~ 777 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2019; 7(2): 777-779 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2019; 7(2): 777-779 © 2019 JEZS Received: 04-01-2019 Accepted: 08-02-2019 Ashna S Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala, India Devi SS Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala, India Sajitha IS Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala, India Reshma RS Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala, India Mammen J Abraham Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala, India Correspondence Ashna S Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala, India Acquired hepatic encephalopathy due to leptospirosis in dog: A case report Ashna S, Devi SS, Sajitha IS, Reshma RS and Mammen J Abraham Abstract A carcass of four year old male dachshund presented to the Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, formed the material for the study. The dog had a history of nervous symptoms. In necropsy, jaundice, fatty liver, petechial hemorrhages on the kidney, splenic necrosis, catarrhal enteritis, and severe congestion in the brain were observed. Impression smear from hippocampus subjected to the direct fluorescent antibody technique to rule out the possibility of rabies. On histopathological examination, liver revealed fatty change. In kidney, desquamation of tubular epithelium with cast formation was observed. In intestines, infiltration of inflammatory cells in the mucosal layer with a proliferation of goblet cells. In brain, cerebral edema, gliosis, satellitosis, vacuolation were observed. Alzheimer’s type II cells could also be observed. Liver and kidney tissue samples were subjected to molecular examination and found positive for leptospirosis. Hence the condition was concluded as a case of acquired hepatic encephalopathy due to leptospirosis. Keywords: hepatic encephalitis; leptospirosis; cerebral oedema; alzheimer’s type ii astrocytes 1. Introduction Hepatic encephalopathy is a complex neurological abnormality that occurs along with liver and kidney diseases. Hepatic encephalopathy can occur as a result of congenital portal vena cava shunt or acquired liver or kidney disease in species including dogs, cats [1] . In dogs, it can occur as a result of either congenital or acquired liver diseases. Liver dysfunction aggravate the accumulation of toxic metabolite which leads to the altered neurotransmission and finally manifested as hepatic encephalopathy [2] . Pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy is complex and incompletely understood, however increased ammonia concentration in the blood contributes to its pathogenesis [3] . In human, changes like Spongiosis or micro aviation, neuronal necrosis, gliosis and Alzheimer type I1 astrocytes have been the pathogical features of hepatic encephalitis in brain [4] . 2. Materials and Methods A four year old male dachshund dog which was under treatment for sudden epilepsy, convulsions and tremors was presented to the Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy following its death for postmortem examination. A detailed necropsy was conducted. Gross lesions in all organs were recorded. For detailed histopathological examinations, tissue samples were collected in 10% Neutral Buffered Formalin. After fixation, tissue sections were processed through different gradients of alcohols and xylene. Then paraffin blocks were made. Tissue sections of 5 micron thickness were cut using microtome, finally stained by Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) standard protocol (Luna. 1968). Samples of kidney and liver were collected for molecular diagnosis. Tissue sections of liver and kidney was subjected to DNA extraction using the commercial available kit followed by genus specific Polymerase Chain Reaction for Leptospira species. A primer pair specific to Lip 32 gene was employed for this study [5] . Impression smears from hippocampus were taken for the direct fluorescent antibody test (FAT) to detect rabies. On detailed postmortem examination yellowish discoloration was observed in the mucous membrane of eye and mouth, friable fatty liver, pin point hemorrhages on the kidney surface, necrosis on the spleen, severe catarrhal enteritis, cerebral congestion with oedema was observed.