ABSTRACT
44 A 10-year-old female spayed Labrador retriever from Houston, Texas, presents with a 1-month history of progressive weight loss and hyporexia. Diffusely thickened bowel loops and hepatomegaly are apparent during abdominal palpation. A serum biochemistry panel reveals mild hyperbilirubinemia and moderate increases in ALT and ALP activity. Abdominal ultrasound reveals a diffusely hyperechoic liver with multiple hypoechoic nodules and thickening of the muscularis layer of the jejunum. Microhepatia and multifocal nodules 1–5 mm in diameter are apparent on the surface of the liver during laparoscopic visualization (Figure 44.1). Histopathological assessment of the liver reveals severe, chronic, diffuse, granulomatous hepatitis with extensive bridging fibrosis, hepatocellular loss and presumed degenerate trematode ova (Figure 44.2). https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429401725/9d69b4ae-80d1-4f44-9dcb-659cda134065/content/fig44_1_C.jpg"/> Courtesy of Dr. Brad Weeks, TexasA&M University. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429401725/9d69b4ae-80d1-4f44-9dcb-659cda134065/content/fig44_2_C.jpg"/>
i. What is the most likely infectious agent in this case?
ii. How do dogs become infected with this organism and what are the risk factors for infection?
iii. What treatment would you recommend for this dog?70
