Feline Cholangitis

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2017 May;47(3):703-724. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2016.11.015. Epub 2017 Jan 6.

Abstract

Cholangitis is common in felines, including neutrophilic, lymphocytic, and chronic cholangitis (liver fluke). History, physical examination, laboratory testing, and abdominal ultrasound support a diagnosis. Diagnosis using hepatic histopathology and/or bile analysis is ideal but not always practical. Neutrophilic cholangitis is associated with bacterial cholecystitis, pancreatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. The typical presentation is a short illness with lethargy, inappetence, pyrexia, and jaundice. Lymphocytic cholangitis, suspected to be immune-mediated, can have a prolonged clinical course with weight loss and ascites as the predominant features. The prevalence of liver fluke infestation in cats varies worldwide and clinical manifestations are uncommonly reported.

Keywords: Cat; Cholangitis; Feline; Fluke; Inflammation; Liver; Lymphocytic; Neutrophilic.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biopsy / veterinary
  • Cat Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Cat Diseases* / drug therapy
  • Cat Diseases* / etiology
  • Cat Diseases* / pathology
  • Cats
  • Cholangitis / complications
  • Cholangitis / diagnosis
  • Cholangitis / drug therapy
  • Cholangitis / veterinary*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents