Hi everyone,
 
Dr. Williams said
>The presumed cause of ECE is not spread by an airborne route -
>coronaviruses are fecal-oral.
 
Dr. Williams, does this statement mean you have succesfully isolated the
virus to tell what it is?  I or my vet have not heard anything about this
and we were wondering if you may be getting closer to a diagnostic test on
it.  Also, do ferrets get any other corona viruses?  And if it is certainly
a corona virus, then a parvocide disinfectant should get rid of it right?
 
There has been a lot of controversy over the ece issue.  I would like to
tell my tale.  I had five ferrets earlier this year, and after reading all
available material on ece, I decided it would be safer to get Marshall Farms
kit from a store than taking a chance at a shelter.  Well, off I went and
got two more ferrets.  Within two days, my other guys had come down with
ece.  How do I know since no fecal sample was sent to Dr. Williams?  (which
is the only way that I know of that you can confirm the diagnoses) The
diagnoses was made by history, 24-48 hours after introduction of other
ferrets, Stan and Ollie both had bright, slimely, green diarrhea.  Stan was
dehydrated, pawing at his mouth and not eating.  Ollie never got that bad.
Stanley almost died, he went from 1080 grams to 625 grams in a month.  I had
to force feed him and force pedialyte into him, as well as trips to the vet
for sub-q fluids.  He was medicated, I cleaned litter boxes regularly and
cloroxed them to disinfect them.  Finally, after about a month, he started
to turn around.  My vet, Dr. Judy Vinson, says the *only* reason he is alive
is due to my intensive care.
 
Ollie had diarrhea for the same length of time but never got dehydrated and
never stopped eating.  We have no clue as to why Stan was so sick, both of
them are 2 years old.  The other three ferrets had light brown/green seedy
looking poop for 2-5 days, no other symptoms.
 
The two new ferrets never had any symptoms.
 
I have to assume that these guys got ece from being handled in the pet store
by people who owned other ferrets.  I read, I was educated and it did no
good.  I don't think it is reasonable to think you can completely isolate
yourself from ece.  What about trips to the vet?  How many vets offices mop
up and completely disinfect an exam room between patients.  Its not
realistic to expect that.  How many people pet your ferrets there and then
say "oh I have one at home?"
 
Since corona viruses are notoriously difficult to isolate is it reasonable
to expect a good easy test for ece?
 
Dr. Williams said:
>While the numbers are low, occasionally you will see a young, healthy
>ferret get hit so hard by the infection that it just doesn't make it
 
I have to wonder, if I can pull Stan through with no formal medical
training, just a lot of care and patience, if some of these young deaths are
due to a lack of enough care.  I was up every 2-3 hours feeding and giving
Stan fluids for almost 2 weeks straight.  I wonder how many vets and owners
realize how intensive the treatment may need to be and then follow through
with it.  Even small pet owners pay good money at the vet's and then go home
and ignore or discontue treatment due to difficulty.  I have had ferrets for
only two years and have learned a lot about them and tried to help educate
the animal clinic I go to.
 
Do I agree to exposing an animal to ece?  Well, I guess I should say yes
since I continue to rescue ferrets in great need.  I have recently brought
in one with a spinal injury, one missing a foot who bit hard, and a couple
of others.  I have made their life better than it was before and none have
been effected severely with ece.  In fact, I have hardly noticed any
symptoms, and I do know what to look for.
 
It seems many people think ece is always bright green mucousy stools.  This
isn't neccesarily true, and once a ferret gets over it, you can't tell if it
has had it, or if it is still a carrier shedding virus.  If the owner
doesn't realize their ferret has had ece, then how can you protect yourself
at club meetings, ferret shows, vets, and other places.  You can never be
sure.
 
I do what I must, and allow others to do the same.  No one should judge
another unless you have been in their shoes.  And reacting out of fear of
the unknown doesn't help anything.
 
Margaret Zick
Houston Area Ferret Association
[Posted in FML issue 1673]