Pathology of infectious canine hepatitis in captive Indian wolves (Canis lupus pallipes): An outbreak study

Abstract

This study reports an outbreak of infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) in a captive pack of four sub-adult Indian wolves (Canis lupus pallipes). The first wolf showed signs of lethargy, loss of appetite and fever before dying suddenly. Despite symptomatic treatment, the remaining three wolves also died within 24 hours, showing similar symptoms. Necropsy examination of all wolves revealed a soft, enlarged and discoloured liver with widespread haemorrhages, which were also present in other internal organs. Histopathology of the liver showed severely engorged and dilated vasculature and sinusoids, areas of haemorrhages, degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes and basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells. Similarly, vascular changes were also seen in the lungs, kidneys, spleen, heart and intestines. Immunohistochemistry confirmed Canine Adenovirus-1 (CAdV-1) antigen in hepatocytes, endothelium and Kupffer cells, while PCR detected CAdV-1 in liver. This study highlights the significance of ICH in Indian wolves and its implications for their conservation.