From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2011-12-05 01:13:18 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Conflicting information on common cold and/or flu
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Yes, there are definitive answers. The reason that ferrets are used for so very many forms of respiratory research but NOT used for research into colds is because they do not get colds. They definitely do not get rhinoviruses which are the most common cause and don't appear to get the minor causes, either.
Ferrets DO share influenza and bacterial sinus infections with humans.
Instead of opinions use what the actually researchers say and what veterinary pathologists who are ferret experts say. Here's a well known one, Dr. Bruce Williams such as these:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG4053
which begins:
> Ferrets do not get colds. Colds are due to rhinoviruses, which are
> species specific virus. Ferrets may get influenza, but not colds.
but notice that worse forms of influenza have arisen since then
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG4054
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG10945
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG9530
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG2137
which includes
> Truly, ferrets do not share colds with humans - they can catch the
> flu, however.
but again note that worse forms of influenza have arisen since then
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
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)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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