Message Number: FHL752 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Sukie Crandall
Date: 2007-04-28 18:12:49 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: mast cell tumors
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com

For the mast cell portion of your questions use the given afip URL .

For the fungus (Cyptococcus) these may prove useful:

http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG799

including
BEGIN QUOTE
While C. neoformans var. grubii can be isolated from multiple
environmental sources, including soil, fruits, and the
oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and skin of healthy humans,
the most common source is avian excreta, especially that of
pigeons (2). Infection most likely occurs through inhalation of
the organism, as suggested by the high prevalence of nasal
cryptococcosis in cats (80%) (2). From there, the organism
can disseminate hematogeneously, most often to the central
nervous system.
END QUOTE

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/message/257
including

BEGIN QUOTE
Having had a ferret with Cryptoccosis and a suspect that he got into
the garden mulch store(similar to potting) i am rather sesitive to
this kind of exposure for ferrets. Granted my ferrets are in and out
living ferrets and in a hot climate.(Australia)
END QUOTE

and there are more in the archives

Some abstracts:

BEGIN QUOTES

Emerg Infect Dis. 2007 Jan;13(1):42-50.
Links
Spread of Cryptococcus gattii in British Columbia, Canada, and
detection in the Pacific Northwest, USA.

MacDougall L, Kidd SE, Galanis E, Mak S, Leslie MJ, Cieslak PR,
Kronstad JW, Morshed MG, Bartlett KH.
British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada. laura.macdougall@bccdc.ca

Cryptococcus gattii, emergent on Vancouver Island, British Columbia
(BC), Canada, in 1999, was detected during 2003-2005 in 3 persons and
8 animals that did not travel to Vancouver Island during the
incubation period; positive environmental samples were detected in
areas outside Vancouver Island. All clinical and environmental
isolates found in BC were genotypically consistent with Vancouver
Island strains. In addition, local acquisition was detected in 3 cats
in Washington and 2 persons in Oregon. The molecular profiles of
Oregon isolates differed from those found in BC and Washington.
Although some microclimates of the Pacific Northwest are similar to
those on Vancouver Island, C. gattii concentrations in off-island
environments were typically lower, and human cases without Vancouver
Island contact have not continued to occur. This suggests that C.
gattii may not be permanently colonized in off-island locations.
PMID: 17370514 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]



J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2004 Dec 1;225(11):1716-22.
Links
Clinicopathologic features of an unusual outbreak of cryptococcosis
in dogs, cats, ferrets, and a bird: 38 cases (January to July 2003).

Lester SJ, Kowalewich NJ, Bartlett KH, Krockenberger MB, Fairfax TM,
Malik R.
Central Laboratory for Veterinarians, 5645 199th St, Langley, BC V3A
1H9, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical and pathologic findings associated
with an outbreak of cryptococcosis in an unusual geographic location
(British Columbia, Canada). DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 1
pink-fronted cockatoo, 2 ferrets, 20 cats, and 15 dogs. PROCEDURE: A
presumptive diagnosis of cryptococcosis was made on the basis of
serologic, histopathologic, or cytologic findings, and a definitive
diagnosis was made on the basis of culture or immunohistochemical
staining. RESULTS: No breed or sex predilections were detected in
affected dogs or cats. Eleven cats had neurologic signs, 7 had skin
lesions, and 5 had respiratory tract signs. None of 17 cats tested
serologically for FeLV yielded positive results; 1 of 17 cats yielded
positive results for FIV (western blot). Nine of 15 dogs had
neurologic signs, 2 had periorbital swellings, and only 3 had
respiratory tract signs initially. Microbiologic culture in 15 cases
yielded 2 isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans var grubii (serotype A)
and 13 isolates of C. neoformans var gattii (serotype B); all
organisms were susceptible to amphotericin B and ketoconazole.
Serologic testing had sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 98%.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Serologic titers were beneficial
in identifying infection in animals with nonspecific signs, but
routine serum biochemical or hematologic parameters were of little
value in diagnosis. Most animals had nonspecific CNS signs and
represented a diagnostic challenge. Animals that travel to or live in
this region and have nonspecific malaise or unusual neurologic signs
should be evaluated for cryptococcosis.
PMID: 15626222 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]



Aust Vet J. 2002 Dec;80(12):749-55.
Links
Cryptococcosis in ferrets: a diverse spectrum of clinical disease.

