There is an FIP-like disease in ferrets which is under study both in Europe, where it first appeared and in the U.S. where it began appearing this year. Yes, it is a corona-virus. The molecular characterization is part of what is under study (and that is at Michigan State and has been going on for over a half year now). Some possible origins: it may be FIP itself and some ferrets may be susceptible. It may be a mutant of either FIP or ECE. Coronaviruses are not readily prone to mutations, but of course, they do happen now and then. This disease was one of the topics at the recently international veterinary pathology conference. There are rumors from earlier than the studies but specimens were not able to be obtained in those earlier years for study. Both European researchers who have been studying this disease for as long as 4 years, depending on the team, and some U.S. researchers spoke. Symptoms are like those in*DRY* FIP in cats, and sadly it has so far always been fatal. Luckily, it continues to be rare. Here are some things to help you read about it: You probably saw this first one in the FML yesterday where it also appeared and some of the other things also have been in the FML: http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG662 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG303 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG658 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG285 (See the DRY symptoms since we now know those are the applicable ones.) http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG394 (mostly ECE abstracts but a little FIP-like illness, too) http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG297 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG18442 etc. This was the first formal announcement of the disease in the veterinary community: Vet Rec. 2006 Apr 15;158(15):523. Detection of feline infectious peritonitis virus-like antigen in ferrets. Martinez J, Ramis AJ, Reinacher M, Perpinan D. PMID: 16617048 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] I know of at least one other European team. and I am proud to say that I was the one who introduced these researchers and both Dr. Bruce Williams and Dr. Matti Kiupel. The first U.S. cases reported seem to have been clumped in the Pacific NW, but there have been cases supported by the necropsied remains reported in Texas and Maryland as well now. Dr. Mike Garner and Dr. Katrina Ramsell are also investigating (he into the pathology and she into possible treatments), and got some of the first U.S. cases. Sukie (not a vet) Current FHL address: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth People can join there or can send a blank mail to the automated joining address: [log in to unmask] and then follow the directions. (The second is recommended for those having problems with Yahoogroups web settings, and afterward send a blank mail from your subscribed address to [log in to unmask] to get the digest instead of individual mails. ) Recommended ferret health links: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/ http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/ http://www.ferretcongress.org/ [Posted in FML 5468]