From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-09-28 14:06:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Information/treatment of Actinomycosis?
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Karen O'Keefe" <karen.o27keefe@n...>
wrote:
> I have been asked by a friend of mine if I could ask on this list
if
> anyone knows about a condition called Actinomycosis? Her ferret
> Harvey has been seen by her vet for the past month or so as he has
> developed a swelling in his throat, her vet now thinks it could be
> Actinomycosis but is unsure how to proceed...? Below I have added
an
> email from my friend Jane giving you a rundown of treatment Harvey
> has had so far.
>
Dear Karen -
As Actinomycosis is a serious and often refractory bacterial
infeciton which is not well treated by antibiotics - I think that it
is very important to have a definitive diagnosis either by biopsy or
by culture before embarking on any actinomyces treatment.
Identification is not easy, but as the treatment of actinomycosis
often requires relatively radical excision of affected tissue, it is
not something to guess at or make a snap diagnosis.
In this case, before any discussion of treatment is initiated, the
definitive identification of the organism in this ferret should be
the first step.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM