Case 3: Neutrophilic Hepatitis

History: A 13-year-old Shiba Inu dog had a 2 month history of persistently elevated alanine transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin. Ultrasound did not show any changes.

Figure 1: a foci of necrosis (top blue arrow) and infiltrate of neutrophils into the portal area (bottom blue arrow) 400 X magnification

Diagnosis: Neutrophilic hepatitis.

Enterococcus spp were cultured from the bile indicating that this is a bacterial hepatitis.