A Case of Canine Hepatitis with Hepatocellular Attack by Non-Neoplastic Perforin-Laden Lymphocytes

The etiology of canine chronic hepatitis (CH) is unknown, although an autoimmune background has been suggested in some cases of canine CH. An 11 y old spayed female Norwich Terrier showed a marked elevation of liver enzymes with hyperbilirubinemia, regenerative anemia, and thrombocytopenia. A bacter...

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Main Authors: Shimon Furusato, Eriko Kondo, Ikki Mitsui, Yu Tsuyama
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/3/211
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author Shimon Furusato
Eriko Kondo
Ikki Mitsui
Yu Tsuyama
author_facet Shimon Furusato
Eriko Kondo
Ikki Mitsui
Yu Tsuyama
author_sort Shimon Furusato
collection DOAJ
description The etiology of canine chronic hepatitis (CH) is unknown, although an autoimmune background has been suggested in some cases of canine CH. An 11 y old spayed female Norwich Terrier showed a marked elevation of liver enzymes with hyperbilirubinemia, regenerative anemia, and thrombocytopenia. A bacterial culture of the surgically excised liver tissue and bile was negative. The histological features of the liver biopsy resembled those of human autoimmune hepatitis except for a paucity of intralesional plasma cells. It was established through immunohistochemistry that CD3-positive perforin-containing T lymphocytes had actively infiltrated the patient’s liver causing hepatocellular apoptosis, implying an autoimmune attack on hepatocytes. The patient’s general condition improved, with normalization of platelet and serum total bilirubin levels, after immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone and cyclosporine, whereas liver enzymes did not reach the reference interval. The dog died 11 months after the initiation of immunosuppressive therapy. These pathological findings may be one aspect of autoimmune mediation in canine CH.
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issn 2306-7381
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Veterinary Sciences
spelling doaj-art-e6e57146d0c94b86b4263e0bc520b0772025-08-20T01:49:53ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-03-0112321110.3390/vetsci12030211A Case of Canine Hepatitis with Hepatocellular Attack by Non-Neoplastic Perforin-Laden LymphocytesShimon Furusato0Eriko Kondo1Ikki Mitsui2Yu Tsuyama3Shinagawa WAF Animal Hospital, Shinagawa 141-0032, JapanShinagawa WAF Animal Hospital, Shinagawa 141-0032, JapanLaboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Imabari 794-8555, JapanShinagawa WAF Animal Hospital, Shinagawa 141-0032, JapanThe etiology of canine chronic hepatitis (CH) is unknown, although an autoimmune background has been suggested in some cases of canine CH. An 11 y old spayed female Norwich Terrier showed a marked elevation of liver enzymes with hyperbilirubinemia, regenerative anemia, and thrombocytopenia. A bacterial culture of the surgically excised liver tissue and bile was negative. The histological features of the liver biopsy resembled those of human autoimmune hepatitis except for a paucity of intralesional plasma cells. It was established through immunohistochemistry that CD3-positive perforin-containing T lymphocytes had actively infiltrated the patient’s liver causing hepatocellular apoptosis, implying an autoimmune attack on hepatocytes. The patient’s general condition improved, with normalization of platelet and serum total bilirubin levels, after immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone and cyclosporine, whereas liver enzymes did not reach the reference interval. The dog died 11 months after the initiation of immunosuppressive therapy. These pathological findings may be one aspect of autoimmune mediation in canine CH.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/3/211autoimmune hepatitiscanine chronic hepatitishepatocellular apoptosisimmunohistochemistryimmunosuppressive therapyperforin-containing T lymphocytes
spellingShingle Shimon Furusato
Eriko Kondo
Ikki Mitsui
Yu Tsuyama
A Case of Canine Hepatitis with Hepatocellular Attack by Non-Neoplastic Perforin-Laden Lymphocytes
Veterinary Sciences
autoimmune hepatitis
canine chronic hepatitis
hepatocellular apoptosis
immunohistochemistry
immunosuppressive therapy
perforin-containing T lymphocytes
title A Case of Canine Hepatitis with Hepatocellular Attack by Non-Neoplastic Perforin-Laden Lymphocytes
title_full A Case of Canine Hepatitis with Hepatocellular Attack by Non-Neoplastic Perforin-Laden Lymphocytes
title_fullStr A Case of Canine Hepatitis with Hepatocellular Attack by Non-Neoplastic Perforin-Laden Lymphocytes
title_full_unstemmed A Case of Canine Hepatitis with Hepatocellular Attack by Non-Neoplastic Perforin-Laden Lymphocytes
title_short A Case of Canine Hepatitis with Hepatocellular Attack by Non-Neoplastic Perforin-Laden Lymphocytes
title_sort case of canine hepatitis with hepatocellular attack by non neoplastic perforin laden lymphocytes
topic autoimmune hepatitis
canine chronic hepatitis
hepatocellular apoptosis
immunohistochemistry
immunosuppressive therapy
perforin-containing T lymphocytes
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/3/211
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