ADV Testing info: http://www.ferret-universe.com/health/adv,html#test http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ferret-Health-list/files/unitedceptest.pdf http://www.avecon.com >If her test comes back positive and the boys negative well, they have >been exposed already, nothing I can do now Not necessarily true. If she is positive for ADV, and the other ferrets test negative, the thing to do is separate them and retest after the two week timeframe is past. If they remain negative, she should stay separated from them. Dr. Ruth ***************************************** Save lives - spay or neuter your pet. --- >Lulu was just tested blood and cams back mild positive BUT the >boys are of right now tested negative [She emphasized that the boys were her priority in her letter.] Dear X: The Aleutian Disease parvovirus is not extremely contagious, and there is much we do not know about this disease in ferrets. There is certainly a chance that the boys have not contracted AD, especially as she is only a mild positive on the blood test - it may mean that she is not shedding high levels of virus at this point. One thing that we are all forgetting at this time is that other confirmatory tests are available - the CIEP test at United Vaccines, the PCR through Dr. Stevenson at the University of Georgia, even a routine CBC and protein with analysis of the globulins. If the boys are the priority, I think that it is incumbent that you find a place for her at another home - either an ADV+ shelter or a home with no other ferrets. There she can be monitored (and so can your boys.) With kindest regards, Bruce Williams, DVM [Sukie note: Later learned that Dr. Stevenson may have enough samples at stage so ask first rather than assuming that test is available now.] [Re: assorted tests for ADV -- Sukie note] Let me hasten to add that I am not saying that all of these tests are available for routine testing. At this point I am saying that one or more of these additional tests are required to prove a claim that an animal has Aleutian Disease There is a prevalent misconception that a positive serology equates with an animal having Aleutian Disease. The presence of antibodies shows only that the animal has been exposed. The other tests are required to show that the animal indeed has the disease. >Also, something I'm sure Dr. Williams meant to mention, from what >I've learned, a "routine CBC and protein with analysis of the globulins" >will tell you if the ferret has clinical Aleutian disease, but it is not >used to test for antibodies (exposure to the virus), as the CIEP and ELISA >are. That is another way to say the same it (Thanks, X). So, once and for all - a positive serologic test means that the animal is exposed, but it will take additional tests to show if the animal truly has Aleutian Disease. Serologically positive animals are certainly at high risk for development of the disease over time, and for shedding the virus, but it does not equate with actually having the disease itself. With kindest regards, Bruce Williams, DVM Normally, a complete blood count contains the total protein, which is the most important part when it comes to Aleutian Disease. The blood chemistry will take it one step further, giving you both a total protein as well as the albumin. If you subtract the albumin from the total protein level, you are left essentially with the globulin level. If you take this one step further, and ask for a breakdown of the globulins, the gamma fraction represents the antibodies, and is the fraction most closely watched in cases of ADV - if it exceeds 20% of the overall globulin total - that is very characteristic of clinical Aleutian Disease. With kindest regards, Bruce Williams, DVM I can certainly understand your frustrations - there is a lot of detail here, but when you back off a bit, there are a few things that we all agree on. 1) There is no currently available test that will identify all cases of Aleutian disease at all stages. This is why we use a combination of tests to confirm positive cases, and test several times to confirm negatives. 2) Testing for all ferrets is very important. Whether you use the saliva test, the ELISA blood test, or the CIEP test, you should test. Not every case will be picked up, but the vast majority will, and picking up even one positive in a multi-ferret facility or household should set off a series of testing and repeat testing that very well may disclose additional cases. 3) ADV is a silent disease with the potential, as we are now seeing, for wide spread before the first case is diagnosed. There is no treatment for this disease, and animals are apparently healthy for the first 18 moths or more of infection, so early identification is paramount. The best thing that we can do is test 100% of our ferrets with some available tests. With kindest regards, Bruce Williams, DVM ***** [Sukie note: this note makes a VERY IMPORTANT point which hasn't been mentioned overtly before in relation to one cause of confusion.] Currently there is a lot of traffic on testing, and confirmation of positive ELISA tests. There is one point of confusion, however. We know that there are two systems commercially available for serology - the Avecon ELISA test and the CIEP tests (available through United Vaccines.) The two tests utilize different technologies, and test for slightly different antibodies. To confirm a positive test, it is important to utilize the OTHER system, so that both tests are eventually run. Independent confirmation is key to believable results. With kindest regards, Bruce Williams, DVM [Posted in FML issue 3691]