A Diarrhoeic Dog with Clinical and Histopathologic Signs of ICH (Infectious Canine Hepatitis)

A 3-month-old male German shepherd dog was referred with depression, vomition, hemorrhagic diarrhea, abdominal pain, anorexia and dehydration. The affected dog did not have any history of vaccination. Despite treatment, the animal died within 2 days after the onset of clinical signs. Gross examination of tissues showed hemorrhages (ecchymoses) in the mucosa of the digestive tract. The liver was congested and slightly enlarged. The gall bladder wall was edematous. The spleen and lymph nodes were also edematous and congested. Light microscopic examination of tissues showed numerous large, basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies within the hepatcytes and endothelial cells adjacent to the necrotic regions. A large area of hepatic necrosis, severe congestion of sinusoids accompanied by a mild mixed infiltration of inflammatory cells, were evident particularly in the periportal region. Fecal sample was examined for differential diagnosis of other viral, bacterial and parasitic diseases. Based on histopathological findings, Infectious canine Hepatitis (ICH) was suspected as the cause of death.