From:
williamsdvm@comcast.net
Date: 2003-10-12 02:22:20 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] ECE Recovery Advice
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3722526.1065925340143.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
> I have seen this a lot. It appears that the new addition is a carrier of a
> mutated form of the virus and the older ones had never been exposed so they
> got sick and she may never be sick. An instance that she might break is if
> she is exposed to a new unrelated ferret that is carrying a form that she
> has not had.
Actually, coronaviruses aren't know for their predilection to mutate, such as we see with influenza viruses (of a different family, the Pramyxoviridae). There are many variables that determine whether a particular animal will become clinically ill, subclinically infected, or fight off infection. Age, previous infection, maternal antibody, and concurrent disease are some of them.
It is well known that young animals are rarely clinically infected with the coronavirus that causes ECE, but can be carriers for up to 6-8 months. Coronaviruses appear to infect more readily in animals with a higher gastric pH, and the prevlaence of H. mustelae infection in older ferrets supports the higher frequency of clinical infection in this demographic. Additionally, many kits have maternal antibody, as quite a few breeders have endemic ongoing infections (facilities in which clinical animals become extremely rare over time.) So it is of no surprise that the young animal is perfectly fine while the three older ferrets are experiencing ECE firsthand.
Currently, there appear to be a number of ongoing ECE outbreaks, far more than we have seen in recent years. It is likley that this may become the status quo - seeing hotbeds of infection every couple of yers as immunity in the animals of a particular area begins to wane.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM