I realized that the sentences: >Is something similar going on in ferrets? Does Helicobacter mustelae >perform useful functions in ferrets, being commensal as well as >possible pathogen? are unclear. I know that H. mustelae IS a pathogen at times but what I meant by "possible" is the perhaps the conditions have to be right for it to act as one. 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) [Posted in FML 7436]