From:
sukiecrandall@telocity.com
Date: 2002-07-16 01:29:33 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] wild mink and ADV (NE US)?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <18231814.1026782973780.JavaMail.root@scandium>
Author wrote:
> It has been documented that the Aleutian virus can be carried by
> Raccoons as they were deliberately infected in one study but from
>what I read they did not appear to have any affects from carrying the
>disease.
So, mild or silent infections that were confirmed by antibody testing?
I wonder if and for how long they might be able to shed the virus. If that isn't a problem then it's quite different than if they can.
We have a number of raccoons, skunks, weasels, mink, and even some otters and other mustelids -- like the (extremely) rare martin or fisher passing through -- now and then around here. I sure would not want to see ADV in the wild around here as well as in some domestic ferrets. Infection spread from a positive ferret is yet one more hazard when ignorant people turn loose pet ferrets instead of finding shelters, and a wild reservoir would be not only bad for those animals but also for other domestic ferrets.