Copper-associated hepatitis in a young Dalmatian dog in Japan

Abstract

A male 25-month-old Dalmatian dog attended our veterinary hospital because of anorexia and high circulating liver enzyme activities. Abdominal computed tomography showed a slightly small liver with rounded edges, and laparoscopic examination showed that the liver was yellowish. Histopathological examination revealed multifocal necrosis of hepatocytes and severe chronic hepatitis. Rhodanine staining showed severe copper accumulation in hepatocytes and a quantitative analysis of the copper content of the liver showed substantial accumulation (10.3 mg/g dry mass), suggesting a diagnosis of copper-associated hepatitis. Previously reported canine mutation in the COMMD1, the gene responsible for the copper-associated hepatitis in the Bedlington terrier, was not identified. To our knowledge, this is the first report of copper-associated hepatitis in a Dalmatian in Japan.

Keywords: COMMD1; Dalmatian; copper; hepatitis; laparoscopy.

Fig. 1.

Abdominal computed tomography findings in the dog at its first admission. The liver was slightly small in size and had rounded edges, but no other abnormalities were identified.

Fig. 2.

Laparoscopic findings in the liver of the patient. The liver was yellowish in color and had rounded edges (A), and irregular surfaces (B) throughout the all lobes.

Fig. 3.

Histopathological findings in liver biopsy samples. A: An area of necrosis around central vein (CV), which contains cellular debris and inflammatory cells (*) ×200, hematoxylin and eosin (HE). B: Many individual necrotic hepatocytes (arrows) composed of eosinophilic cytoplasm and often nuclear debris, which are scattered throughout a section. ×400, HE. C: Another section demonstrates an almost complete loss of hepatocytes. Collapsed lobules are replaced with cellular debris and inflammatory cells, including macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and neutrophils. Proliferated bile ducts are also observed. ×200, HE. D: Moderate-to-marked brown globular staining within hepatocytes and macrophages, indicating copper accumulation. Copper accumulation is more conspicuous in individual necrotic hepatocytes (arrow) and macrophages infiltrating necrotic foci (*). ×400, rhodanine stain.