Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with liver nodules first diagnosed with leptospirosis but later
By Steffl, M et al.·Published in Tierarztliche Praxis. Ausgabe K, Kleintiere/Heimtiere·2013·Martin Steffl·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: [Subclinical alveolar echinococcosis in a dog initially showing clinical features of leptospirosis].
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3.5-year-old male Labrador retriever was brought to the vet after showing signs of vomiting, lethargy, and fever. Ultrasound revealed large, abnormal liver masses, and tests initially suggested a liver infection caused by leptospirosis. Although treatment with doxycycline reduced the leptospirosis markers in the dog's blood, the liver condition worsened. Unfortunately, the dog was ultimately euthanized due to severe liver damage caused by a parasitic infection from Echinococcus multilocularis, which is a type of tapeworm.
People also search for: dog vomiting lethargy fever · Labrador liver disease treatment · Echinococcus in dogs · leptospirosis symptoms in dogs
Abstract
A 3.5-year-old male Labrador retriever dog showed a short history of illness characterized by vomiting, apathy, and fever. Ultrasonographically, large nodular liver masses of high echogenicity were noted in both left and right liver lobes. Cytological and bacteriological examinations revealed a neutrophilic hepatitis without detectable agents. During treatment with doxycycline a four-fold decrease of serum titers to Leptospira (L.) icterohaemorrhagiae and L. sejroe was detected in paired serum samples by use of the complement-fixation test. The dog remained without clinical signs and no significant biochemical changes were recorded. However, ultrasonsographic examinations showed a progression of the hepatic lesions, presenting now as nodular parts with high echogenicity and cavernous parts with lower echogenicity. Diagnostic laparotomy was performed and the dog was euthanized due to severity of hepatic lesions. Histopathologically, a severe chronic granulomatous hepatitis with numerous parasitic structures was diagnosed. Morphology of the parasitic structures was comparable to the metacestode stage of Echinococcus multilocularis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24127032/