Prevalence of subclinical bactibilia in apparently healthy shelter dogs

Biliary Tract Infections in Dogs

Bacterial biliary tract infections are increasingly recognized in dogs and should be considered in any dog presenting with vomiting, anorexia, and jaundice, particularly if they have abdominal discomfort or pyrexia. Commonly recognized clinicopathologic findings include increased liver enzyme activities, hyperbilirubinemia, and an inflammatory leucogram. Hepatobiliary ultrasound forms a key component of the diagnostic approach to these cases, aiding the identification of dogs that require urgent surgical management due to biliary tract rupture, or that have another surgical condition. Ultrasound also allows guided percutaneous bile sampling to gain a sample for cytology and culture, guiding rational antimicrobial therapy.

Cytologic Evaluation of the Liver

Liver fine needle aspiration (FNA) and bile cytology are valuable diagnostic tools for evaluating various hepatobiliary diseases in veterinary medicine. Although FNA of the liver is less invasive and faster than histopathology, it may not always provide a definitive diagnosis, but will often provide information regarding pathologic processes occurring in the liver. Cytologic evaluation is most effective when integrated with clinical information including bloodwork, imaging, and results of other diagnostic tests.

Bicavitary septic effusion associated with staphylococcal cholecystitis in a dog

OBJECTIVE

To describe a case of concurrent septic pyothorax, peritonitis, and cholecystitis due to Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in a dog.

CASE SUMMARY

A 10-year-old neutered male, medium-sized, mixed-breed dog presented with an acute abdomen. Initial investigations found the presence of a septic pyothorax, septic peritonitis, and bacterial cholecystitis. Exploratory celiotomy did not identify the source of infection, and no macroscopic communication between pleural and peritoneal space was detected. An abdominal Jackson-Pratt drain and bilateral small-bore thoracostomy tubes were placed for further management, with the dog receiving antimicrobial therapy and intensive supportive care. Subsequently, microbiological cultures confirmed scant growth of S. pseudintermedius in bile, pleural, and peritoneal fluid. The dog was discharged after 1 week of hospitalization. Antimicrobial therapy was discontinued 4 weeks after discharge due to an improvement of clinical signs and normalization of C-reactive protein concentration. A diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism was made 6 weeks after discharge, and appropriate therapy was initiated.

NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED

Septic peritonitis and septic pyothorax are both common life-threatening conditions in veterinary medicine. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report describing septic bicavitary effusion associated with a biliary staphylococcal infection in a dog. The exact mechanism by which the infection spread remains unclear, but hematogenous or lymphatic routes are considered the most probable. However, the presence of microscopic diaphragmatic defects and an anicteric gallbladder rupture cannot completely be excluded. The concurrent hyperadrenocorticism may have also contributed to an immunocompromised state, predisposing the dog to the development of infection.

Diagnostic imaging findings in a referral population of dogs diagnosed with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia: 50 cases (2015-2018)

OBJECTIVES

To describe and characterise changes documented on thoracic and abdominal imaging of dogs with confirmed immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medical records from a referral hospital were searched from 2015 to 2018 for all dogs diagnosed with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia that underwent thoracic and abdominal imaging by radiography, ultrasound or computed tomography.

RESULTS

Fifty dogs were included. Thoracic imaging revealed abnormalities in 10 dogs (20%) of which lymphadenopathy and cardiomegaly were documented in four dogs (8%) each, and pleural effusion and pleural thickening in one dog (2%) each. Abdominal imaging revealed abnormalities in 43 dogs (86%), in which hepatomegaly and peritoneal effusion were documented in 20 (40%) and 19 dogs (38%), gallbladder wall thickening and sludge in 16 (32%) and 14 dogs (28%) and splenic nodules and splenomegaly in 13 (26%) and seven dogs (14%), respectively. Hepatic and splenic abnormalities were further investigated via fine needle aspirates in 18 dogs and revealed extramedullary haematopoiesis in 12 hepatic (66.7%) and 14 splenic (77.8%) fine needle aspirate samples. Cholecystocentesis was performed in nine dogs with gallbladder abnormalities and revealed bactibilia in three samples (33.3%).

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

In this population of dogs with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia, thoracic imaging abnormalities were uncommon. Hepatomegaly, peritoneal effusion and gallbladder wall thickening were the most common abdominal imaging findings with bactibilia confirmed in one third of collected bile samples. Hepatosplenomegaly and abdominal lymphadenopathy were not associated with neoplasia in any of the dogs included in this study.