From:
sukie crandall
Date: 2004-11-30 22:45:29 UTC
Subject: Whooping Cough and Strep Throat
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-id: <893A54B2-4321-11D9-926E-000A95CD182C@optonline.net>
Re: strep throat:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG1223
by veterinary pathologist, Dr. Bruce Williams
which begins:
>The answer is no and very rarely, yes.
>Typically, ferrets are not considered to be
>carriers or victims of "strep throat". Although
>rare, dogs have been implicated in carrying
>the classic cause of strep throat, the bacterium
>Streptococcus pyogenes.
>However, many other bacteria have been
>"accused" of causing a syndrome like Strep throat
> - staphylococcus, Hemophilus influenzae,
>even Neisseria. Ferret can conceivably contract
>staph infections from humans, but it is more likely
>that they will be hit by a meteor.
Re: Whooping cough:
The whooping cough bacterium is
>Bordetella pertussis, parapertussis
The kennel cough bacterium is
Bordetella bronchiseptica
For zoonotic potential of Kennel Cough see:
http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/pbs/zoonoses/Bordetella/bordetellaindex.html
including:
>This is an uncommon infection in humans (since
>1911, 65 cases have been reported) that generally
>produces a relatively non-threatening, "whooping
>cough" (normally caused by Bordetella pertussis)-like
>syndrome in immunocompetent individuals.
I can NOT find anything so far that indicates that ferrets get
Bordetella pertussis, whooping cough.
Bordetella pertussis:
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:eMXVgGzq6_kJ:www.buddycom.com/
bacteria/gnr/gnrfastid.html+zoonotic%2Bpertussis&hl=en
The following posts were on the species of Bordetella which cause
Kennel Cough, NOT the species which causes whooping cough:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG4145
by Dr. Williams
which includes:
>While Bordetella can conceivably (but
>very rarely) infect other mammalian species,
> it is generally pretty well conserved to dogs,
>and poses little threat to ferrets. Ferrets are
>also not sensitive to the common viral
>infections that facilitate kennel cough, with the
>exception of one of the rarest, canine distemper.
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG11643
also by Dr. Williams which includes:
>Kennel cough is not a real problem in ferrets,
>and I would not recommend vaccinating for it.
>Kennel cough is a non-core vaccine in
> dogs and cats, and is generally only given to
>those who are likley to contract it - those in shows,
>being boarded, or around a lot of other dogs or
>cats. It is most commonly used in dogs who board
>at the vets' and only rarely in cats.
>While ferrets are susceptible to one of the agents
>that causes kennel cough in dogs and cats - Bordetella -
>I have yet to see a spontaneous case.
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG11657
from Dr. Jerry Murray on a different species of Bordetella:
>From what I understand ferrets, mostly young kits, can
>get severe, diseased lungs from Bordetella bronchiseptica.
So, i guess the best thing is to take precautions to avoid exposure
(for instance loads of hand washing), ask your vet, and also wait for
the final word from someone far more knowledgeable on pathology than
I'll ever be. It never hurts to be careful, but meanwhile know that
Bordetella as a genus does NOT show up any of my ferret vet texts
except for _Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents_ mentioning it in guinea pigs
and rabbits. There is a new human study out in which saline mist in a
nebulizer was used to reduce the droplets from sneezes and coughs which
can pass infection because studies have indicated that most people are
not as infectious as those who have a lot of far spreading very small
droplets released. The amount of infection released in coughs and
sneezes was greatly reduced and it was postulated that this may be a
way in the future to reduce spread of such infections.
The whooping cough bacterium is
Bordetella pertussis, parapertussis
The kennel cough bacterium is
Bordetella bronchiseptica