From:
mjanke@miamiferret.org
Date: 2004-11-23 22:38:51 UTC
Subject: RE: PCR Helicobacter Testing for Ferrets
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <1776863.1101249531701.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Quite some time back, Dr. Bruce Williams was looking into a possible test for helicobacter, but he said since this bacteria is present in almost all ferrets, any test for it would be meaningless. So this test you speak of would probably be of little use for this reason.
Here's an extract from something Dr. Williams wrote on the topic...
"Helicobacter mustelae is extremely widespread in the pet ferret population. Several studies using random source ferrets have shown that almost every ferret carries this bacterium. As the bacterium is passed by a fecal-oral route, kits generally are infected by the mother within the first two weeks of life."
You can read the complete article here...
http://miamiferret.org/fhc/helicobacter.htm
Author wrote:
> Anyway i just learned of this test and my little guy has been grinding his teeth for a while and a definitive would be nice for Helicobacter.I i am sure there are others wanting a definitive also for this nasty bug.