From:
williamsdvm@comcast.net
Date: 2003-09-25 01:53:09 UTC
Subject: RE: leptospirosis in ferrets
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7523451.1064454789290.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Dear Sharon:
While most mammals can potentially carry leptospirosis, I have never seen a case in ferrets, nor have I heard of one.
While I would not want to malign the judgment of your infectous disease docotr, it has been my longstanding experience that many MD's will initially point at housepets in a vacuum of evidence.
Because of the extreme rarity of leptospirosis in ferrets, as well as the fact that it has not been proven that either you or Echo have this disease, or have even come in contact with it, I think you should consider this as either a passing remark, or an idle observation.
Leptospirosis may be transmitted in the urine of rats and mice, may be obtained from stagnant pools of water, or may be contracted from infected carrier animals. I once necropsied a dog with classic leptospirosis and cut myself with the scalpel, but still didn't get this disease.
My suggestion would be to make no decisions until your tests come back. Titers for leptospirosis are available for animals as well.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
Author wrote:
> Hello to all,
> In the course of finding out what this is, since they did not the first time, I have now visited an infectious disease doctor, who looked at my history and the fact that I live with my five ferrets, and feels that Echos' illness may have been leptospirosis and that in caring for him it was passed on to me. Echo was treated with penicillin (amox) which is what should be used. This doctor said that it is found in ferrets, and that my others, including echos' cage mate Tally, did not necessarily have to had caught it either. The labs he drew on me should be back in a few days. I have been looking on the internet and do not see where it is found in the domesticated ferret, but of course the MD said that he had found it in his literature. I would appreciate any feedback from all who may have come across this.
> Thanks,
> Sharon Allen