Clinical and epidemiologic characterization of a diarrheal syndrome in Basenji dogs
Breitschwerdt, E.B.; Waltman, C.; Hagstad, H.V.; Ochoa, R.; McClure, J.; Barta, O.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 180(8): 914-920
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 7085468 Document Number: 192490
In an attempt to identify the prevalence and epidemiology of lymphoproliferative diarrhoea syndrome in Basenjis, questionnaires were sent to 600 owners and records from the Centralized Veterinary Medical Data Program (VMDP) were analysed. The disease is characterized by anorexia, occasional vomiting and protracted diarrhoea, and histologically by lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis. Of 102 owners who responded to the questionnaire 74 owned a Basenji with a history of diarrhoea. Breeders reported that 42 (3%) of 1380 pups had had chronic diarrhoea at some time in their lives. Average age at onset of the disease was 30.2 months and average survival time following onset of symptoms was 20.9 months (67% of dogs died within 1 year of showing diarrhoea). Of 32 cases of digestive tract diseases in Basenjis recorded on VMDP, lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis was diagnosed in 8. Case reports of 6 of these are given. Predisposing and/or aggravating factors are discussed as well as methods of treatment. It is not possible to say whether the disease is more prevalent in Basenji than in other breeds.