Condition reference
GastrointestinalGastrointestinal inflammation — histopathologic staging
Explore the linked guideline and related drug references. A matching drug entry does not establish a treatment recommendation.
WSAVA guideline
Endoscopic, Biopsy and Histopathologic Guidelines for the Evaluation of Gastrointestinal Inflammation in Companion Animals
The WSAVA histopathologic standards exist because pathologists disagreed: Willard et al. found lack of uniformity in 50% of biopsy samples assessed by 5 veterinary pathologists, and prior systems graded severity on a simple 4-point scale with differing criteria, making studies incomparable (§Limitations of Histopathology). The Group first set evidence-based (Class II/III) normal reference ranges for gastric body, antrum, duodenum and colon, then defined paired morphologic + inflammatory lesion criteria per site (Tables 1–4) graded "microscope-side" at the 40× objective as normal/mild/moderate/severe (0–3); simple addition yields a cumulative research score. Sample adequacy is part of the standard — pathologists must report total sample number and quality on every report.
WSAVA GI Standardization Group; Washabau et al., JVIM 2010;24:10–26 + report forms
Key findings
- Why needed: 50% non-uniformity among 5 pathologists; prior systems used differing criteria; morphologic changes under-emphasized vs dominant-cell typing (§Limitations of Histopathology).
- Grading mechanics: 40× objective, "microscope-side"; each criterion normal = 0, mild = 1, moderate = 2, marked = 3; numerical addition gives an overall score; weighted grading (crypts vs villi vs lacteals vs LP cellularity) may be needed (§Conclusions).
- Normal canine gastric body (per 250-μm "mucosal unit"): CD3+ IEL 0.9 (0–2); CD3+ LP lymphocytes 4.2 (0.5–13); LP eosinophils 0.5 (0–2); LP plasma cells 1.6 (0–5.8); 8 dogs, marked interanimal variation.
- Normal canine gastric antrum (per 250-μm unit): CD3+ IEL 4.4 (1.5–8); LP lymphocytes 10.7 (2.5–16.5); eosinophils 2.7 (0–6); plasma cells 6.8 (0.5–15.5) — antrum ~5× body IEL/lymphocytes.- Normal duodenum: villus 722±170 μm, crypt 1,279±203 μm, V:C 0.7±0.3; goblet cells 3.6±3.6/100 villous and 9.3±3.1/100 cryptal enterocytes; villous IEL dog 20.6±9.5 vs cat 47.8±11.7/100 enterocytes (cryptal similar: dog 5.2±2.3, cat 4.6±1.7); feline perforin+ globular leukocytes do not increase in inflammation.
- Canine duodenal LP gradient (per 10,000 μm²): leukocytes cryptal 156.3±24.9 > base 128.3±26.6 > tip 100.7±43.9; eosinophils cryptal 9.8±7.5 > base 3.7±3.5 > tip 3.8±6.1 — respect the gradient before calling increased cellularity.
- Normal canine colon: 7.7±3.7 IEL/100 colonocytes (basal crypt); between basal crypts ~5.5±4.3 plasma cells and 3.8±3.7 eosinophils per 10,000 μm²; goblet cells 25.6±7.3/100 colonocytes — goblet-cell hyperplasia NOT incorporated into the final template (mucus-discharge artifact).
- Lesion criteria (Tables 1–4): gastric body & antrum (identical): surface + pit epithelial injury, fibrosis/glandular nesting/atrophy, IEL, LP lymphocytes/plasma cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphofollicular hyperplasia; duodenum: villus stunting, epithelial injury, crypt distension, lacteal dilation, mucosal fibrosis + same inflammatory set; colon: surface injury, crypt hyperplasia, crypt dilation/distortion, fibrosis/atrophy + LP lymphocytes/plasma cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages.
- Adequate sample = at least 3 villi with entire depth to the mucosa–muscularis mucosae border (smooth lower border suffices); inadequate = villus tips only (Figs 1–3); reports must state sample number + quality.
- Limits: IHC with morphometry detects subtle change but is too time-consuming/costly for routine; inter-lab processing/staining differences hinder neutrophil/eosinophil ID (Conclusion f).
