From:
"Tony Clarke"
Date: 2008-01-18 23:28:58 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: elevated liver functions, blood
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Ann" <annh330@...>
wrote:
>
> In Sept Rascal, age 3, had blood work in advance to having a
dental.
> The blood tests revealed elevated liver functions. ALT 402 (10-
280),
> Alkaline Phosphatase 79 (15-45). As a result, when he was under
> anesthesia for the dental my vet also did a liver biopsy. Results of
> this were Mild diffuse lymphoplasmacytic cholangitis and diffuse
> moderate vacuolar hepatopathy. The second one is fatty liver
which
> is common change in ferret livers.
Extract from a Dr Williams article on understanding ferret pathology
( I can't find the link, sorry)
Extract...
Liver
The liver is commonly biopsied in ferrets, as it is often discolored in
animals with chronic GI disease. The yellowish discoloration so
commonly seen in ferret livers at surgery is due to accumulation of
fat within hepatocytes.
This accumulation may be diffuse, resulting in an overall yellow color
to the liver, or it may be nodular, resembling small dots throughout
the liver. In many cases, the reporting of hepatocellular lipidosis may
lead the practitioner to believe this to be a pathologic change =96 the
equivalent of the syndrome of idiopathic hepatic lipidosis in the cat.
However, this is not the case.
Ferrets have a unique physiologic mechanism that allows rapid
mobilization of peripheral fat stores in times of inanition, sometimes
"kicking in" as little as 6 hours following a meal. Hence, hepatic
lipidosis in ferrets should not be interpreted as a pathologic
finding, but simply a physiologic response.
Another extremely common finding in the liver is the infiltration of
portal areas by lymphocytes and plasma cells. This finding results
from chronic antigenic stimulation arising from the intestine and
traveling up the portal triad. As one would expect, the severity of
this common background finding increases with age, and becomes
more pronounced in cases of chronic GI inflammation, as antigen
absorption is increased across a mucosal barrier rendered more
permeable to macromolecules. Lymphocytic portal hepatitis of this
type should not be considered a disease requiring therapeutic
intervention.
End extract.
Hope this is of some use.
Tony (not a vet), Sugar and Suki.
In memory of Sally and Sue.
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