Cholangitis

Cholangitis is the inflammation of the biliary tract. Cholangiohepatitis is the inflammation of the biliary tract and the surrounding hepatic parenchyma. It is typically categorised into Neutrophilic Cholangitis and Lymphocytic Cholangitis.

• Inflammation of the bile ducts

• • common in cats
  • calves eg Salmonella sp.

Causes

• ascending infections from the intestine
  • requires stasis of bile flow to develop
• associated with organisms excreted via the bile
  • salmonellosis infection in calves

Cats

• • • cholangitis
    • periportal hepatocellular necrosis
    • neutrophils in the portal areas
    • acute or chronic.
    • Usually male, pure bred
    • Cats more ill than lymphocytic portal hepatitis.
    • Higher ALT and serum bilirubin levels.

Chronic lymphocytic cholangitis

• mature cats

Microscopically

• lymphocytic infiltration of the portal areas
• mild fibrosis
• biliary hyperplasia