Recommendations
Grade endoscopic biopsies with a standardized system — WSAVA Tables 1–4, 40×, 0–3
Consensus — Conclusion (e)
Pathology reports must state sample number + quality (adequate/marginal/inadequate)
Consensus — Conclusion (d)
Apply the single species correction — villous IEL cat > dog
Group normal-range standard
Use site-specific ranges (antrum vs body; cryptal vs villus-tip LP) before judging cellularity
Group standard (Class II/III)
Do not score colonic goblet-cell hyperplasia — excluded from final template (artifact)
Explicit Group decision
Cumulative research score by simple addition (0–3); expect evolution to weighted systems
§Conclusions
Use standard duodenal/colonic histopath report forms (Appendices 1–2)
Group standard
Expect inter-lab staining/processing differences (eosinophils/neutrophils) on outside slides
Consensus — Conclusion (f)
Related drugs in this reference (7)
The quoted line under each drug is its own already-extracted indication text that matched this condition — the reason it’s listed, not a paraphrase. Open a drug for its full species/route breakdown, calculator, and complete adverse-effect list.
Showing 6 of 7 linked drug records. Open a record for species, route and source details.
FLUNIXIN
“**Alleviation of musculoskeletal inflammation/pain + visceral pain of colic** (label); foal diarrheas, shock/colitis, post-surgery (extra-label adjuncts)”
Source dose preview: 0.25–1 mg/kg once (repeat 12–24 h) — analgesic/antipyretic/surgical; **never more than once if steroids given**, Single, IV/SC/IM (Dog)
Adverse-effect notes: Rare anaphylaxis (rapid IV) — Administration-rate related · IM injection pain/swelling — Route-related
LINCOMYCIN (LINCOMYCIN HYDROCHLORIDE)
“For Oral Use in Swine and Broiler Chickens Only Not for use in layer or breeder chickens Keep Out of Reach of Children INDICATIONS AND USAGE: Swine: Lincomycin…”
Adverse-effect notes: To report suspected adverse drug events, for technical assistance orto obtain a copy of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS), contact Huvepharma,Inc.…
METRONIDAZOLE
“Giardia, other enteric protozoa, anaerobic infections, adjunct for IBD/colitis”
Source dose preview: 15–25 mg/kg, q12–24h x 5–7 days, PO (Dog)
Adverse-effect notes: **Neurotoxicity (ataxia, nystagmus, head tilt, seizures)** — **Dose-related, typically >60 mg/kg/day or chronic "recommended" dosing** · Hepatotoxicity, vomiting, anorexia — Reported
ONDANSETRON
“Severe/intractable vomiting (parvo enteritis, pancreatitis, chemotherapy) when conventional antiemetics fail”
Source dose preview: 0.1–0.5 mg/kg (up to 1 mg/kg for chemo), q6–12h, IV (slow push)/PO (Dog)
Adverse-effect notes: Well tolerated overall — — · Constipation, sedation, extrapyramidal signs (head shaking), arrhythmias, hypotension — <10% incidence (human data)
OXYTETRACYCLINE
“Enteritis/pneumonia, pregnant-ewe campylobacteriosis outbreaks”
Source dose preview: 10–20 mg/kg IV/IM/PO q8–12h — superseded by doxycycline, q8–12h, IV/IM/PO (Dog)
Adverse-effect notes: **Collapse/arrhythmias on rapid IV** — Rate-related (cattle esp.) · IM tissue injury — Site-discipline related
SULFASALAZINE
“Inflammatory large-bowel disease (colitis); adjunct for vasculitis”
Source dose preview: 20–40 mg/kg (max 1 g total), q8h × 3–4 wk → q12h → taper 25% q2wk → discontinue, PO (Dog)
Adverse-effect notes: **Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS/dry eye)** — Most frequent canine effect — may be irreversible; early detection allows reversal · Anorexia, vomiting, cholestatic jaundice, hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, allergic dermatitis, ↓ sperm counts — Uncommon
From pack #11 summary + `text/gi_EN_washabau2010_full_web.txt`; numbers as printed. Appendices 1–2 and Figs 1–3 are captions only [verify vs PDF]; companion slide-atlas (ref 3) not held locally.