse blood or plasma to replenish coagulation factors and platelets, and at the same time use antiviral drugs, antibacterial drugs, hemostatic drugs, and vitamins. Wait for treatment.

【Prognosis】

Because the virus causes damage to the liver and small blood vessel endothelial cells, it is generally difficult to control bleeding symptoms in dogs using conventional drugs. In the end, most sick puppies die of severe anemia and dehydration. Adult dogs can usually tolerate it, and most recover within 2 weeks and develop strong immunity.

【Prevention】

Since rehabilitation dogs can detoxify through urine for a long time, they should avoid being kept in groups with healthy dogs. For susceptible dogs, a series of domestic or imported dog vaccines can be used for immunization. For methods, see Prevention of Canine Distemper.