From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2004-11-29 20:44:44 UTC
Subject: RE: Sick ferret mystery...
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3662837.1101761084710.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
I have directly sent the poster contact info for study pathology to be done and some other info.
I do NOT know if this ferret has that illness. The extreme fever wasn't mentioned, but the possibility of it being that same illness can not be discounted. At this point in time there have also been adults with the illness, and those ill come from a range of origins, nor have I yet heard of any multiples in one family household setting.
When Chiclet had the current mystery disease (through the roof white count, extreme fever, a sudden huge node, sepsis, cellulitis, skin ulcerations in her case thought to be related to injected Baytril) she went up and down several times. Each time she relapsed I am afraid and finally lost her fight when the infection went to her heart. A number report death soon after it hits the heart.
There is a report of a possible long lived one in the SE and the vet treating that one has promised me info when he has the time to get it together so I hope he okays sharing it when he gets that time. I do not know how long lived this one is. Certainly, Yvonne's Clara went something like 3 or 4 months before the finfection became too much, and I have heard of one with a longer remission (in the NW?) who was treated with viral infection drugs who later relapsed.
The really, really important thing with these ferrets is to get the samples out to the studying vets. There are two teams:
Veterinary Pathologists, Dr. Bruce Williams, AFIP
and Dr. Matti Kiupel with the Michigan State vet school
and
Dr Mark Burgess, veterinary clinician (original contact for this team's work)
and Dr. Mike Garner, veterinary pathologist, Northwest ZooPath in WA
and I have the info on each for anyone with a suspect ferret or for vets (or those giving the info to vets) to have on file should they run into a case. The best specimens would be from ferrets who have not yet received any medications (i.e. initial visit, though other specimens are also needed). I may be written to directly for these at <sukie@mac.com> or <sukiec@optonline.net> .