OBJECTIVES

Lymphocytic-Plasmacytic Enteritis (LPE), is one of the most common causes of chronic enteritis in dogs. This disease is related to numerous immunological agents, specially dietetic allergens, that can cause immune mediated disorders in small intestine. Digestive tract endoscopy and mucosal biopsies are two techniques required to diagnose this group of disorders.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the histopathological lesions in duodenum in dogs with LPE.

MATERIALS

Endoscopic biopsies of 100 dogs were used in this study, coming from animals diagnosed of chronic enteritis at the Gastroenterology and Endoscopy service of the Animal Hospital of the Veterinary College of the Complutense University of Madrid. After the normal processing of biopsy and staining with Hematoxylin-Eosin, Massons Trichromic and Periodic Acid of Schiff (PAS) techniques, the following parameters were evaluated: epithelial continuity, goblet cell hyperplasia, presence of lymphocytes in the epithelium, grade of infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells, presence of oedema, lymphangiectasia, fibrosis, gland hyperplasia

RESULTS

Only 15% of the biopsies showed epithelial continuity. 18% of the cases presented goblet cell hyperplasia. 47% of the surveyed dogs presented intra-epithelium lymphocytes. 100% of the animals presented lymphocytic-plasmacytic infiltration, being 55% moderate infiltration and 20% severe. The presence of oedema in the lamina propria was observed in 75% of the biopsies and 89% showed lymphangiectasia. 57% of the cases presented Lieberkühn gland hyperplasia, but only 27% exhibited periglandular fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

The histopathologic study of the biopsies was considered as essential for the final diagnosis of the LPE; the enteritis was consequently graded into: Severe, moderate or light. After the study of the mentioned microscopic parameters it was determined that 18% of the surveyed dogs presented light LPE; 53% exhibited moderate LPE and 29% showed severe LPE.

References

1.  Jergens, A.E.; F.M. Moore; J.S. Haynes; Miles, K.G. (1992): "Idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease in dogs and cats: 84 cases (1987-1990)." J.A.V.M.A. 201, (10): 1603-1608.

2.  Rodríguez-Franco, F.; Rodríguez-Bertos, A.; Rodríguez-Castaño, A.; Palacios, N. Sainz, A.; Peña, L. (1999): "Endoscopic and histopathological study in twenty dogs with lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis (LPE)." 24Th World Small Animal Veterinary Congress (W.S.A.V.A.). Lyon (Francia).

3.  Roth, L.; Leib, M.; Davenport, D.; Monroe, W. (1990): "Comparisons between endoscopic and histologic evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract in dogs and cats: 75 cases (1984-1987)." J.A.V.M.A., 196: 635-638.