FERRET-SEARCH@LISTSERV.FERRETMAILINGLIST.ORG
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Mon, 11 Dec 1995 19:00:08 -0800 |
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To MAnon:
>A hematologist, Madison Cawein, eventually figured out that it was
>methemoglobinemia, a rare hereditary blood disorder that results in excess
>levels of methemoglobin in the blood. Methemoglobin (which is blue) is a
>non-funtional form of the normal hemoglobin which carries oxygen (and is
>red). In most people, normal hemoglobin is converted to methemoglobin at a
>very slow rate, and the enzyme diaphorase converts it back. The blue
>people, however, were lacking the converting enzyme.
A very interesting theory which I had not considered. The animals
that I have seen with methemoglobinemia (no ferrets) had a brownish color to
their blood, rather than blue, but I like the theory....thanks for weighing
in on this one.
Bruce Williams, DVM, DACVP
[Posted in FML issue 1409]
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