From:
sukie crandall
Date: 2003-10-31 14:08:15 UTC
Subject: SARS
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com, ferret-list@cunyvm.cuny.edu
Message-id: <AB88A4F2-0BAB-11D8-8542-000A95CD182C@optonline.net>
Well, SARS *IS* unlike influenza and bacterial sinus infections:
different type of organism. Just because something is a lung infection
doesn't mean that the infecting organisms are alike.
I *DO* agree that it is likely that ferrets can be infected with it;
after all, a very wide range of animals in Carnivora can so I find it
no surprise that they can and that cats can, nor would I find it any
surprise at all if domestic dogs and any number of wild members of
Carnivora can.
The part of the study which is *NOT* well supported by the methodology
or the results is the second part saying that the cats and ferrets were
able to infect other cats and ferrets. Experts at WHO and CDC said
that simple mechanical brushing together could cause the results seen
in that part of the study, and with the ferrets the necropsies showed
results that are inconsistent with SARS, which left me wondering if
perhaps they had an ECE contamination or something else going on, and
if they considered the idea of contamination with an alternative
coronavirus like ECE. The ferrets in the second part did not have SARS
lung damage but had emaciation and fatty livers.
I'd personally like to know a great deal more about techniques used and
about any other health aspects of the animals used -- and I'd like to
see the study itself commented upon by those with a good deal more
knowledge than I have.