From:
Chris Lloyd
Date: 2001-03-01 02:17:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] ADV Testing
Hi All, I know things will be different if you are a
shelter or breeder with ferrets coming and going but in the
last 10 years individual members of the WFC have found that
testing once a year for Aleutian D is quite enough as long as
you are careful about your ferrets not being in contact with
untested ferrets or in the UK feral mink / ferrets.
Now 3 instances that caught out our members and shows
just how virulent ADV can be. in 1998 one young club member
took in a rescue hob without testing and at the yearly test 10
out of 13 ferrets were positive. In 1999 our club chairman had
a ferret escape for 36 hours and he has feral mink in his
area. At the Jan 2000 testing all 6 of his ferrets tested
positive. We were at a show in early Jan with just his ferrets
and before we knew they were positive, another club member
attended the show with some ferret play equipment. In Jan this
year 3 of his ferrets tested positive and were removed. I have
just seen the results of the Feb test, ANOTHER 3 of his ferret
are now positive. Testing once a year works if you are careful
BUT if there has been any chance of your ferrets being in
contact with an untested ferret get them treated again.
I know people keep positive and negative ferret in
together and say they don't readily pass the virus BUT when a
ferret starts to shed it is contagious as hell and ferrets
start to die very quickly. Please be careful. Chris.
Chris Lloyd ICQ no. 44575318
Wessex Ferret Club www.wfc.cwc.net
The Pack www.btinternet.com/~chris.lloyd2/