Breed, age and gender distribution of dogs with chronic hepatitis in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Standardised histological criteria are now available for the diagnosis of canine chronic hepatitis (CH). CH is common in dogs, but no studies have reported breed, age and gender distributions in the United Kingdom (UK). The objective of this study was to determine which breeds had an increased risk for developing CH in the UK and to report the age and gender distribution for those breeds. The databases of six veterinary histopathology laboratories were searched for cases with a histological diagnosis of CH according to standardised criteria. The breed, age and gender of dogs was recorded and compared to a control population to calculate the odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals for developing CH.A total of 551 cases of CH were identified, consisting of 61 breeds. Nineteen breeds were represented by five or more cases. Breeds with an increased risk for developing CH included the American cocker spaniel, Cairn terrier, Dalmatian, Dobermann pinscher, English cocker spaniel, English springer spaniel, Great Dane, Labrador retriever and Samoyed. The median age at diagnosis for all breeds with CH was 8 years (range 7 months to 16 years). Dalmatians, Dobermann pinschers and English springer spaniels with CH were significantly younger than Cairn terriers, English cocker spaniels and Labrador retrievers with CH. Females were over-represented when all cases were examined together. In conclusion, several breeds in the UK have an increased risk of CH, some of which have not been previously reported.

ACVIM consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis in dogs

“…Specific criteria for the diagnosis of immune‐mediated hepatitis in dogs have not been developed. An immune basis in some dogs with idiopathic CH is suggested by several criteria (Table ) which include the presence of lymphocytic infiltrates in the liver, abnormal expression of major histocompatibility complex class II proteins, positive serum autoantibodies, familial history of liver disease, association with other immune‐mediated disorders, female predisposition, and favorable response to immunosuppression . A presumptive clinical diagnosis of immune‐mediated CH in the dog requires elimination of other etiologies and a favorable response to immunosuppressive treatment.…”

“…There is strong evidence in ≥2 studies for an increased prevalence of CH in BT, Doberman Pinschers, LR, Dalmatians, American and English Cocker Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels, and West Highland White Terriers in several countries. In addition, in Sweden the Scottish Terrier, and in the United Kingdom the Cairn Terrier, Great Dane, Samoyed, Yorkshire Terrier, and Jack Russell Terrier are predisposed . There is some suspicion for a breed predisposition in Standard Poodles and American Cocker Spaniels, which appear to be overrepresented in reports on LDH …”

“…The overall mean age when clinical signs are reported is 7.2 years (11 studies, n = 983 dogs). Disease duration before diagnosis is unclear . Reported age ranges in specific breeds are shown in Supporting Information Table S1.…”

A Retrospective Histopathological Survey on Canine and Feline Liver Diseases at the University of Tokyo between 2006 and 2012

“…In 2006, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Liver Standardization Group proposed criteria for histological diagnosis of canine and feline hepatic diseases in order to unite interpretations by veterinary pathologists. After the WSAVA proposal, some reports [3, 25, 28] included retrospective reviews on diagnoses of canine liver diseases, in particular, hepatitis. Epidemiological reports on feline liver disease have never been made even after the proposal.…”

DLA Class II Alleles and Haplotypes Are Associated with Risk for and Protection from Chronic Hepatitis in the English Springer Spaniel

“…This apparent genetic component to CH has been previously suspected in view of the predilection of this disease to occur in particular breeds including the ESS and reports of familial occurrence [37].…”