Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Myenteric ganglionitis and intestinal leiomyositis in a Jack Russell terrier.
- Journal:
- The Journal of small animal practice
- Year:
- 2020
- Authors:
- Kopke, M A et al.
- Affiliation:
- School of Veterinary Science
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 9-year and 6-month-old spayed female Jack Russell terrier was brought to the vet because she had been vomiting, having diarrhea, and losing weight for the past three weeks. Blood tests showed she had very low protein levels, along with mild low calcium and cholesterol, which suggested she was losing protein through her intestines. Biopsies taken from her stomach and intestines revealed two conditions affecting her digestive system: myenteric ganglionitis (inflammation of nerve cells in the gut) and early intestinal leiomyositis (inflammation of the muscle in the intestines). After starting treatment to suppress her immune system, her symptoms completely went away within a week, and she has remained healthy for nine months since her diagnosis.
Abstract
A 9-year, 6-month old spayed female Jack Russell terrier presented with a 3-week history of intermittent vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss. Serum biochemistry demonstrated severe panhypoproteinaemia, mild hypocalcaemia and mild hypocholesterolaemia, consistent with protein-losing enteropathy. Full-thickness biopsies obtained from the stomach and different sections of small intestine demonstrated histological features of both myenteric ganglionitis and early intestinal leiomyositis. Complete resolution of clinical signs occurred within 1 week of implementing immunosuppressive therapy. At the time of writing, 9 months following diagnosis, the dog remains in remission.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30387492/