From:
williamsdvm@comcast.net
Date: 2004-02-14 02:21:20 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] Cryptococcosis/Pathology Report -- Need Answers Please
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7818028.1076725280400.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
An alternative doing for ferrets as published in the Australian Vet journal (http://www.ava.com.au/content/avj/0003/00030158.pdf) was a once daily dosese of 25 mg for the first three weeks and 33 mg thereafter.
bhw
Author wrote:
> This is a fungal organsim usu picked up from basements sometimes from close
> contact with pigeon droppings. It is not contagious directly, you need to
> contact the source so casual contact would not be a problem. As the
> pathologist said immunosuppressed people are a different story (as would a
> cat with FIV or FeLV). It is treatable but the medication can be rough on
> them.
> Before treatment starts you need to get a crypto antigen blood level which
> would help with monitoring treatment. I have treated this is cats and not
> ferrets but the treatment is much the same. We generally use itraconazole
> (or Sporonox) which comes in a liquid and a capsule. It is usu dosed at 5
> mg/kg twice daily but if your guy is sick I would start lower and work your
> way up. Treatment usu is at least 6 months. If they are not critically ill
> they will recover nicely but no quick fix. It is recommened to monitor CBC
> and liver values while on treatment but most I have done without it.