From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-05-24 21:40:45 UTC
Subject: RE: Poss. Toxoplasmosis
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <5521019.1116970845726.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Some past vet toxoplasmosis posts in case they help (as usual check dates in case things have changed and read the entire posts because I may have missed something important which you need):
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG1002
including:
>The only feces that you can
>catch toxo from is cat feces.
and
>Any mammal can pass infective
> organisma living within the cells
>of their body if they are eaten
>without being cooked well
Was the ferret around cat feces or was raw food which may have been infected eaten?
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG10092
on some possibilities in a neuro case including:
>Well let's see where we can go
>with this - toxoplasmosis has been
>reported in the brain of the ferret,
>but those ferrets were normal...
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=SG5592
>While ferrets are susceptible, like all
>warm-blooded animal, reports of infection
>are extremely rare, and those cases did not
>result in disease.
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=SG7131
including:
>There are several things that can cause
>seizure activity in ferrets. Rabies, distemper,
>Aleutian disease, insulinoma, lymphoma, fungal
>infection, listeriosis, toxoplasmosis, kidney or liver
>failure, and Addison's disease can all cause seizures.
>How high was her blood glucose?
>Diabetic ketoacidiosis could be another possibility.
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=SG7822
including:
>Not a bad idea to treat for infection. I would also
>look at the environment for a toxin or gas they
>that might contribute. If you are not sure if it is
>infection vs promary nervous system I would also
>use pred or dexamethasone.
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=SG10192
including:
>Inner ear infection, toxoplasmosis, nervous system
>infection, tumor or genertic cause all possible. I would
>use an antibiotic with better penetration to the nervouse
>system, like chloramphenicol or Trimeth Sulfa.
>Also consider Clindamyacin for toxo, just to help rule these out.
>Also consider tick bourne disease, cuteebra to the head/brain,
>etc. Fungal too but with the age less likely.
>I would also treat with Pred to help with the nervous system
>signs. This is contraindicated with fungal and toxo.
As someone who has twice had neurological illnesses (25 years apart) affecting limbs I can tell you that even among us humans the cause is often not found so you treat the symptoms in humans in that case: PT, range of motion, braces, etc.