Message Number: SG12071 | New FHL Archives SearchFrom: sukiec@optonline.net
Date: Sat, 1 Jan 2005 07:11:36 +0000 (GMT)
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Subject: RE: Help With Unknown Deadly Virus
Message-ID: <3308405.1104563496184.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
I am digging through vet texts (skimming several and reading deeply in one)=
to see what has been documented with similar presentations. There are sev=
eral GI bacterial diseases (diseases which can be treated by the right anti=
biotics if diagnosed) which can produce bloody flux or bloody stools so a b=
ad strain of any of them is possible, though only one (Salmonellosis -- a f=
orm of bacterial food poisoning had any description like your's).
I notice in 339 -341 Salmonellosis, "a gram-negative bacterium which can b=
e isolated on selective enteric media from infected tissues and feces". In=
a 9 month study 5 species of these genus were found to be able to infect f=
errets. I do not know how many of these also infect dogs, cats, and humans=
. The morbidity rate is lower than what you describe unless there are infe=
cted animals who simply as not as affected, which is possible since it says=
that there are asymptomatic carriers. The reason I mention this one spe=
cifically is a description on page 341 of _Biology and Diseases of the Ferr=
et, second edition_ : =
Day One: lassitude, anorexia, and muscular trembling =
Day Two: bloody feces
Day Three: death
Accompanying signs may include:
dehydration, anorexia, moderately elevated temperature, pale muscus membran=
es and malaise. Temperature can fluctuate. Conjuntivitis may be present. =
Miscarriage can occur.
To treat this the bacterium needs to be isolated and tested for antibiotic =
sensitivity because many strains are antibiotic resistant. Hydration and e=
lectrolyte management are essential for survival. Glucosteroids and blood =
therapy may be needed.
You already know about that mutant coccidia protozoan strain from the past =
and the similarities there. =
I didn't find anything described overtly as hemolytic in indices so went th=
rough presentations chapter after chapter on bacteria, virii, fungi, and pa=
rasites in this text and hope to have the time to maybe do so with others. =
Honestly, though, I chose this one for the first one because it has the mo=
st extensive listings whereas not all others are as prone to mentioning unu=
sual causes as well an usual ones. I did not go through toxicology on thin=
gs which can present that way. In human poisoning book that I got decades=
ago (Believe me, when you work with primates you learn to be careful and I=
was doing that at one time.) mentions blood urine with hemolytic sources =
of poisoning. has the urine been tested for blood? From experience with a=
ferret who had bloody urine from a different cause it can appear orange, b=
rown, copper, or reddish. For humans with hemolytic poisoning some causes =
(There are over 40.) include: arsine, stibine, dichloromethane, G6PD defic=
iency which appears to create a sensitivity to many substances including na=
phthalene, nitrofurantoin, salicylazosulfapyridine, sulfisoxazole, sulfamet=
hoxypyridazine, aminosalicylic acid, sulfoxone, primaquine, antipyretics, w=
ater soluble vitamin K and undercooked fava beans. I know form experience =
that in humans Beta Hemolytic Strep can cause bleeding but I don't think th=
at can be GI and I was once told that it hasn't been seen in ferrets.
I'm sure others will also be hitting the texts to see what might fit, but n=
ecropsies with pathology and toxicology really are essential. It's the onl=
y way to find out what is wrong to be able to treat it. =
=
=
Send comments to Pam at pjdutche@email.unc.edu. Please note that this address is only useful for questions about the FHL archive. Questions about ferret health, or those intended for the FHL, should be sent to the Ferret Health List.