From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-10-24 14:34:00 UTC
Subject: Re: distemper question
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Ferrets Unlimited Ferret Shelter"
<ferret@e...> wrote:
> A woman I know rescues raccoon, she thinks she had distemper come
in on a
> raccoon since several of them have gotten sick over the summer. Two
> survived. She isn't sure it is distemper either.
>
> Anyway, she picked up 7 ferrets from a lady in another city while I
was out
> of town. Her son picked them up in a truck where no raccoon has
been, taken
> them to her store where no raccoons have been. She has had them
there for
> the past 13 days and everyone seems healthy.
>
> Is that sufficient quarantining? How long do they need to be
quarantined?
> She is giving them their distemper shots, and after a quarantine
period,
> they are suppose to come here.
>
> The potential of distemper scares me to death, I have four old-
timers that
> have not been immunized. My vet felt that it was best for them not
to risk
> the reaction factor.
>
> She could also use suggestions on disinfect ion and all that neat
stuff.
> She is thinking of putting in a germicidal light in the area that
the heater
> is in to disinfect the air, will that work? What else can she do?
>
Dear Jean:
Many cases of distemper become evident in 13 days, but not all. NOn-
ferret adapted strains may take up to 45 days to become evident based
on clinical signs. Antibody titers will generally show exposure
within 2-4 weeks, but are often not cost effective.
I would be very careful taking ferrets from someone with a history of
distemper in the facility, in spite of all assurances, and would
suggest that a quarantine run the full 45 days. Also, I would
strongly recommend that you check into the new Merial Purevax vaccine
for your four old-timers, epsecially in light of this new development.
Ultraviolet lights in my experience are not especially effective in
decreasing pathogens, and many bacteria and viruses in facilities
tend to hide in moist cracks and crevices, away from their effects.
Routine disinfection of bowls, cages, etc. with a virucidal cleaner
such as Parvocide or Rocal will help; however the best advice is that
people who rescue raccoons stick to raccoons. The only case of
rabies in a mustelid that I ever saw (it was actually a mink, not a
ferret) was contracted from wild raccoons.) Using the same cages for
raccoons and ferrets (at different times of course) is a risky
business.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM