Hepatitis, Infectious Canine

OVERVIEW
Viral disease of dogs and other Canidae caused by canine adenovirus 1 (CAV-1), which is serologically homogeneous and antigenically distinct from CAV-2, the respiratory virus
Infection—targets parenchymal organs (especially liver), eyes, and endothelium
Oronasal exposure—leads to tonsillar localization and viremia within 4–8 days; saliva and feces infectious during initial viremia
Virus—initially localizes in Kupffer cells and endothelium; replicates in Kupffer cells; release and damage of adjacent hepatocytes and massive viremia; with adequate antibody response, cleared from most organs within 10–14 days; persists in the renal tubules where it may be excreted in urine for 6–9 months
Chronic hepatitis—may develop with only a partial neutralizing antibody response
Cytotoxic ocular injury—leads to anterior uveitis and the classic hepatitis blue eye