Tissues from 27 dogs died from infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) were evaluated by immunohistochemestry (IHC) for detection of canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1) antigen using a monoclonal antibody. Evaluated tissues included liver, kidney, spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils, lungs, small intestine, brain, and spinal cord. For each organ increasing degrees (from mild to marked) of intensity of immune staining were ascribed. CAV-1 was detected in most of the evaluated organs, mainly in the endothelial cells. Considering the clinical course of ICH and the intensity of IHC staining, cases with acute and peracute courses had more marked staining. IHC proved to be a reliable test for CAV-1 antigen detection and can be used for pathogenesis studies on ICH either in the spontaneous and experimental disease.
canine adenovirus I; infectious canine hepatitis; immunohistochemistry; diseases of dogs
