From:
Steve Austin
Date: 2001-11-08 13:40:00 UTC
Subject: Neuter in country for Kris~Ski
It is true that pet store ferrets seem to be
a common source of ECE, often they are not ill
because they are kits and in the carrier stage by the
time they are taken home, but they then bring ECE
into the unsuspecting owner's home- not too much
a problem unless that owner has other ferrets.
Also, not all pet store ferrets are Marshall's, any
pet store ferret can carry this virus.
ECE is a virus, and not related to early or late neutering,
it can affect any ferret who has never had it before.
Once the ferret is better he is a carrier for 8 months
or more, but not able to get the infection again.
The problem is many many people don't know about ECE
or the ferret may be a rescue or abandoned with no history
and be taken in by a shelter or someone with ferrets and
spread ECE there. The quarantine period doesn't really work
since the virus can be shed by a seemingly well ferret for many
months.
The first case of ECE, well that may be like where was the first
case of the Flu, or measles? Probably it is a mutated strain
of a common mink virus?
That once it got into ferrets spread rapidly- because all the ferrets
are susceptible, no immunity in the population, and no
vaccine. It is mostly a US problem, but with importing
and exporting of ferrets it will not take long to be
introduced everywhere else. A rapid ECE test, like
available for ADV may help decrease the spread, but
this takes money to develop and interest in the market,
I don't think it will come out anytime soon- if it is even
possible.
Here is one of the best sources of info. out there on ECE
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/ECE/ECE.html
As far as cancer, ECE has been linked to chronic intestinal
problems in its victims, and enlarged spleens from chronic
inflammatory process. Chronic inflammation of intestinal
lymph nodes are more prone to lymphomas??
Not sure about this connection.
However, has nothing to do with neutering early or late,
but an intact male does have an increase risk of
testicular cancer in his old age, since if you have no
testes you have no chance of testicular cancer.
I don't think it is a common cancer, but a risk is a risk,
and intact males that are not being bred don't really
have any better qualtiy of life, and tend to get stinky,
have marking behaviours, etc.
Too early neutering is a suspect in the cause of adrenal
growths, but other than that one I don't know of any
other increase in the risk of tumors.
Patty
> I read last year neuter baby ferrets not healthy like
> neuter-later older ferrets, yes? More cancer, more
> ECE, more other sick times, more adrenal gland
> growings, yes?
>
> No vet to say virus cause cancer (?) like virus cause
> ECE. Where/what is place ECE comes to first ferret?
> Read ECE go to 2nd ferret from 1st ferret, yes? How
> 1st ferret get virus? From shirt/jacket? How virus
> get on cloths? Much un-knowing to help ferret yet.
>
>
> Good bi with kindliness,
>
> Maxim Ohnehast
> Ichiban tomodachi-chan ferret
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