From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2011-08-06 21:12:59 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Can mycoplasma pulmonis trasnfer from mice to ferrets?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I don't know the rate of that bacterium in mice, but *if* it is pretty much ubiquitous then you can still have multiple scenarios:
1. The level might usually be low enough that -- if ferrets can also get this species of mycobacterium -- the infection risk is reduced from mice that are pretty much healthy because the "dose" of bacteria could be low to take hold. It is always a good idea to NOT feed anyone sick animals, of course.
2. Ferrets might be ancestrally or experientially (for ones used to be fed healthy mice) used to hat bacterium enough that the normal levels of exposure with healthy mice might induce the ferret's immune system to combat the bacterium.
3. The bacterial species might be able to take hold in specific situations such as blood in the ferret's nose, or too many droplets inhaled, but might not be one which can survive stomach acids.
Etc.
The rule of thumb is still: never feed anyone of any species a known sick animal if you can help it, especially if the cause is one they might get, or if you do not know the cause of the illness for sure since it might alternatively be something else they might be able to contract.
The second rule of thumb is "do for your ferrets what you do for yourself", so get them medical care if they are injured, bleeding, etc. just as you would for yourself or for any person you love, and since you and your human family probably would not eat an obviously ill animal don't feed an obviously ill animal to your ferrets.
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)
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