To Urban and his question about plasmacytosis:
 
        Urban - I'm not sure about the status of plasmacytosis (this is the old
name for Aleutian disease when present in the ferret) in UK ferrets, nor in
ferrets in Sweden.
 
        In the U.S., I am seeing an increase in Aleutian disease in the ferret.
For those not familiar with Aleutian disease, it is a immune-based disease of
mustelids, primarily mink, which is caused by a parvovirus.  In mink, this
disease is rapidly fatal, most lethal in some of the color diluted breeds, such
as the Aleutian mink for which it is named.  The disease causes massive
dysfunction of the immune system, with accumulation of plasma cells (cells which
secrete antibody, and give the disease its name in ferrets) in numerous organs,
and the presence of tremendous aamounts of antibodies in the bloodstream, which
cause marked vascular degeneration and inhibit clotting.
 
        While Aleutian disease can be fatal in as little as two weeks in mink,
it is a far more prolonged and insidious disease in ferrets.  Most infected
ferrets go 18 months or more before showing any signs.  The disease in ferrets
attacks the vessels in the kidney, so that most ferrets die of renal failure at
the end of the disease.  The virus is passed in the urine and feces, and between
mother and kit.
 
        I have been seeing an increase in the number of cases of Aleutian
disease over the last few years.  While it still seems to be fairly rare, the
fact that it is transmitted by apparently normal animals is very concerning - it
can easily be passed at ferret club meetings and shows.  I would suspect, as
knowlecdge of this disease grows, it may be added to the list of diseases that
you must submit proof that your ferret is not infected before attending a show.
 
        The disease can be tested for with a very small sample of blood for
about 5 dollars per animal at United Vaccines or at the MIT Diagnostic Lab
(about 15 dollars per test), I think.  I will obtain and post the phone number
for United Vaccines tomorrow.
 
       Bruce Williams, DVM                 Department of Veterinary Pathology
       [log in to unmask]         Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
       (202) 782-2600/2602                 Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
[Posted in FML issue 1072]