A note from Bruce Williams, veterinary pathologist, on this genetic
disorder:
 
>Actually, this condition has been reported previously in ferrets -
>
>"J Am Vet Med Assoc 1994 Oct 15;205(8):1154-6
>
>Copper toxicosis in sibling ferrets.
>
>Fox JG, Zeman DH, Mortimer JD
>
>Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
>Cambridge 02139.
>
>Two sexually intact female silver-shaded domestic ferret siblings from
>different litters were examined because of CNS depression and lethargy.
>Ferret 1 was dehydrated and hypothermic, whereas ferret 2 was icteric and
>febrile and had serum bilirubin concentration > 12.0 mg/dl and BUN of 59
>mg/dl.  Despite supportive treatment, the ferrets died within days of
>evaluation.  On necropsy, ferret 1 had chronic hepatopathy, with diffuse
>vacuolation of hepatocytes.  In ferret 2, the liver had centrilobular
>degeneration and necrosis, and hemoglobinuric nephrosis was evident, with
>hemoglobin in the renal tubules.  In both ferrets, Kupffer's cells and
>macrophages contained eosinophilic material in the cytoplasm.  Special
>staining revealed copper pigment in hepatocytes and phagocytic cells in
>both livers.  Analysis of liver specimens revealed 850 and 700 ppm of
>copper in ferrets 1 and 2, respectively.  Copper values 200 ppm in liver
>are considered evidence of toxicosis in most animal species.  Copper
>toxicosis was diagnosed on the basis of the findings from histologic
>examination of the liver and high hepatic copper values.  Lack of related
>illness in 11 other ferrets in the same environment and fed the same diet,
>plus sibling relationship and same phenotypic coat color in the affected
>ferrets, suggested that these ferrets had an inherited defect in their
>ability to metabolize normal amounts of ingested copper."
>
>AS both of these ferrets showed severe signs, it would be interesting to
>find out exactly how this diagnosis was made - special stains, perhaps (I
>use rhodanine for identification of copper).  The pathology report should
>note that.
>
>Regarding the hair loss, a normal appearance of adrenal glands 5 months
>ago shouldn't be used to determine whether adrenal disease is present or
>not.  Prednisone generally doesn't cause hair loss in ferrets, so adrenal
>gland disease is still the number one potential cause of the hair loss.
>
>Regarding possible neurological involvement with chronic copper toxicosis,
>it is usually the result of the liver changes seen in copper-intoxicated
>animals, rather than damage done to the nervous system by excessive levels
>of copper, and treatment for this condition would be experimental at best.
>
>Not knowing much more about how this diagnosis was made, except that
>lymphocytic hepatitis is a very common finding in ferrets, and that
>hindlimb paresis is also a very common finding in older ferrets, I think I
>would hve to have a good look at the pathology report on this case before
>going any further.
>
>With kindest regards,
>
>Bruce Williams
[Posted in FML issue 3159]