The words here are only my own, so I strongly advise checking out the
links below to learn more. Because the resource is one that can help us
all I give complete permission to anyone to carry this post elsewhere:
websites, newsletters, blogs, etc. as long as it remains unaltered and
in complete form.
Okay, most people on the Ferret Mailing List and the Ferret Health List
have long been used to reading about the researchers at Michigan State
who help advance ferret health care. Many of us first became aware of
them through Dr. Bruce Williams of the AFIP because Dr. Matti Kiupel
independently confirmed the cause of ECE. Since then you'll remember
the Michigan State work at uncovering the genus and species of coccidia
that was killing a number of ferrets, including in more than a few
southeastern shelters, the work done there on myofaciitis/ DIM, the
work on the new corona virus (an ECE descendent) which behaves like one
form of FIP, yet more ECE work, and a huge amount more. These Michigan
State experts come up a lot in conversation and now they also have a
website to help all.
Here is the homepage of the new website they are putting together to
help ferrets and ferret people. The section on diseases is currently
under construction but much of the website has been completed:
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
That is our Telemna as a kit standing against a weaselwatcher gate in
a photograph Steve took; the image first appeared in Ferrets Magazine.
Since then she has roaned a lot and now looks like a marked white.
In this section you can learn about the primary personnel:
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/Personnel.php
and here are their names and just some of their areas of interest and
past work, with their publications lists and experience available to
read about by clicking open their Curriculum Vitae
Dr. Kiupel: pathology, adrenal carcinomas, DIM, Aleutian Disease, and
a range of ferret enteric diseases such as coronaviruses, rotaviruses,
and coccidiosis
Dr. Maes: virology, canine distemper, Aleutian Disease, rotavirus types
A and C, ECE and the FIP-like coronaviruses
Dr. Wise: microbiology and molecular virology, genetic characterization
of emerging novel viruses
Dr. Mehler: surgery and the development of minimally invasive surgical
procedures to make ferret surgeries less stressful on the ferrets
Impressive experts!
Here is some of their ferret health research:
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/Research.php
Imagine if we can get an ECE vaccine! ECE can set the stage for a
number of later health woes, from kidney damage due to dehydration to
splenic inflammation to later disorders or diseases that occur due to
remaining tissue injury. Besides, we already know from the FIP-like
mutant that it has the ability to mutate into a really nasty, fatal
disease. Luckily, this particular one appears to be hard to get, but
there may be worse ones in the future so prevention is important.
Just recently, this team identified the TYPES of rotaviruses that can
infect young ferrets, causing the lives of two many kits. Following up
on this new info can lead to better cures and prevention. BREEDERS will
find this work especially important.
SHELTERS will be very interested in the section on Coccidiois. It
affects all, of course, but shelters have had a particularly rough
time with it.
They even have been working on some of the worst variants of adrenal
disease to better understand them, treat them, and hopefully prevent
them.
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/Diagnostics.php
helps veterinary professionals and others see what tests (over 800 --
yes, EIGHT HUNDRED) are available and how to submit. There are some
special tests that are only for ferrets, too.
Want to LEARN more? Here is the PUBLICATIONS page:
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/Diagnostics.php
and EVEN MORE on the PRESENTATIONS page:
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/Presentations/
BREEDERS: be extra sure to see the rotavirus section in the slides on
"Viral causes of enteric disease in ferrets"
Vets: there is even a presentation on Pelioid Hepatocellularcarcinoma,
and more on other forms of neoplasia.
An added, special note for the FML, which can also be carried along in
full and unchanged:
Steve and I consider this work incredibly important for ferrets! This
year we gave $1,500 to help it advance and wish we could give more!
Notice that there are diseases being researched which pretty much all
of us will encounter in our times with ferrets, as well as ones that
hold special heartbreak for breeders, and ones that hurt the shelters
for which we all so deeply care. This work can help us all, but it DOES
need funding. Anything you can give will help them, and then they can
help you help your ferrets. See:
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/Donate.php to help Ferret Health
Advancement.
There is so much more at this brand new ferret health site. DO check
it out!
This post may be carried elsewhere as long as it is complete and
unaltered. Please, DO CARRY IT ELSEWHERE to help ferrets and help
those who care about ferrets.
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
[Posted in FML 6310]
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