Gallbladder Agenesis in 17 Dogs: 2006–2016

Abstract

BackgroundGallbladder agenesis (GBA) is extremely rare in dogs.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo describe the history, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of dogs with GBA.AnimalsSeventeen client‐owned dogs with GBA.MethodsMedical records from 2006 through 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Dogs were included when GBA was suspected on abdominal ultrasonography and confirmed by gross evaluation. Signalment, clinical signs, clinicopathological data, diagnostic imaging, histopathology, treatment, and outcome were recorded.ResultsDogs were of 6 different breeds, and Chihuahuas (10 of 17) were most common. Median age at presentation was 1.9 (range, 0.7–7.4) years. Clinical signs included vomiting (5 of 17), anorexia (2 of 17), ascites (2 of 17), diarrhea (1 of 17), lethargy (1 of 17), and seizures (1 of 17). All dogs had increased serum activity of at least 1 liver enzyme, most commonly alanine aminotransferase (15 of 17). Fifteen dogs underwent computed tomography (CT) cholangiography; common bile duct (CBD) dilatation was confirmed in 12, without evidence of bile duct obstruction. Gross evaluation confirmed malformation of the liver lobes in 14 of 17 dogs and acquired portosystemic collaterals in 5 of 17. Ductal plate malformation was confirmed histologically in 16 of 17 dogs. During follow‐up (range, 4–3,379 days), 16 of 17 dogs remained alive.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceDogs with GBA exhibit clinicopathological signs of hepatobiliary injury and hepatic histopathological changes consistent with a ductal plate abnormality. Computed tomography cholangiography was superior to ultrasound examination in identifying accompanying nonobstructive CBD distention. Computed tomography cholangiography combined with laparoscopic liver biopsy is the preferable approach to characterize the full disease spectrum accompanying GBA in dogs.

Congenital gallbladder agenesis in a 9-month-old Bull Terrier

“…In all the cases of the dogs with gallbladder agenesis, including this report, the laboratory liver parameters were elevated. In these cases, the ALT and AST activities were increased, probably resulting from the action of the hydrophobic bile acids (Liptak et al 2000;Austin et al 2006;Kamishina et al 2010;Sato et al 2018). In few cases, the ALP activity was also increased; however, it was not observed in the present case.…”

“…In few cases, the ALP activity was also increased; however, it was not observed in the present case. Interestingly, a mild increase in the bilirubin concentration was observed in this case, but not in the other cases of the dogs with this anomaly (Sato et al 2018). However, hyperbilirubinaemia has also been observed in humans with this defect (Tjaden et al 2015).…”

“…Ascites, anorexia and seizures were also reported in the other dogs with congenital gallbladder agenesis. However, in eight out of the seventeen dogs with agenesis or hypoplasia of the gallbladder, like in many humans with this anomaly, no clinical signs were observed (Austin et al 2006;Kamishina et al 2010;Scobie and Bramhall 2016;Sato et al 2018).…”

“…So far, the lack of a gallbladder has been detected only once in a larger dog. In that case, the gallbladder agenesis was recognised in a German Shepherd from Japan (Liptak et al 2000;Austin et al 2006;Kamishina et al 2010;Sato et al 2018). To our knowledge, the presented case report is the first description of congenital gallbladder agenesis in a Bull Terrier, and, so far, the second case of this anomaly in a dog other than a small or miniature dog.…”

“…To the best of our knowledge, only three cases had been described up to 2010, two cases in Maltese dogs and one case in a Chihuahua (Liptak et al 2000;Austin et al2006;Kamishina et al 2010). In 2018, Sato et al (2018) described twelve cases of gallbladder agenesis and five cases of gallbladder hypoplasia in dogs from Japan. In that study most cases were detected in Chihuahuas.…”