From:
"Inge Kokidko"
Date: 2004-03-06 13:33:55 UTC
Subject: ECE: immunity or not?
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <000801c4037f$acb528a0$4a4dfea9@ingekokidko>
I have heard conflicting opinions from what I consider professionals in the=
field of veterinary health care on ECE. That is, once a ferret has contra=
cted and overcome ECE, have they developed an immunity or not? Some say th=
at it can be passed back and forth between ferrets, others say that once re=
covered, they have a resistance.
My limited understanding of viruses and the immune system states that in or=
der to get over a virus, we create antibodies. Don't they then stay with t=
he ferret to protect against future infection? I know that ferrets can she=
d the virus for as long as 8-10 months after they've recovered, that's not =
what I mean. I'm just asking if they can actually contract the disease and=
come down with these terrible symptoms again.
Bother, my 8 mo. jill has recently started showing symptoms of ECE. Our vet=
examined her and gave this diagnosis. (He also checked a stool sample for=
other possible causes of the wierd poops). 4 mo. ago, we introduced Leasl=
e, an adopted jill, into our household. She was nearly the same age as Bot=
her at the time, about 4-5 months. She didn't show any signs of illness, b=
ut about 2 months ago, I started noticing on and off wierdness in the litte=
r box. It didn't get really serious till this last week, and I finally had=
had enough and took Bother into the vet.
Anyway, we think that Leasle was the carrier (although it seems strange it =
took nearly four months for the virus to really show up in Bother), and I d=
ont know if I should separate them while Bother recovers. It really depend=
s on the answer to my first question: can they be naturally vaccinated agai=
nst ECE after infection or not?
Thanks for reading, and for any advice you can give,
Inge