To al FML'ers -
As promised, here is some news of a new test for adrenal disease which
appears very promising in the early detection of adrenal disease in ferrets. I
received my information about this test from Dr. Karen Rosenthal of the Animal
Medical Center in NYC, who is very high on the test.
The test is available to private practitioners from the Endocrinology
lab at the University of Tennessee (615-974-5638. Ask for Betsy Bailey, and
request the Ferret Adrenal Panel - she'll know what you are talking about).
The ferret adrnela panel conisists of assays for four hormones -
dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estradiol, androstenadione, and
17-OH-progesterone. These are hromones and pre-hormones that are produced by
the hyperfunctioning adrenals. According to Dr. Rosenthal, in over 90% of cases
- one or more of the hormones will be elevated. In one case, when only the
estradiol is up, however, you have to rule out an ovarian remnant (very rare),
or the possibility of an intact ferret. If more than one is up, though, it is
very diagnostic of adrenal-associated endocrinopathy.
Let me reiterate, however, that this test is mostly of use for ferrets
in whcih the signs of adrenal disease are questionable. I would still recommend
surgery alone for cases of marked bilateral hair loss, or the presence of an
enlarged vulva in spayed ferrets. I don' think the test adds any extra
information to your diagnosis over these fairly obvious clinical signs.
The cast to your vet for this test is $75. 0.5-1.0 cc of serum is
required. As a bonus, if the results are confusing to your vet, Dr. Rosenthal
is available for consultation and interpretation at (212)838-8100.
This is exciting news, and we will have to see if this test lives up to
its advanced billing....
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 1095]
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