Dear Anonymous:
 
>My question?  Can this sort of behavior transmit HIV to the ferrets -
>and thus onto the kits' new owners should they get bitten?
 
The lentiviruses that cause HIV in humans do not infect ferrets.  It is
even very difficult to infect apes, our closest animal relatives with the
HIV virus.  Ferret lymphocytes do not possess the specific receptors which
would allow the HIV virus to enter the cell, and even if they did, it is
unlikely that they would be able to replicate.  I don't think that there
is anything to worry about here - I would have no problem handling ferrets
raised by an HIV+ individual.
 
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
[Posted in FML issue 3329]