7.1.3 Organ-specific Patterns of Inflammation

Question 1

What is infectious arthritis and how may it arise?

Answer 1

Inflammation of the joints
- bloodstream
- spread from bone
- spread from periarticular tissues
- direct penetration
- trauma

Question 2

What is non-infectious arthritis?

Answer 2

Degenerative joint disease - an immune-mediated process important in adult animals. Predominantly involves lymphocytes and plasma cells and is centered on the synovial membrane.

Question 3

What is inflammation of the lung and how can it vary?

Answer 3

Pneumonia
Can vary with route of entry of agent:
- airborne agents = bronchopneumonia
- haematogenous agents = interstitial pneumonia

Question 4

What is inflammation of the alimentary tract? How are infections usually controlled?

Answer 4

Gastroenteritis/colitis
Infections usually controlled by GALT, continuous movement of ingesta, and various antimicrobial peptides

Question 5

What is chronic enteritis and what diseases is it linked to?

Answer 5

May result in malabsorption with progressive loss of fluid and protein across inflamed mucosa

Johne’s disease - lamina propria is infiltrated by lots of macrophages containing causative mycobacteria

Inflammatory bowel disease - inappropriate response to dietary antigens or commensal bacteria in which lamina propria is infiltrated with lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils

Question 6

What is inflammation of the liver? Describe acute vs chronic

Answer 6

Hepatitis

Acute - due to infection, liver is swollen and hyperaemic, pinpoint foci of necrosis seen

Chronic - result of progressive fibrosis (cirrhosis), e.g., ragwort intoxication in horses

Question 7

What is inflammation of the pancreas? Acute vs chronic?

Answer 7

Pancreatitis

Acute - release of pancreatic enzymes into surrounding fat causes fat necrosis (usually associated with obesity or abdo trauma)

Chronic - seen in cats and occasionally horses, causes progressive fibrosis

Question 8

What is inflammation of the kidney?

Answer 8

Nephritis

Inflammation arises at glomeruli (glomerulonephritis), interstitial tissue (interstitial nephritis) or in the pelvis (pyelonephritis)

Question 9

What is nephrotic syndrome?

Answer 9

Glomerulonephronitis and/or amyloidosis may cause loss of proteins (esp albumin) into urine

Generalised oedema develops

Loss of antithrombin II = clotting problems

Question 10

What is inflammation of urinary bladder? What conditions are linked to this?

Answer 10

Cystitis

Accompanied by considerable dilation of the submucosal vessels (vascular ectasia)

More common in females due to shorter urethra

Bracken fern toxicity (cattle) - initial vascular ectasia, inflammation, and haemorrhage which can progress to transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

Question 11

What is inflammation of the uterus? Give an example.

Answer 11

Metritis
Can occur at two points:
- Endometritis (at service)
- At parturition

Pyometra (pus in the uterus) occurs commonly in bitches and is life threatening

Question 12

What is inflammation of the mammary gland?

Answer 12

Mastitis
- Life threatening can occur after parturition
- S. aureus can cause gangrenous, acute and chronic mastitis
- Chronic mastitis results in progressive destruction of the glandular tissue and replacement by fibrous tissue.

Question 13

What are the two forms of inflammation of the male genital tract?

Answer 13

Prostatitis - inflammation of the prostate (ascending infection may result in abscessation)

Orchitis - inflammation of the testes (uncommon)

Question 14

What are the three forms of inflammation of the CNS?

Answer 14

Encephalitis - inflammation of neural tissue of the brain

Myelitis - inflammation of the spinal cord

Meningitis - inflammation of the meninges

Repair in CNS involves proliferation of glial cells (gliosis)

Question 15

What is lymphoplasmacytic inflammation of the CNS?

Answer 15

Perivascular cuffing

Layers of cells around blood vessels of perivascular space, predominated by lymphocytes and plasma cells.
Common in viral infections or immune-mediated disease affecting brain/SC.

Question 16

Neutrophilia

Answer 16

Increased neutrophils
Seen in:
- purulent foci
- pyogenic bacterial infections
- necrosis
- fungal infections
- endo/exogenous corticosteroids
- excitement/fear/stress

Question 17

Neutropenia

Answer 17

Reduced neutrophils
Seen in:
- gram -ve infections
- factors that destroy neutrophils in BM (radiation/toxinx)
- malignancies infiltrating BM

Question 18

Eosinophilia

Answer 18

Increased eosinophils
seen in:
- parasitism or hypersensitivity reactions
- breed predispositions to eosinophilic inflammation

Question 19

Eosinopenia

Answer 19

Reduced eosinophils
seen in:
- endo/exogenous corticosteroids

Question 20

Lymphocytosis

Answer 20

Increased lymphocytes
Seen in:
- lymphoid neoplasia
- fear, excitement, stress
- chronic infections

Question 21

Lymphopenia

Answer 21

Reduced lymphocytes
Seen in:
- viruses that attack lymphoid system
- radiation injury
- endo/exogenous corticosteroids

Question 22

Monocytosis

Answer 22

Increased monocytes
Seen in:
- chronic infections
- heamolytic anaemias

Question 23

Bacteriaemia

Answer 23

Transient presence of non-pathogenic bacteria in the blood. Generally cleared by phagocytes in spleen, liver, lungs with no detrimental effect on hosts

Question 24

Septicaemia

Answer 24

Pathogenic bacteria in the bloodstream

Presents as severe multisystemic diseases, death due to mass release of bacterial toxins causing circulatory collapse.

Gross pathology: multifocal haemorrhage (external mucosae and internal organs)

Histology: bacteria in capillary lumina