From:
daneedv@aol.com
Date: 2005-01-02 21:49:13 UTC
Subject: RE: Mystrey virus
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <4056184.1104702553919.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Author wrote:
> New to group so hope i am contacting properly. Last year my vet seen 3 cases of ADV . Could this be your colprit? Last year Ohio had almost like a plauge of ADV cases. From weezilwuv.
ADV is very different from what is being described by Sandy.
Usually ADV works more slowly, and does not affect humans, cats or dogs.
Common symptoms of ADV do, unfortunately, mimmic symptoms of other diseases. The most common symptoms are lethargy, weight and muscle mass loss (despite eating a regular amount, hind end weakness, and persistant and unexplained coughing.
ADV is an auto immune disease caused by a virus. Unlike AIDS and HIV, ADV does not suppress the immune system, but puts it in overdrive, causing it to produce a large amount of non-neutralizing antibodies. It is the over production of antibodies that causes the problems in ADV, rather then the virus itself.
Unfortunately, a ferret can have ADV and not show any symptoms, but still spread the disease. That is why it is important to test for ADV.
If I remember correctly, Sandy did say the affected ferrets had been tested and were ADV-.
For any who are not familiar with ADV, there are several good websites with information on the disease and how to test for it.
Here are a few sites people may want to check out.
http://www.ferretadv.com/
http://www.pooflinger.com/advtest.html
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=483&S=5&SourceID=43
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ferreter/aleutian01.htm
http://www.avecon.com/advabelisa.html
If anyone has any questions about ADV, please feel free to post them or write to me privately. I am not a vet, and not an ADV expert, but I have lived and dealt with it for over 5 years, and can provide information on my experiences.
--
Danee
International Ferret Congress Health Issues Coordinator
http://ferretcongress.org
ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know!
For more information visit: http://www.ferretadv.com