Lobular dissecting hepatitis-like chronic hepatitis with bacterial chronic cholangitis in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 1-year-3-month-old neutered female ferret presented with anorexia, weight loss, and increased liver enzymes and total bile acids. On day 49 of illness, neurologic signs appeared, necessitating humane euthanasia. Macroscopically, the liver was pale yellow with an irregular surface, and two tortuous shunt vessels from the cranial mesenteric vein to the caudal vena cava were observed cranial to the left kidney. Microscopically, single or a few hepatocytes were demarcated by reticular and collagen fibers with an extensive ductular reaction throughout all liver lobes. Bacterial chronic cholangitis was observed. Bilaterally symmetrical spongy degeneration was observed in the brain nuclei. Collectively, the present case showed lobular dissecting hepatitis-like chronic hepatitis with chronic cholangitis, accompanied by an acquired portosystemic shunt and hepatic encephalopathy.