This is what Skip Nelson, Washington State veterinarian, sent to LOS in
Washington State.  If anyone wants to contact him, his address is 903 5th
Ave., Ste.  101, Kirkland, WA, (206) 827-6613.  I'm including the message
with no changes: it can also be found on his WEB page (I don't have address;
don't have time to web surf, but I'm sure it could be found with a good
search engine!  I could rustle it up if people have problems finding it).
 
I just spoke with Stephanie at his vet clinic, who says that the ECE virus
has just been isolated (by Bruce Williams) - which I guess means, confirmed -
as a virus.  Though it's been thought to be a virus, it has just been
proven, Stephanie says Does anyone have any more information about this.
Dr. Williams, are you there??
 
Thanks for being here everyone.  Update on Squeeky following!  If there are
any questions about greenies here, fire away and I'll try to find answers.
I'm looking into the amount of cases, deaths (only one so far - one too many
:( - etc.
 
Thanks for being here everyone:
 
Lynn Mc. and the Gang of Nine
 
Here's the letter:
 
Subj:    The Greenies
Date:    96-05-28 14:07:35 EDT
From:    ZooDoc
To:      LOS WA
 
THE "GREENIES"
A new disease (1993) of ferrets officially termed "Epizootic catarrhal
enteritis" has caused ferret suffering and even death.  Older ferrets and
ferrets in poor health cannot withstand this disease well, and one beloved
family pet ferret has died of complications of the disease.
 
The cardinal symptom is dark green diarrhea.  The name "Greenies" came from
the color of the poor little patient's diarrhea.  Diagnosis is based on
clinical dehydration, fever and palpation of watery ingesta in the
intestines.  Veterinarians experienced with ferrets will be able to
establish the diagnosis and offer treatment.  Treatment is based on
correcting the dehydration with fluids administered subcutaneously or
intravenously in the most severe cases.  Antibiotics and intestinal
protectants are administered as well.
 
In the meantime, ferret owners are being cautioned by the American ferret
Association to;
!.  Isolate all ferrets exhibiting green diarrhea and call their ferret
    veterinarian (that's a veterinarian who is experienced in the medicine
    of the ferret, not a veterinarian with 4 short legs, short ears and a
    long tail).
2. Diagnostic tests should be run to rule out the well established bacterial
   and protozoan causes of diarrhea.
3. Treatment must be early and aggressive.
4. Hygiene must be applied to the cage and all utensils used by the affected
   ferret(s).
5. New animals should be isolated from established pets for at least 3 weeks.
6. Ferret owners with affected pets should not allow contact between any of
   their ferrets and ferrets from another household.
 
The ferret clubs in the Midwest and on the East coast have had a terrible
time with the disease following ferret get-togethers.  Here in the Pacific
Northwest, we are just seeing the beginning of the outbreak, and we expect
to see more cases.  Efforts are underway to determine the cause, but none
has been identified as yet.  It will probably turn out to be a virus, but
stay tuned for further developments as we gather more information.
 
As a result, Exotic Pet and Bird Clinic has canceled the 1996 Ferret Frolics
in Kirkland. This drastic step was not undertaken lightly. The event has run
without interruption since 1982 and is expected to resume in June, 1997, but
since the "Greenies" has appeared in Kirkland in early 1996, it is deemed
best to skip a year and wait for the cause of the disease to be identified
and a more specific therapy to be found.
 
May, 1996
[Posted in FML issue 1594]