Hepatitis, Lobular Dissecting

• Rare cause of chronic liver failure in young dogs
• Less than 5yrs of age
• Standard poodle overrepresented
• Gross findings:
  • Micronodular microhepatica, ascites, numerous portosystemic shunts
• Histology:
  • Hepatic architecture disrupted by collagen and reticulin fibres separating the hepatic lobules into small clusters and individual cells
  • Hepatocytes mutlifocally swollen, lightly eosinophilic, some binucleated.
  • Variable nodular regeneration.
  • Scattered necrotic cells and occasional foci of inflammation.
• Cu2+ accumulation not a consistent finding.
• Aetiology – possibly a specific reaction pattern in neonatal/juvenile liver .
• Differentials:
  • Copper toxicity
  • Copper storage disease
  • Aflatoxin
  • Infectious diseases such as Leptospria spp. and CAV-1.