From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-08-05 15:03:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Dr. Williams: re: IBD
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., meesh meesh <meeshmeesh1@y...> wrote:
> Dr. Williams,
> Hi. I can't find the FHL where I recently read your
> comments on IBD, but (correct me if I"m wrong) I
> thought you stated you were not convinced of IBD being
> a true disease entity in ferrets. If this is correct,
> given your extensive experience in the world of ferret
> pathology (and ferret medicine), do you have any
> thoughts on what may be happening in ferrets that have
> been given this as a diagnosis? I'm gathering this
> diagnosis is being given based on
> lymphocytic-plasmacytic infiltrates being found in the
> biopsies of the intestines (is this correct
DEar Michaela:
Yes, you are correct - the diagnosis of IBD is the resultof seing
increased numbers of lymphocytes and plasma cellsin the intstine, and
would probably be better off being called simply lymphoplasmacytic
enteritis.
The cause of this type of infiltrate in the intestine cannot be
ascertained in most cases, and applying the moniker of IBD to it
really does ferets and their owners a disservice. It is simply the
morphologic end stage of a number of disease conditions, including
Helicobacter and coronavirus, among others.
Additionally, in my experience, true lymphoplasmacytic enteritis has
additional morphologic changes including villar blunting, increase in
intraepithelial lymphocytes and other less common changes that are
often not present in many cases in which I am approached to give a
second opinion. There is a tendency for many pathologists to
overdiagnose in order to be able to give a definitive diagnosis to a
client who is searching in earnest for one.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM