Canine Adenovirus CAV-1 (dog) / Hepatitis contagiosa canis (HCC / ICH) PCR
Also known as Infectious Canine Hepatitis ICH.
HCC is caused by canine adenovirus 1 (CAV-1). The virus is shed in urine and faeces and transmission occurs directly or indirectly. After oronasal infection, the virus first multiplies in the tonsils and subsequently in the endothelium of the blood vessels, in hepatocytes as well as in cornea and uvea.
Deposition of immune complexes can result in glomerulonephritis and uveitis with a corneal oedema ('blue eye').
HCC can be acute or chronic. Especially in unvaccinated puppies, HCC can take a peracute or acute course and can be fatal.
Not only dogs, but also all other species of the family Canidae are susceptible to an infection with CAV-1.
As consistent vaccination against HCC has been carried out in Germany for some time now, the virus CAV-1 has largely disappeared from dog populations. However, CAV-1 still occurs in Eastern European countries.
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