Please reference the previous post "EXTREMELY IMPORTANT INFO ON ECE! (part
1)" for information about this letter.  (sorry about the formatting)
       ____________________________
 
 
Feb 14, 1998
 
Universal City Animal Hospital, Inc.
2510 Pat Booker Road
Universal City, Texas 78148
 
210-658-6326
210-658-5568 (FAX)
 
Re: GREEN DIARRHEA VIRUS OF FERRETS; also called EPIZOOTIC CATARRHAL
ENTERITIS (ECE)
 
This virus hit the San Antonio Area about four years ago with a VERY HIGH
morbidity and low mortality. This was a disease that had been reported to me
by Rick White (director of the San Antonio Ferret Enthusiasts - S.A.F.E.)
After he learned about it happening on the east coast area. I feel confident
that the information I received help save many ferrets. Consultations with
veterinarians already dealing with the disease was very informative and
timely (It tales months to get information out in our professional
journals).
 
This disease is a corona virus which effects the intestines causing loss of
villi (thus absorptive surface depletion).  These ferrets become RAPIDLY
DEHYDRATED, suffer electrolyte disturbances, and lose weight quickly.  We
saw TWO FORMS of this disease:
 
1. A mild diarrhea with lethargy of young ferrets (under 8 to 9 months of
age).  Most of these ferrets had soft stools which were orange, brown, or
green all with fluid or mucous.  Most of these ferrets were treated with
Amoxi Drops (5 to 10 mg /# BID) and an electrolyte solution (Resorb,
Pedilyte, or similar product).
 
Food was given free choice AND augmented with a HIGH CALORIE supplement
(Hill s A/D, Nutrical, Ferrivite, etc.).  These ferrets generally recovered
in 3 to 10 days.
 
2. A Severe diarrhea accompanied by severe dehydration occurred in ferrets
over one year of age.  These ferrets were often hospitalized and given
massive amounts of Lactated Ringers subcutaneously (100 to 200 ml PER POUND
OF BODY WEIGHT!).  Most of these ferrets will tolerate a 22 or 23 Gauge
needle with 24 to 48 ml of fluids every one or two hours.  These ferrets
were usually placed on Amoxi Drops (5 to 10 mg /# BID) or Metronidazole
(25 mg /# SID).  Our experience was Centrine did NOT seem to effect this
diarrhea.  PeptoBismol did seem to make these ferrets feel better (1/8 tob
q 4 to 8 hours OR 1/4 tsp q 6 to 8 hours).  External heat was usually
offered as a heat lamp/trouble light hung on the outside of the cage.  Most
ferrets would sleep under towels next to the external heat source.  These
ferrets were usually anorectic and were TUBE FED 12 cc of Hill s A/D every
one or two hours.  Most of these ferrets took 10 to 14 days to get better
(some took about 30 days and sadly some will die).  In order to get these
ferrets to eat again, they were usually fed gruel type foods that apparently
cause less intestinal cramping.  We would suggest mixing Sustical with
Turkey Baby Food into a thick gravy consistency.  Sustical can be purchased
at most pharmacies.  We would add to this mixture (if the ferrets would
tolerate the changes) Nutrical or Ferrivite, Ferritone, and ferret chow
(softened with hot water).  This mixture is usually fed with syringes or
eyedroppers and hopefully will eventually be eaten free choice out of a
bowl.
 
Ferrets that died were sent to Dr. Bruce Williams (202-782-2600) for
histopath at the Department of Veterinary Pathology, Armed Forces Institute
of Pathology, Washington, D.C. 20306-6000.  Our submissions revealed villus
necrosis as the general lesion with numerous lymphocytes and plasma cells
present.  Most ferrets that died had an UNRELATED, UNKNOWN PRE-EXISTING
AILMENT (like intestinal lymphosarcoma, adrenal tumors, renal disease, etc.)
that apparently decreased their ability to survive.  We had a few return to
their normal activity or appetite levels.  Based on the regional
lymphocytosis of the intestines we theorized a lymphocyte induced damage
and would give dexamethasone (.0625 mb / ferret DIS P.O.- this is 1/4 of
a .25 mg tablet).  Most of these ferrets responded dramatically within 2 or
3 days with great appetites and return to normal behavior.  We would only
treat with dexamethasone AFTER the acute phase was over and only then would
we treat for 10 to 14 days and then abruptly cease all medications.
 
Additional contacts I have used for consultations were:
 
Dr. Susan Brown (708-344-8166)
Dr. Tom Kawasaki (703-494-0094)
Dr. Bruce Williams (202-782-2600)
 
Please feel free to copy and distribute this information to your
veterinarians and colleagues.  I sincerely hope this effort will save
lives of ferrets from this disease.
 
Sincerely,
 
Leo V. Gates, III D.V.M.
[Posted in FML issue 2346]