From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-01-01 07:11:36 UTC
Subject: RE: Help With Unknown Deadly Virus
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
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. =
=
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