http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23906891

QUOTE

Vaccine. 2013 Jul 29. pii: S0264-410X(13)00978-X.
doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.07.035. [Epub ahead of print]

Use of a GnRH vaccine, GonaCon(TM), for prevention and treatment of
adrenocortical disease (ACD) in domestic ferrets.

Miller LA, Fagerstone KA, Wagner RA, Finkler M.

Source
US Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service/Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center,
4101 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.

Abstract
Adrenocortical disease (ACD) is a common problem in surgically
sterilized, middle-aged to old ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). The
adrenal tissues of these ferrets develop hyperplasia, adenomas, or
adenocarcinomas, which produce steroid hormones including estradiol,
17-hydroxyprogesterone, and androstenedione. Major clinical signs
attributable to overproduction of these hormones are alopecia (hair
loss) in both sexes and a swollen vulva in females. Pruritus, muscle
atrophy, hind limb weakness, and sexual activity or aggression are also
observed in both sexes. Males can develop prostatic cysts, prostatitis,
and urethral obstruction. ACD is thought to be linked to continuous
and increased LH secretion, due to lack of gonadal hormone feedback in
neutered ferrets. This continuous elevated LH acts on adrenal cortex
LH receptors, resulting in adrenal hyperplasia or adrenal tumor. This
study investigated whether the immunocontraceptive vaccine GonaCon(TM),
a GnRH vaccine developed to reduce the fertility of wildlife species
and the spread of disease, could prevent or delay onset of ACD and
treat alopecia in ferrets with existing ACD. Results showed that
GonaCon provided relief from ACD by causing production of antibodies to
GnRH, probably suppressing production and/or release of LH. Treatment
caused many ACD symptoms to disappear, allowing the ferrets to return
to a normal life. The study also found that the probability of
developing ACD was significantly reduced in ferrets treated with
GonaCon when young (1-3 years old) compared to untreated control
animals. GonaCon caused injection site reaction in some animals when
administered as an intramuscular injection but caused few side effects
when administered subcutaneously. Both intramuscular and subcutaneous
vaccination resulted in similar levels of GnRH antibody titers.
Subcutaneous vaccination with GonaCon is thus recommended to prevent
the onset of ACD and as a possible treatment for ACD-signs in domestic
ferrets.
Copyright(c) 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

KEYWORDS:
Adrenal hormones, Adrenocortical disease (ACD), Domestic ferret,
GonaCon, Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), Mustela putorius furo
PMID: 23906891 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Sukie (not a vet)  Ferrets make the world a game.

Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.miamiferret.org/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html

"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)

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