From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2007-04-17 01:21:50 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: pigeons as a food item - diseases found in feral (street) pigeons in urban areas
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Okay, I don't have much time for this so will do it
only in small part and just bits as time allows.
Besides E. coli, this will give an idea of things to look up.
>From _Biology and Diseases of the Ferret, 2nd ed._
All of these are known diseases in ferrets
start pg 321
Actinomycosis (lumpy jaw)
rarely reported
immunosuppressed ferrets mentioned as possibly having
increased risk
entry through oral injuries from bone or damaged oral mucuosa,
may also be swallowed or inhaled
sinus tracts with thick, green-yellow material, lung nodules,
swollen nodes w granules on cut surface, abscesses, etc.
Can be fatal
start page 322
Botulism
documented in many fur farms with about 90% death rate
Ferret deaths in England from wild birds with botulism
documented (both in Vet Rec, '69 and '73, with ducks
involved in one case but other not clear from title; also
mention of cases in midwestern U.S.
uncooked or contaminated w soil increases risk rates
Ferrets highly susceptible to A,B,C types
starting page 323
Clostridium perfringens, Type A
not closely studied at that time
marked abdominal distension, excessive gas, diffuse
mucosal necrosis, highly fatal
"organism ubiquitous" "management of diet essential"
start page 324
Campylobacteriosis
linked to diarrhea in ferret (and a number of other animals)
The disease in humans is linked to pets having
undiscovered infections, or poor hygiene when infection is
known
maybe asymptomatic but still present, proliferative colitis,
diarrhea which may be bile streaked, mucus laden, watery,
bloody at times, rectal prolapses, miscarriage by the pregnant,
fecal-oral route, contaminated meat (esp. poultry) and
unpasteurized milk, uncooked poultry
We'll skip Helicobacter as not related to the conversation.
Ditto Lawsonia.
Start page 339
Salmonellosis
I think that this one has been very well covered so will skip it
and trust people to check the archives.
Start page 342
Leptospirosis
passed through rodent urine
contaminated food and immunosuppression mentioned
Start page 343
Mycobacteria
TB, bovine and avian mycobacteria caught from raw foods and
unpasteurized milk esp if ferret immunosuppressed, and M.
kansasii have been mentioned in past FHLs so in the archives
Starting page 347
Yersinia pestis
Not studied in domestic ferrets but it appears that at least some
BFFs can get plague from eating infected prairie dogs and likely
other infected rodents
We'll skip bacterial pneumonia.
We'll skip abscesses.
We'll skip Chlamydia; little know except that it occurs when book
was written.
In viruses it doesn't look like rotaviruses (very nasty in ferrets) is
from food, but
Starting page 370
at the time of that book being written one ferret documented case
of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Virus from raw tripe
Okay, on to the Parasitic Diseases chapter
We'll skip Coccidia
Start page 380
Toxoplasma can be skipped.
Start page 381
Sarcocystic
from eating infected mice or their fecal contamination, asymptomatic
Start page 382
Cryptosporisiosis
infrequent and inconsequential according to text, raw beef can give it,
sounds like immunosuppression may play a role
Giardia can be skipped
Ectoparasites can be skipped
Start page 388
Helminths
The ones that can infect ferrets include nematodes, 2 round worms
(Toxascaris leonia and T. cati), hookworms (Ancylostoma), cestodes,
tapeworms (Mesocestoides, Ariotaenia procyonis, Dipylidium caninum),
flukes, lung worms (Filarioides martes) and occasionally Spiroptera
nasicola in the frontal sinuses. The intestinal ones can cause diarrhea
but may be silent.
We can skip heart worms but all should read about those in the archives.
Start page 389
Trichinosis
They encyst in the ferret's muscles, esp. the diaphram and are caught
from raw or undercooked infected meats.
Anyway, I hope that helps!
Sukie (not a vet)
Current FHL address:
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