[Moderator's note: Correct, part two made it to the list (issue 2568).  I
never saw part one until now.  BIG]
 
Hello Everybody:
Part 1 of 2 parts
 
This is Edward Lipinski reporting to any and all interested his reflections
and musings about the WSFA meeting that he attended some few hours ago.
Unfortunately he had to leave the meeting at 1645 hrs to receive a little
female ferret, named UNKTHOB-ni, that was being returned to FNW (Ferrets
NorthWest) at 1700 hrs.  The parents of the young man who adopted
UNKTHOB-ni several weeks ago found the muskieness of the ferret beyond
acceptance, eventho she had been given several baths during the 3 weeks
she was in their care.  And so it goes, ah yes.
 
So in spite of the fact that Edward was not able to remain any longer
after the conclusion of the 2nd speaker's talk, he did find the atmosphere
friendly albeit somewhat bewildering.  Edward is accustomed to all the
people present in a general meeting standing up one at a time in their turn
around the room, and giving their names in a clear and loud voice, once the
chairman commences the meeting.  Thusly, when one speaks to the group, some
of whom spoke with apparent authority, their name is known by all.  Edward
felt a little embarrassed in having to ask the name of a gentleman (Mr.
Mike Collins) across the room after he finished describing his phone
conversations with the Atlanta GA CDC concerning updates on new types of
ferret rabies findings and other newly discovered diseases in ferrets.  Did
I understand correctly that there are various strains of the rabies virus
that are specific animal related, such as skunk rabies, fox rabies, racoon
rabies, badger rabies, and ferret rabies?  And perhaps others too?
 
The two speakers present, Doctor Barbara Deeb who addressed the prevalence
of helicobacter (spelling ??) in the ulcerated stomachs of infected ferrets
and Judy Moon, who discussed with goodly pride and loving conviction her
concepts of "correctness" in ferret breeding and the placement of
"pedigreed," 4-generation-back, babies.
 
Dr. Deeb stated that confirmation of high populations of  H. mustelli in
the stomachs of ferrets is very expensive ($300), and although her
consensus is that 90 percent of ferrets are infected, few show outward
signs of the bacterium.  Contamination of "clean" ferrets is thought to be
thru contact with the feces of infected mothers by their kits.  Apparently
this bacterium is extreeeemly difficult to incubate in vitro on a Petri
dish, so that confirmation of the infection by fecal innoculation on to
the Petri dish medium is essentially a waste of time.  That's a bummer.
 
Please continue:  See part 2 of 2 parts following:  Note: Part 2 has
already been posted, but out of order???)
 
   --------------
 
(Continued from Part 1 of 2 Parts.) Part 2 of 2 parts
 
Washington State Ferret Ass'n Up and Runnin' Part 2 of 2 Parts
 
The bacterium, H. mustelli, is found primarily in the stomach where the
pH is low,  . . . . . (Please see second part already posted)  Sorry
about that.
 
                                EL
[Posted in FML issue 2570]