From:
daneedv@aol.com
Date: 2002-03-09 09:10:00 UTC
Subject: Re:ADV
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Judy *****" wrote:
> Another question please...Is it common for them to have
isolated episodes
> that are separated with long periods of no symptoms? And is
there a
> correlation between adrenal disease and ADV? And at the risk
of sounding
> like the novice I am...can it be transmitted to cats? I have
three..and they
> play with the ferrets.
Although ADV is not a new disease, there has been relatively
little research done on it in the past, and most of the
research that has been done has been on ADV in mink. While it
is the same virus in mink, it is a different strain, and now
that ADV in ferrets is being looked at more closely, the
researchers are finding that how the disease affects ferrets
is sometimes different from how it affects mink. As a result,
there are many things about ADV that are not known. Also, I
am not a medical professional or a researcher, just a ferret
owner that has lived with ADV for about 3 years.
In my personal experiences, I do have a ferret that goes
through periods of being very sick, sometimes almost dying,
and then getting better. I know of others, as well, that have
observed this. Usually, though, some sort of care (either
medicines or supportive care or both) are required during the
period of illness.
I do not know if there is any correlation between adrenal
disease and ADV. Because ADV affects the immune system,
though, it can make other problems worse. None of my ADV+
kids have had adrenal problems, and one is 6 1/2 and another
is 5 1/2.
At this time, it is thought that cats and dogs (and humans)
can not get ADV. I used to say that only members of the
Mustelidae family could get ADV, but Dr. Bloom (a noted ADV
researcher) has published research about raccoons being able
to catch ADV and transmit it to mink, but not to other
raccoons.
If your vet is willing to learn, I would suggest printing the
article by Dr. Stevenson that is on White Russian's website,
and giving a copy to your vet. That article was originally
published in a veterinary journal, and he may find it useful.
Dr. Stevenson is currently working on another article that
will detail some of her more recent research on ADV.
Hopefully, as soon as that one is published, we will be able
to get it put out somewhere where interested ferret owners can
see it.
Danee
ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know!
For more information visit
http://www.geocities.com/russiansmom