Malik R, Alderton B, Finlaison D, Krockenberger MB, Karaoglu H, Meyer
W, Martin P, France MP, McGill J, Lester SJ, O'Brien CR, Love DN.
Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, New South
Wales, 2006. R.Malik@vetc.usyd.edu.au

Cryptococcosis was diagnosed in seven ferrets (five from Australia;
two from western Canada) displaying a wide range of clinical signs.
Two of the ferrets lived together. One (5-years-old) had cryptococcal
rhinitis and presented when the infection spread to the nasal bridge.
Its sibling developed cryptococcal abscessation of the right
retropharyngeal lymph node 12 months later, soon after developing a
severe skin condition. DNA fingerprinting and microsatellite analysis
demonstrated that the two strains isolated from these siblings were
indistinguishable. Two ferrets (2- to 3-years-old) developed
generalised cryptococcosis: one had primary lower respiratory tract
disease with pneumonia, pleurisy and mediastinal lymph node
involvement, while in the other a segment of intestine was the
primary focus of infection with subsequent spread to mesenteric lymph
nodes, liver and lung. The remaining three ferrets (1.75 to 4-years-
old) had localised disease of a distal limb, in one case with spread
to the regional lymph node. Cryptococcus bacillisporus (formerly C.
neoformans var gattii) accounted for three of the four infections in
Australian ferrets where the biotype could be determined. The
Australian ferret with intestinal involvement and the two ferrets
from Vancouver had C. neoformans var grubii infections.
PMID: 12537139 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]



Aust Vet J. 2000 Mar;78(3):158-9.
Links
Successful treatment of invasive nasal cryptococcosis in a ferret.

Malik R, Martin P, McGill J, Martin A, Love DN.
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Sydney, New
South Wales.

Invasive cryptococcal rhinitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans var
gattii was diagnosed in a castrated, 5-year-old, albino ferret with
subcutaneous swelling of the nasal bridge. The diagnosis was based on
histology, needle aspirate cytology and positive culture on
Sabouraud's dextrose agar and birdseed agar. The ferret was
successfully treated using a long course of itraconazole (25 to 33 mg
orally once daily with food) subsequent to surgical debulking of the
lesion, using sequential cryptococcal antigen titre determinations to
guide therapy.
PMID: 10860151 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]



Can Vet J. 2006 Oct;47(10):1015-7.


Diagnosis and successful treatment of Cryptococcus neoformans variety
grubii in a domestic ferret.

Hanley CS, MacWilliams P, Giles S, Pare J.
Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of
Veterinary Medicine, 2015 Linden Drive Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
chris.hanley@toledozoo.org

A domestic ferret was presented for episodic regurgitation. Cytologic
examination and culture of an enlarged submandibular lymph node
revealed Cryptococcus neoformans variety grubii (serotype A). The
ferret was successfully treated with itraconazole. This is the first
documented case of Cryptococcus neoformans variety grubii in a ferret
in the United States.
PMID: 17078253 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]



Can Vet J. 2002 Oct;43(10):792-4.

Multispecies outbreak of cryptococcosis on southern Vancouver Island,
British Columbia.

Stephen C, Lester S, Black W, Fyfe M, Raverty S.
Centre for Coastal Health, 900 5th Street, Nanaimo, British Columbia
V9R 5S5.

PMID: 12395765 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]



J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1984 Apr 1;184(7):840-1.
Links
Meningeal cryptococcosis and congestive cardiomyopathy in a ferret.

Greenlee PG, Stephens E.
PMID: 6725123 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]



Aust Vet J. 1982 Mar;58(3):124.
Links
Isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans from a ferret.

Lewington JH.
PMID: 7115232 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]



Aust Vet J. 2000 Mar;78(3):158-9.
Links
Successful treatment of invasive nasal cryptococcosis in a ferret.

Malik R, Martin P, McGill J, Martin A, Love DN.
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Sydney, New
South Wales.

Invasive cryptococcal rhinitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans var
gattii was diagnosed in a castrated, 5-year-old, albino ferret with
subcutaneous swelling of the nasal bridge. The diagnosis was based on
histology, needle aspirate cytology and positive culture on
Sabouraud's dextrose agar and birdseed agar. The ferret was
successfully treated using a long course of itraconazole (25 to 33 mg
orally once daily with food) subsequent to surgical debulking of the
lesion, using sequential cryptococcal antigen titre determinations to
guide therapy.
PMID: 10860151 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]



Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 1963 Nov 1;70(21):607-11.
Links
[Cryptococcosis in domestic animals]

[Article in German]
Trautwein G.
PMID: 5896698 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

END QUOTES



FREE FULL TEXT ARTICLES OF TWO OF THESE:

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?
tool=pubmed&pubmedid=12395765

and the more recent

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?
tool=pubmed&pubmedid=17078253



Sukie (not a vet)
Current FHL address:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html





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