From:
williamsdvm@comcast.net
Date: 2003-09-14 01:33:44 UTC
Subject: RE: mystery disease/Beeker/WHO SURVIVED???
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <5653572.1063503224910.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
To all that are following this case:
I am extremely hesitant to consider this case, basd on the submitted histor=
ies and especially the path report - any type of new or mystery disease.
This is a case of systemic sepsis, which is a disseminated bacterial infect=
ion thourghout the body. These are not uncommon cases - there are many way=
s that bacteria can enter the bloodstream - through a wound, through an abs=
cess, or through a hole in the GI system, such as an ulcer, or a hole in th=
e GI tract.
If we look at this particular path report - there is a clear mention of eos=
inophilic inflammation in the muscular layers of the intestine, and in an a=
bdominal lymph node. This is very suggestive of a disease called eosinophi=
lic enteritis, and a case that has proceeded relatively far. This disease =
can result in perforation, and I surmise this may have happened - resulting=
in leakage of bacteria from the gut into the abdomen, inflammation of the =
abdomen (called peritonitis), and entrance of bacteria into the bloodsteram=
. The presence of bacteria outside of the gut, and in the bloodstream is w=
hat has resulted in the spiking fever and the high white count over time. =
In addition, this animal apparently has other problems - insulinoma being #=
1.
This is a serious clinical picture, and one that will require a number of c=
oncurrent treatments - high doses of wantibiotics to fight the infection, s=
teroids, to combat the eosinophilic enteritis (which causes a problem, as i=
t decreases the immune response, and impairs the body's ability to fight in=
fection), and eventually, treatment for insulinoma.
However, it is not a new disease - and we should not be thinking that we ar=
e dealing with an outbreak situation here. Sepsis is not an uncommon findi=
ng in ferrets or any species for that matter, and is simply the end result =
of a complex array of factors and coincidences that allow the release of ba=
cteria into the bloodstream.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
Author wrote:
> I have path reports here and will type them for all those who would want =
this information.
> Clinical Diagnosis: SEPSIS
> Diagnosis:
> 1. Mild lymphocytic gastritis
> 2. Mild tomoderate eosinophilic enteritis with migration through muscular=
tunics, small intestine.
> 3. Mind multifocal eosinophilic lymphadenitis, both lymph nodes
> 4. Mild neutrophilic hepatitis.
> 5. Mild islet lyperplasia, pancreas
> 6. Extrameduallary hemotopoiesis, spleen.
> Comment: Histologic changes are surprisingly mild for the history, and it=
is possible that more severe inflammatory lesions may be present in tissue=
s that are not represented. Some mild gasstric inflammation was noted asso=
ciatd with mild mucosal mineralization, likely due to dehydration associate=
d with high fever. Some of the inflammation could also be related to Helic=
obacter infection or some other form of inflammatory bowel disease. The in=
flammation in the small intestine is predominantly eosinophilic, and there =
is some migration of eosinophils through muscular tunics. Some eosinophilic=
inflammation is also noted in both of the lymph nodes, but the eosinophil =
infiltrate is mind. The eosinophilia may be associated with dietary intoler=
ance or parasitism in the gut, although no parasites were seen. Lymphangit=
is was not seen in the examined tissues, but this could also represent an e=
arly form of eosinophilic granulomatous disease, for which the eosinophilic=
granuloms are not represented in the biopsies. Some mild islet hyperplasi=
a was noted in the pancreas, and periodic monitoring of serum gloucose leve=
ls is recommended. There was also some very mild neutrophilic inflammation=
in the liver, likely due to low grade baterical septicemia, possibly arisi=
ng from the gut.
> Presently Beeker is coming home and will continue on Ciprofloxacin and Am=
ikacin.
> =
> =
=
=
End of ferrethealth Digest
***********************************