From:
sukieferret
Date: 2002-02-26 09:01:00 UTC
Subject: ECE questions, including Re: Corona Virus
Okay, first off, in relation to another person's ECE question: I
personally am not sure that any labs beyond the AFIP and one
study group now in Michigan can test for the coronavirus itself.
Just don't know. Dr. Bruce Williams is having some e-mail
problems on and off right now, so, please, bear with that and be
patient.
It would be helpful if there were more information on how the 8
ferrets were tested: necropsy, necropsies, how soon after they
died, and if the lab reports on the pathology done were typed in
so that al the info is present when Dr. Williams is available
again.
If only those two labs can test for the coronavirus then it may be
that something else might be causing similar damage patterns
-- a different illness or possibly even time lapsed before
necropsy. I just don't know, so in my own mind right now I am
thinking maybe but maybe not...
In relation to how contagious ECE is: it is very contagious and it
stays in the environment, can be carried on clothing, etc.
The single BEST place to learn about ECE is the Epizooic
Catarial (sp?) Enteritis section at:
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
The time recommended to be sure that the virus is not around
any longer is AT LEAST 8 months.
The good news is that getting it a second time is atypical, though
damage may exist afterward that presents like it is a further
infection, so if you know that some have had it before they are
safer.
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., gmaulden@a... wrote:
>
> Can anyone tell me how contagious this virus is? One of our
> ferrets crossed the bridge four days ago. The other ferrets that
> are being fostered have had a 10 day antibiotic regium.