There is an FIP-like disease in ferrets which is under study both
in Europe, where it first appeared and in the U.S. where it began
appearing this year. Yes, it is a corona-virus. The molecular
characterization is part of what is under study (and that is at
Michigan State and has been going on for over a half year now).
Some possible origins: it may be FIP itself and some ferrets may be
susceptible. It may be a mutant of either FIP or ECE. Coronaviruses
are not readily prone to mutations, but of course, they do happen now
and then.

This disease was one of the topics at the recently international
veterinary pathology conference.

There are rumors from earlier than the studies but specimens were not
able to be obtained in those earlier years for study. Both European
researchers who have been studying this disease for as long as 4
years, depending on the team, and some U.S. researchers spoke.

Symptoms are like those in*DRY* FIP in cats, and sadly it has so far
always been fatal. Luckily, it continues to be rare.

Here are some things to help you read about it: You probably saw this
first one in the FML yesterday where it also appeared and some of the
other things also have been in the FML:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG662
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG303
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG658
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG285
(See the DRY symptoms since we now know those are the applicable ones.)
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG394
(mostly ECE abstracts but a little FIP-like illness, too)
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG297
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG18442
etc.

This was the first formal announcement of the disease in the
veterinary community:
Vet Rec. 2006 Apr 15;158(15):523.
Detection of feline infectious peritonitis virus-like antigen in
ferrets.

Martinez J, Ramis AJ, Reinacher M, Perpinan D.
PMID: 16617048 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

I know of at least one other European team.

and I am proud to say that I was the one who introduced these
researchers and both Dr. Bruce Williams and Dr. Matti Kiupel.

The first U.S. cases reported seem to have been clumped in the Pacific
NW, but there have been cases supported by the necropsied remains
reported in Texas and Maryland as well now. Dr. Mike Garner and Dr.
Katrina Ramsell are also investigating (he into the pathology and she
into possible treatments), and got some of the first U.S. cases.

Sukie (not a vet)
Current FHL address:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth
People can join there or can send a blank mail to the automated
joining address:
[log in to unmask]
and then follow the directions.
(The second is recommended for those having problems with Yahoogroups
web settings, and afterward send a blank mail from your subscribed
address to
[log in to unmask]
to get the digest instead of individual mails. )
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 5468]