A Granulomatous Colitis of Dogs with Histologic Resemblance to Whipple's Disease

Abstract

A disease is described in Boxer dogs clinically characterized by an intractable, sometimes hemorrhagic chronic diarrhea. Nine cases were studied from one kennel. Pathologically the disease is defined as a granulomatous colitis. The histologic lesion is a distension of the lamina propria and submucosa of the colon and cecum with large pink staining macrophages, the majority of which are PAS positive, and some of which contain bacteria-like structures. Lymph nodes draining the cecum and colon contain similar macrophages. The macrophages, and their contents, are compared to those occurring in lesions of Whipple's disease of man. Whipple's disease is compared with Johne's disease of ruminants. Based on the histological and histochemical similarities between the granulomatous colitis of dogs and Whipple's disease of man a similar pathogenesis is postulated and similar therapy is suggested.