As you know, improper use of antibiotics can result in stronger bacteria surviving which can result in antibiotic resistant bacteria. That is why the improper use of several antibiotics by the food industry has been banned (and it is often the farms with crowded and less sanitary conditions which misuse the medications more). It is also why antibiotics should NEVER be used without the VETERINARIAN first saying it is okay and saying which ones to use at that time on that animal, and why they should never be stopped prematurely. Misuses create the conditions that lead to antibiotic resistant bacteria. Well, there is the possibility of something similar in result happening with what may be the misuse of antivirals in poultry in Pakistan and Afghanistan right now, and even though the animals are not ferrets and have a bird illness, seeing if genetic recombination is happening due to misuse of antivirals could teach a lot and might help with better understanding limits for treating ferrets, too. Also, there is a good section in there of some ways that vaccines can become compromised, everything from the strain not being included to mishandling along the way So, if the moderators agree that the discussion of the GENERAL CONCEPTS is applicable enough to ferret health then, please, go to http://www.promedmail.org/ and in the menu on your left click open the title 09 May 2012 Newcastle disease - Pakistan (02): vaccine failure, RFI Sukie (not a vet) Recommended ferret health links: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/ http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ http://www.miamiferret.org/ http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/ http://www.ferretcongress.org/ http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html all ferret topics: http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html "All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow." (2010, Steve Crandall) [Posted in FML 7421]