I know this is long but I hope you let this thru.  I wrote to Dr. Klien in
response to the mamalian bite post in today's fml.  I am forwarding my
letter and his response to you and hopefully fellow fmlers (sp?).  If
anyone else would like to respond to this please do so.  The address is
[log in to unmask]  I found it interesting that the majority of his
sources (when dated) were from the 1980's.  It would also be nice to let
Dr. Klein know that my experience is not an uncommon one as somewhat
suggested in his reply.  It would also be very nice if some of the more
technical/medical knowledgeable people out there could respond.  Bob
Church/ Bill Killian/MC the Rude One/Amy Flemming?  Are you ready,
willing and able?
 
Dooks and Blessings,
 
Karen and her party of 4
 
   ----- Original Message -----
  From: "Hey Hey Hey" <[log in to unmask]>
  To: <[log in to unmask]>
  Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2000 4:32 PM
  Subject: Ferret bites/mamalian bites
 
Dear Sir or Madam,
 
I strongly object to your representation of the dangerousness of ferrets.
I, myself, own 4 ferrets and they are very gentle and affectionante.
Although it is true that they sometimes nip in play I have never been
bitten to the point where my skin was broken.  I also rescue ferrets so I
have also been in contact and handled extensively, animals that were
unfamiliar with me.
 
I would very much like to know where you did your research or how you
determined that ferrets were dangerous and should not be kept as pets.  To
my knowledge, ferrets have been a domesticated animal for over 1,000 years
and have served mankind faithfully during all of that time.  I strongly
feel that you owe these particular mamals a retraction if not an outright
apology.
 
Sincerly,
 
Karen Douglas
[log in to unmask]
 
     ----- Original Message -----
  From: "Roger D. Klein, M.D." <[log in to unmask]
  To: "Hey Hey Hey" <[log in to unmask]
  Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2000 4:47 PM
  Subject: Re: Ferret bites/mamalian bites
 
 
Dear Ms. Douglas:
 
Thank you very much for your comments.  At this time, we stand behind the
content of our article, since it represents the mainstream view in the
medical literature.  In issues of this nature, any one individual's
experience is not necessarily relevant.  Most ferrets do not attack
children, just as most cigarette smokers don't contract lung cancer.
This does not mean, however, that ferrets do not present an inordinate
risk of this kind of behavior.
 
With regard to rabies risk.  The incidence of rabies in domestic animals is
low.  In the U.S., an extremely small number of people actually contract
the disease.  That being said, vaccination of ferrets with IMRAB 3 is not
currently universally accepted as conferring protection against rabies to
human victims of ferret bites.
 
Finally, I direct you to the following resources, in addition to the
recently published abstracts that I have copied below.
 
 --Ed.
 
Rosen, P., et. al: Emergency Medicine Concepts and Clinical Practice,
Vol. 1, 908-909, 1999.
 
Paisley, J, Lauer, B: Severe Facial injuries to infants due to unprovoked
attacks by pet ferrets, JAMA, 259:2005, 1988.
 
Constantine, D., Kizer, K: Pet European ferrets, a hazard to public health,
small livestock, and wildlife, West J Med: 150: 466, 1988.
 
Van, J: Ferret fad dangerous, vets warn, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Ill, 1
9/6/86 .
 
J Emerg Med 1998 May-Jun;16(3):425-7 Childhood risks from the ferret.
 
Applegate JA, Walhout MF Advantage Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
 
The ferret is becoming an increasingly popular pet, yet the dangers of
ferret ownership remain unrecognized by physicians and the general public.
Reported are three incidents of ferret attacks in a 3-month period of time.
The risk of attack is greatest in infants and small children.  Wounds
caused by ferret attacks must be evaluated for injury, infection, and
rabies prophylaxis.  Such attacks should be reported to animal control
authorities.  Physicians need to recognize the ferret as a risk to
children.
 
                     ---------------------------------
 
Am J Vet Res 1998 Dec;59(12):1629-32
 
Viral excretion in domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) inoculated
with a raccoon rabies isolate.
 
Niezgoda M, Briggs DJ, Shaddock J, Rupprecht CE Viral and Rickettsial
Zoonoses Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National
Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
United States Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30333,
USA.
 
OBJECTIVE: To determine susceptibility, incubation and morbidity periods,
clinical signs of infection, serologic response, and excretion of virus in
domestic ferrets inoculated with rabies virus of raccoon origin.
ANIMALS: 54 domestic ferrets.
PROCEDURE: 5 groups of ferrets were inoculated IM with the rabies virus.
Oral cavity swab specimens and saliva were obtained for virus isolation.
Blood was obtained for virus-neutralizing antibody determination.  If
clinical signs were severe, ferrets were euthanatized immediately.
Salivary gland and brain tissue was collected for virus isolation and
rabies diagnosis, respectively.
RESULTS: Of 51 inoculated ferrets, 19 (37%) were euthanatized with clinical
signs of rabies.  Mean incubation period was 28 days (range, 17 to 63
days).  Clinical signs included ataxia, cachexia, inactivity, paresis,
paraparesis, bladder atony, tremors, hypothermia, lethargy, constipation,
paralysis, and anorexia.  Two rabid ferrets manifested aggressive behavior.
Mean morbidity period was 4 to 5 days (range, 1 to 8 days).  Virus antigen
was detected in brain tissue from all rabid ferrets (n = 19).  Two rabid
ferrets had detectable virus-neutralizing antibody.  Of 32 ferrets that
survived, only 1 seroconverted; survivors remained clinically normal
throughout the observation period.  Rabies virus was isolated from salivary
glands of 12 of 19 (63%) rabid ferrets, and 9 (47%) shed virus in saliva.
Initiation of virus excretion ranged from 2 days before onset of illness to
6 days after onset.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Rabies should be considered in the
differential diagnosis for ferrets that have acute onset of paralysis or
behavioral changes and a condition hat rapidly deteriorates despite intense
medical intervention.
 
PMID: 9858418, UI: 99074129
[Posted in FML issue 2974]