Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat hepatitis B virus found in liver cancer and healthy liver tissue
By Dosaka, Haruka et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2026·Department of Veterinary Pathology, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Distribution of domestic cat hepatitis B virus in cholangiocarcinoma and non-neoplastic liver tissue.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 17-year-old spayed female cat was brought in for vomiting and not eating, and tests showed she had liver problems. An ultrasound revealed multiple abnormal liver lesions, and further examination confirmed she had cholangiocarcinoma, a type of liver cancer. The cat was also found to be infected with the domestic cat hepatitis B virus (DCHBV), which may be linked to her cancer. Unfortunately, the outcome of her treatment is not mentioned, but this case highlights the potential connection between DCHBV and liver disease in cats.
People also search for: cat vomiting and not eating · cat liver cancer symptoms · domestic cat hepatitis B virus treatment
Abstract
Domestic cat hepatitis B virus (DCHBV), shares similarities with human hepatitis B virus (HBV) which is associated with liver disease. We report the first case of cholangiocarcinoma in a 17-year-old spayed female cat infected with DCHBV and positive for feline immunodeficiency virus. The patient presented with vomiting, anorexia, and an elevated globulin level. Ultrasonography revealed multiple hypoechoic hepatic lesions, and histopathology confirmed cholangiocarcinoma. The tumor exhibited CK7 positivity and HepPar-1 negativity, confirming biliary origin. Quantitative PCR detected DCHBV in the spleen and ascitic fluid, while immunohistochemistry and RNA in situ hybridization revealed viral antigen and mRNA in both tumor and non-tumor liver. The presence of a viral antigen and mRNA in neoplastic tissue suggests a potential role for DCHBV in hepatobiliary carcinogenesis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41526269/