From:
pjdutche@email.unc.edu
Date: 2003-04-17 18:16:32 UTC
Subject: RE: Is This Possible - ECE Related
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <1205367.1050603392803.JavaMail.root@scandium>
<< We have 2 ferrets (Sirrus (F) & Skittles (M), Both about a year old) and both are recovering from ECE. We've been trying to figure out where they could have contracted the virus from. They've had no direct contact with any other ferrets. Is it possible that we (my family) could have "brought it home" from handling the ferrets at our local pet store? >>
That's an excellent question... My gut feeling is that it's possible. Pet store ferrets are a common source of ECE - it often doesn't hit young kits very hard, and if the store keeps getting kits in, it can simply hang around indefinitely. How much time elapsed between handling pet store ferrets and handling your own ferrets? It can definitely be transmitted on clothing, etc, in the same house, but I don't know how long the virus can last on clothing. Maybe someone else does, though, if you remember the length of time that passed?
-Pam S.