From:
ubkarate72@comcast.net
Date: 2003-06-03 02:31:51 UTC
Subject: Lymphoma and ECE
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <6267307.1054607511307.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
In late October 2000 I brought in a new ferret, number 7. This ferret carried in the ECE virus and life as we knew it ended. Four of my ferrets became critically ill. My other ferrets were older and had other health issues. Over the next 2 months, 2 of my babies passed on. That left 5 ferrets.
Since then all but one has died of Lymphoma. One died of the juvenile form of Lympho at 4.5 years old 11 months after the virus. He had never been sick until the ECE. Six months later another died from lymphoma. Ten months later another and now I have the last of the original suffering from Lymphoma and just diagnosed a week ago Insulinoma. My Vet doesn't feel surgery is an option because she has a very large mass in her abdomen attached to her intestines. Three months ago her sugar was fine and there was no mass but Lymphoma was suspect. I can see her lymph nodes in her neck are swollen.
I know that a virus is suspect for the cause of Lymphoma but there is no definitive answer. ECE is a virus. I worry that if Lymphoma is a virus, what if my baby that carried in the ECE carried in the Lympho also. Maybe it is just a coincidence but I am being destroyed by Lympho. I just wanted to throw out my experience as I know there are many Vets here and maybe this situation may help in figuring out what causes Lymphoma.
I waited a little over a year to bring in any new ferrets. I now have three ferrets younger than my carrier. I didn't realize that Lympho was going through my home like it was at the time and am now terrified they are also going to get it. I won't be bringing any more ferrets into the house. Not with this.
Has anyone had to deal with this or have any advice. I read that some homes may have one case of Lympho and in other homes it clusters. I'm clustering. It's killing me watching them die this way.