From:
Christopher
Date: 2001-02-18 22:56:00 UTC
Subject: Re: ? Post ECE Syndrome?
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., iwilson03@a... wrote:
>Might a "Post-ECE Syndrome" exist? Several of my ferrets who
>survived ECE when they were young adults
> presented as having many of the signs and symptoms (e.g., diahrrea,
> lethargy, anorexia, nausea) associated with ECE when they were 6
>1/2 to 7 years of age.
I've never seen where anyone has referred to a post-ece syndrome per
se. Unfortunately those are generalized symptoms of any malabsorptive
condition. From the following quote off Dr. Williams ECE site,
<quote>. Ferrets commonly break with the disease again after exposure
to a clinically ill animal. (This is also not likely; a far more
likely explanation is that following infection, a damaged intestine
such as those shown in the pictures above is more susceptible to
recurrent bouts of malabsorptive diarrhea following stress or a
dietary change. It is likely that immunity, if not lifelong, is
certainly long-lasting. The presence of young animals with no
clinical symptoms in a facility undergoing an outbreak of ECE is
likely proof of this.) <end quote>
The myth that ferrets commonly break with the disease again is
addressed here. As he says, once the intestine is damaged by ECE the
ferret is more likely to experience those symptoms just from stress
or diet change. If you don't have his site check out
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/ECE/ECE.html
Tickletacklehugglepounce
Christopher & Crew