From:
sirk6
Date: 2001-09-14 06:13:00 UTC
Subject: [Ferret-Health-list] Re: Segregation of ADV (+ )vs( - ) fererts
fererts
I have no cut and dried answers in regard to adv, I only know what I know
about this disease from dealing with it for over three years. I still have
several ferrets that are negative. They are housed in the same area, eat out
of the same treat bowls, use the same litter boxes (when they use them) and
play with the same toys. Two are cagemates. One has remained negative while
the other is positive.
When Gracie passed in January her titer level was over 16,000, yet there was
no DNA found in her blood or urine. Meaning that at the time of her death,
she was not shedding the virus. If she had shed previous to that time, we do
not know. It takes constant blood drawing and testing to find out when (and
if) the ferret is shedding. I believe it was Danee (?) whose ferret started
to shed when she had left to go on vacation. Stress? Possibly.
We recently tested every ferret in our household. With the availability of
the POCT test and not having to hurt the ferret by toe clipping, we found
out that all shelter ferrets in our home are negative. (I feel like I have
jinxed myself here). Some of these ferrets have been with us for a number of
years due to their nature. I truly expected to find at least one positive
among the crowd. This may mean nothing, it may mean a lot.
Is it possible that there are two different strains of adv? The one in the
South seems to be more virulent than the one in the North.
I am not a vet and have had no medical training of any sort. This is just my
observations.
Mary (Michigan)
http://www.mkaresq.com
----- Original Message -----
From: <mscritrs@a...>
To: <Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 5:07 PM
> >
> > I would like to know myself. It seems that some ferrets are
> resistant to ADV.
> > They stay negative after repetive exposure. (I'm going off what was
> said
> > earlier on this list.) It would be an important fact in ADV
> research, and
> > these type of ferrets could be a control or have something usefull
> in
> > preventing or stopping ADV.
>
>
>
> It could also mean that the ADV+ ferret has not shed the disease so
> the other ferrets around it are still negative. I have not
> experienced that some are resistant to ADV. I wish it were true
> because then all mine wouldn't be positive.
> Mary
>