Related Experiment Videos
Gastroenteritis of basenji dogs
N J MacLachlan1, E B Breitschwerdt, J M Chambers
1Department of Microbiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh.
Veterinary Pathology
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Basenji dogs with chronic diarrhea exhibit significant intestinal lesions and impaired digestive function. Even asymptomatic Basenjis show inflammatory changes, indicating a breed predisposition to gastrointestinal disease.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Gastroenterology
- Canine Pathology
Background:
- Basenji dogs are predisposed to chronic gastrointestinal issues.
- Understanding the spectrum of gastrointestinal pathology in Basenjis is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate intestinal function and morphology in Basenji dogs with and without chronic diarrhea.
- To compare findings with healthy control dogs.
Main Methods:
- Histologic examination of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Assessment of intestinal digestive and absorptive function using combined N-benzoyl-L-tyrosyl-p-aminobenzoic acid and d-xylose tests.
- Comparison between affected Basenjis, asymptomatic Basenjis, and healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Gastric lesions (hypertophy, gastritis, atrophy) were present in both affected and asymptomatic Basenjis.
- Affected Basenjis had severe intestinal lesions (villous changes, crypt tortuosity, inflammation).
- Asymptomatic Basenjis showed milder intestinal lesions but increased inflammatory cells compared to controls.
- Both affected and asymptomatic Basenjis had abnormal intestinal function, with malabsorption and maldigestion most severe in affected dogs.
Conclusions:
- Basenji dogs, regardless of clinical signs, exhibit gastrointestinal abnormalities.
- Chronic diarrhea in Basenjis is associated with severe intestinal pathology and functional impairment.
- Subtle inflammatory changes in asymptomatic Basenjis suggest an underlying disease process.