From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2011-03-04 02:11:20 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] There is a lot of misinformation out there about ADV
To: fhl <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>, FML List <ferret-l@LISTSERV.FERRETMAILINGLIST.ORG>
I've actually heard today that someone said that is only contagious to ferret fetuses, that it is a mild disease and there are problems only when there are complications.
Huh? I repeat but with exclamations: ?!HUH!?
So, how about a series of good references on ADV for all, nad I have also included a sprinkling of past ADV posts but was unable to find the absolutely excellent series that Danee DeVore created so, please, look for that:
http://www.ferretadv.com/
Some Aleutians nuggets and I recommend reading the faqs there for full info:
> Like AIDS, it is spread through bodily fluids, and causes an autoimmune disease. Also, like AIDS, an infected ferret can spread ADV even though it is not showing any outward symptoms.
> ADV differs from AIDS, though, because it is very hardy, and can live for long periods outside a host body.
They are from
http://www.ferretadv.com/faq.html
which I H I G H L Y R E C O M M E N D
Note that the damage is caused by the plaques that develop in response to ADV and that they can and do cause organ failure.
Here is a heartbreaking video showing the
type of difficulty walking which can happen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca2qC3vohYw
http://miamiferret.org/aleutian.htm
includes
> Most infected ferrets remain asymptomatic until shortly before death. Non-specific signs include lethargy, anorexia. Ataxia and paraparesis may be seen classically in chronic cases (but occasionally in very acute cases as a premonitory sign) due to accumulations of inflammatory cells within the spinal cord.. Anemia, thrombocytopenia, and/or leukopenia, cutaneous hemorrhages, and secondary infections may be seen in various combinations in end stage disease.
and is a recommended read
Don't miss this by Dr Adrian Deeney:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ferreter/aleutian01.htm
http://www.ferret-universe.com/health/adv.html
>From 2002:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG2533
>
> My top 15 were recently published in Ferrets USA if a list is important. If you would like the full list, it goes like this -
>
> 1. Gastric ulcers
> 2. Helicobacter
> 3. ADV
> 4. Insulinoma
> 5. Adrenal disease
> 6. Lymphoma
> 7. IBD
> 8. Cardiomyopathy
> 9. ECE
> 10. Distemper
> 11. Influenza
> 12. Automimmune hemolytic anemia
> 13. Dental disease
> 14. Splenomegaly
> 15. Peripheral retinal atrophy
>
> That's my opinion, for what it's worth.
>
> With kindest regards,
>
> Bruce Williams, DVM
Aleutian Disease is covered in multiple slides beginning a bit more than 2/3rds of the way down in:
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/Diseases/Endocrine_And_Hematopoietic.pdf
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG1735
> Date: Mon Mar 26, 2001 0:48am
> Subject: Re: ADV questions
>
> Aleutian Disease in ferrets is an auto-immune condition initiated by
> infection by an innocuous parvovirus. Infection is not always fatal,
> as some ferrets are able to clear the infection, but once clinical
> signs of the disease are seen, the disease will proceed to its
> inevitable course, the demise of the ferret.
>
> The course of the disease is 18-24 months, with the balance of that
> time being without symptoms. It is generally only in the last
> several months that the symptoms of the disease become obvious -
> renal failure, weight loss, splenomegaly, and terminally, clotting
> abnormalities. In a small subset of cases, an early sign may be
> ascending paralysis, from which the animal recovers to health for a
> period of many months, before eventually succumbing to the kidney
> damage that an immune system gone awry can cause.
>
> Currently, there is no treatment or prevention, but diagnostic tests
> can identify infected ferrets. The problem with Aleutian disease is
> that as it is generally an asymptomatic infection until late in the
> course of disease, apparently normal asymptomatic ferrets can spread
> virus in urine and to a lesser extent in feces and other secretions
> to all around them.
>
> With kindest regards,
>
> Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL4298
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG7131
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG18028
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG8446
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG12486
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL5123
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL1207
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL935
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL924
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG13236
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG1608
http://www.weaselwords.com/ferret-articles/ferret-aleutian-disease-on-the-rise-again/
Sukie (not a vet)
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/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html
"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)
On change for its own sake: "You can go really fast if you just jump off the cliff."
(2010, Steve Crandall)
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