A D VA N C E S
PAG E 5
Procedure Eight ECS and 9 other breeds with histologically confirmed chronic pancreatitis were recruited over an 8-year perio...
Procedure Eight ECS and 9 other breeds with histologically confirmed chronic pancreatitis were recruited over an 8-year period. Fifty postmortem control dogs with chronic pancreatitis were also included. Clinical, clinicopathological, and ultrasonographic findings were recorded. Histological sections were compared with a normal dog and 59 dogs of other breeds with chronic pancreatitis. Immunohistochemistry using anti-CD3, anti-CD79a, and anti-cytokeratin antibodies was applied to evaluate distribution and type of lymphocytic inflammation and the appearance of pancreatic ducts.
Results Four male and 4 female ECS presented with chronic pancreatitis at a mean age of 7.2 years. Clinical signs were similar between ECS and other breeds. The pancreas was enlarged and hypoechoic in 4 ECS and 2 control dogs. Histopathologic findings were characterized by interlobular and periductular fibrosis and inflammation in ECS. Most other breeds had intralobular disease. Immunohistochemistry in ECS identified prominent antiCD3+ lymphocytic infiltrates around venules and ducts and a marked absence of interlobular ducts. Most other breeds with chronic pancreatitis had mixed T-cell inifiltration and ductular hyperplasia.
CHRONIC PANCREATITIS IN ENGLISH COCKER SPANIELS
Author Conclusion
Background
Chronic pancreatitis in ECS is distinct from chronic pancreatitis in other breeds and is duct destructive.
Chronic pancreatitis is common in dogs. Its cause in dogs is generally unknown but increased relative risk for chronic pancreatitis has been reported in some breeds of dog. Pancreatitis also has different histological appearances in different breeds of dogs. Therefore, breed-related differences in its etiology may exist. English Cocker Spaniels (ECS) have appeared over-represented and show a distinctive clinical and histological appearance which share similarities with human autoimmune pancreatitis.
Objectives To test the hypothesis that chronic pancreatitis in ECS is a clinically distinct disease showing features of human autoimmune pancreatitis.
Inclusions Four figures, 1 table, 27 references.
Editor Annotation Further studies are needed to identify a genetic basis for chronic pancreatitis in ECS, identify non-invasive blood markers, and determine the efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy. Although chronic pancreatitis in ECS may be immunemediated, further substantiation is needed with additional research. Immunosuppressive therapy should be withheld until more is known about the cause of chronic pancreatitis in ECS. (MM) Watson PJ, Roulois A, Scase T, et al. Characterization of chronic pancreatitis in English Cocker Spaniels. J Vet Intern Med 2011;25:797-804.