A discussion of vaccine alternatives:
 
>Assuming that Galaxy-D is actually effective in ferrets - it probably is
>despite not having been tested per se.
 
While it was not tested by the manufacturers, Elizabeth Williams, a
wildlife vet in Wyoming who works extensively with the black footed
ferrets had the opportunity to try in in comparison to an subunit vaccine
(that is produced by Merial, and currently used in many zoos to vaccinate
exotic animals against distemper.)  I will post the abstract below.  For
information purposes, the MLV vaccine in the abstract was Galaxy.
 
This is not to say, however, that Galaxy is totally safe in ferrets - there
are reactions (although less than with Fervac-D, and probably equivalent
or thereabouts to those seen with the Imrab rabies product.)  The Galaxy
vaccine gave very sufficient titers to the animals in this study, with no
side effects.
 
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
 
Join the Ferret Health List at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ferret-Health-list
 
      ------
J Wildl Dis 1996 Jul;32(3):417-23
Vaccination of black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) x Siberian
polecat (M. eversmanni) hybrids and domestic ferrets (M. putorius
furo)against canine distemper.
 
Williams ES, Anderson SL, Cavender J, Lynn C, List K, Hearn C, Appel MJ
 
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie 82070,
USA.
 
An inactivated canine distemper vaccine with adjuvant and a modified-live
virus (MLV) vaccine were evaluated using black-footed ferret (Mustegla
nigripes) x Siberian polecat (Mustela eversmanni) hybrids us surrogates
for endangered black-footed ferrets.  For comparative purposes, we also
vaccinated domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) with the MLV vaccine.
Response to vaccination was measured by clinical observation, hematology,
dynamics of serum virus neutralizing antibodies, and challenge with
virulent canine distemper virus.  No clinical signs attributable to
the vaccines were observed.  Transient leukopenia occurred in hybrid
ferrets that received MLV vaccine and there was marked lymphopenia for
approximately 52 days post-vaccination.  Lymphopenia was present for
approximately 21 days in domestic ferrets vaccinated with MLV vaccine.
Neutralizing antibodies against canine distemper virus were detected 14
days post- vaccination in hybrids receiving MLV vaccine and most titers
were > 1:1024 for the 791 days of the study.  Antibody titers in hybrids
vaccinated with the inactivated vaccine were significantly lower.  All
eight hybrid ferrets that received MLV vaccine survived challenge with
virulent canine distemper virus without clinical disease.  However, one
of seven hybrids vaccinated with the inactivated vaccine developed canine
distemper and was euthanized; two other hybrids became clinically ill but
survived.  The MLV vaccine may be useful in prevention of canine distemper
in black-footed ferrets, but until additional studies of efficacy and
safety are completed, use of the inactivated vaccine is appropriate.
[Posted in FML issue 3361]