From:
"kazpat1@juno.com"
Date: 2005-01-24 00:19:03 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Mystery Infection
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <20050123.161929.7358.65442@webmail16.lax.untd.com>
A friend of mine just had a ferret die from DIM. Confirmed by
some of the vets working on discovering the cause of it.
IN early cases, a swollen lymph node ( with or without pus)
was described. High fevers, and as the disease progresses
marked weakness ( my friend said it was as if he was a rag doll,
and had earlier on muscle pains). Not paralysis.
In my friend's ferret, no swollen lymph node. But had everything else.
The week following the white blood cell counts shoots up very high.
The fevers fluctuate, but really run 104-106F, and nothing seems to
work on getting the white blood cell count down. She did try interferon and cytoxin without help. The entire process seems to take
a few weeks. I think the fatality rate is quite high.
This was a privately bred ferret, and myself and friends have litter mates and all are fine ( knock on wood). No other ferrets in the home are ill, thus far.
Not all ferrets read the book, so there may be variations in the
presentation. Earlier on it was thought to be only young ferrets,
or MF. Now, it seems ferret are young, but not all under 1, and
not only MF ferrets.
Patty
-- s.m.owens@rogers.com wrote:
I must admit that I find this now to be very confusing. I don't recall seeing any
possible cases of DIM that had puss listed as one of the symptoms. Correct me if
I'm wrong, but isn't paralysis one of the major symptoms that's been found? This
ferret is lethargic, and not "yet" showing any signs of paralysis.