Prevalence of and clinicopathologic findings associated with ascites in dogs in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence of and clinicopathologic findings associated with grade 3 ascites in dogs presented at three major veterinary clinics in Enugu State, Nigeria between January and December 2010. Blood samples were collected from reported cases for haematology and serum chemistry tests, while the ascites fluid was collected for cytological and relevant clinical chemistry determinations. Blood samples were also collected from 12 apparently healthy non-ascitic dogs from the study population to serve as control. All haematology, cytology and clinical chemistry tests were carried out following standard procedures. Results showed that out of a total of 1,788 dogs presented in the three clinics during the study period, 14 had grade 3 ascites (0.78%), and there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the prevalence obtained from the different clinics. There were also no significant association (p > 0.05) between sex and prevalence. However, the prevalence was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in dogs 3 years and above (71.4%) than in those 1 to 2.9 years of age (21.4%) and those less than 1 year of age (7.1%). Alsatian–Rottweiler crosses had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher prevalence (50%) than all other breeds. The 14 ascites cases were classified into four causative types: cirrhotic liver disease (CLD)—14.3%; chronic active hepatitis (CAH)—21.4%; congestive heart failure (CHF)—50%; and kidney damage (KD)—14.3%. Each of these types presented certain characteristic serum chemistry and haematological findings. Dogs with CLD had a significantly (p < 0.05) very low serum activity of alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) and very low serum urea levels, and also significantly (p < 0.05) very high serum activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), while dogs with CAH had a contrasting significantly (p < 0.05) very high serum activity of ALT, AST and ALP when compared to the controls. Dogs with CHF were characterised by significantly (p < 0.05) very high serum AST activity, while dogs with KD were characterised by significantly (p < 0.05) very high serum levels of creatinine and urea, significantly (p < 0.05) very low packed cell volume, red blood cell counts and haemoglobin concentration. The ascites fluid was a transudate in all cases. It was concluded that the prevalence of grade 3 ascites in dogs in the study area was low, and that most of the cases were due to CHF, followed by CLD, CAH and KD, each of which was characterised by some specific serum chemistry and haematological abnormalities that could be of diagnostic importance.