Message Number: SG832 | New FHL Archives Search
From: DaneeDV@aol.com
Date: 2002-08-16 19:07:19 UTC
Subject: RE: Quick question - ADV testing
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <93.21c7cd22.2a8ea767@aol.com>

Author wrote:
>
> I have been reading up on ADV testing and I understand that the ADV
> QuickChek test is an antibody test. The way I have always understood these
> things (not being a biology major) the presence of antibodies only means
> that the ferret has been EXPOSED to the virus - it doesn't indicate the
> presence of the virus itself.

All of the commercially available ADV tests are antibody tests.
Unfortunately, with ADV, the presence of antibodies to ADV generally means
the ferret has ADV.
ADV causes the ferrets body to produce non-neutralizing antibodies.
Therefore, they do not help to clear the virus by fighting it. Without
anything to fight the virus, there is nothing to clear it out of the ferret's
system.
The U of GA does run a PCR test on samples they receive, which checks for the
presence of viral DNA. However, this is not a good diagnostic tool. Most of
the time the virus is not in the blood stream, but in the ferret's organs. I
have 9 ferrets that have ADV, and over the course of 2+ years I have sent
many samples from each of them to the U of GA. Only 3 have ever had a
positive PCR test, although all of them have always had positive antibody
tests, and in some cases, the antibody levels have increased over time. Even
with those 3, there are many times the PCR result comes back negative. So,
with ADV, a blood or saliva test for antigen (the virus) is not helpful in
determining whether or not the ferret has ADV.
There are other tests that can be used to help confirm a diagnosis of ADV,
though. One off the changes ADV causes is an increase in the gamma globulin
levels. This does not happen immediately, but over time, and other
conditions can cause the gammaglobulins to increase, but a high gammaglobulin
level along with a positive ADV antibody test would indicate that ADV is
likely there and active. The test to determine the gammaglobulin level is
called a protein electrophoresis test.
And, as to ADV testing, many people have reported problems with the Avecon
POCT test giving false results. For now, I would either recommend the United
CEP test or the Avecon ELISA test
Danee
ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know!
For more information visit http://www.geocities.com/russiansmom