This seemed like it might interest some, although I am sure not not all
will choose to read them and that's your own choices, like the rest of
life's decisions, free speech and all...
It's about an E. coli outbreak among BFFs:
http://www.jwildlifedis.org/cgi/reprint/37/3/617
For those who only want to read the abstract:
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=11504237&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_docsum>
Someone who didn't bother to read the past vet posts I have told
about nor to search as was suggested wrote me a note that was --
well -- let's just say rude in its demand. So, I figured I'd range a
little more widely for those with an interest.
BARF, dogs, and salmonella:
<http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=12058569>
and for those only interested in the abstract:
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=12058569&query_hl=10&itool=pubmed_docsum>
From this year:
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=16677120>
Two years ago:
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=15552306>
Four years ago:
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=12216800>
Although not ferret there WAS a study this year which compared some
disease levels in prepared vs. raw foods and the production methods
are similar:
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=16478425>
>J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2006 Feb 15;228(4):537-42.
>
>Evaluation of bacterial and protozoal contamination of commercially
>available raw meat diets for dogs.
>
>Strohmeyer RA, Morley PS, Hyatt DR, Dargatz DA, Scorza AV, Lappin MR.
>Animal Population Health Institute, Colorado State University, Fort
>Collins, CO 80523, USA.
>
>OBJECTIVE: To evaluate bacterial and protozoal contamination of
>commercially available raw meat diets for dogs. DESIGN: Prospective
>longitudinal study. SAMPLE POPULATION: 240 samples from 20 raw meat
>diets for dogs (containing beef, lamb, chicken, or turkey), 24 samples
>from 2 dry dog foods, and 24 samples from 2 canned dog foods.
>PROCEDURE: Each product was purchased commercially on 4 dates
>approximately 2 months apart. Three samples from each product at
>each sampling period were evaluated via bacterial culture for
>non-type-specific Escherichia coli (NTSEC), Salmonella enterica, and
>Campylobacter spp. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed
>on selected isolates. Polymerase chain reaction assays were used to
>detect DNA from Cryptosporidium spp, Neospora spp, and Toxoplasma spp
>in samples obtained in the third and fourth sampling periods. RESULTS:
>One hundred fifty-three of 288 (53%) samples were contaminated with
>NTSEC. Both raw and prepared foods contained NTSEC during at least
>1 culture period. Salmonella enterica was recovered from 17 (5.9%)
>samples, all of which were raw meat products. Campylobacter spp was
>not isolated from any samples. In 91 of 288 (31.6%) samples, there was
>no gram-negative bacterial growth before enrichment and in 48 of 288
>(16.7%) samples, there was no aerobic bacterial growth before
>enrichment. Susceptibility phenotypes were variable. Cryptosporidium
>spp DNA was detected in 3 samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:
>Bacterial contamination is common in commercially available raw meat
>diets, suggesting that there is a risk of foodborne illness in dogs
>fed these diets as well possible risk for humans associated with the
>dogs or their environments.
>
>PMID: 16478425 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Now, honestly, every diet has its own downsides. Heck, there have even
been SPECULATION that gingivitis in humans may be related to increased
risks of some pancreatic growths so a brand new study to see if that
idea holds water just recently got funding. (It also got publicity
which is pretty danged preliminary since there isn't a study yet and
alternative possibilities were only partially investigated so far,
which could result on eggs on faces if real study shows alternatives.
That is the "cold fusion" problem -- overly enthusiastic publicity
people speaking before studies actually happen.)
So, to each his or her own, and no one should be told to shut up just
because the reader doesn't find that the person is not in agreement
with him or her. To those who feed raw: fine, just know the downsides
as well as the upsides, and be sure to balance the nutrients. To those
who feed kibble: fine, just know the downsides as well as the upsides,
and buy quality ones so that the nutrients are balanced. To those who
make food at home: fine, just know the downsides as well as the
upsides, and be sure to balance the nutrients. Also, all SHOULD make
sure their vets know what is given.
***** Nothing is perfect. Deal with it. *****
Sukie (not a vet)
Reminder: HE FERRET HEALTH LIST IS MOVING.
To join, click on the joining link at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth and then follow the
directions.
OR just send a blank mail to the automated joining address:
[log in to unmask] and then follow the directions.
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/
[Posted in FML 5426]
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