I read over this, and overall found it a pretty good reference with a few exceptions. However, there were 2 glaring inaccuracies that I think need to be corrected. First, to my knowledge, Dr. Blau at the Blue Cross Animal Hospital only runs the CIEP test. In my dealings with him, he has never indicated he has the equipment to run either a PCR or an ELISA. Secondly, to my knowledge, UGA stopped doing any ADV testing after Kate Pennick left to attend vet school at MSU about 6 years ago. And, as an aside for those who were used to dealing with Kate, she graduated from MSU with a degree in Veterinary Clinical Pathology, and in 2011 was accepted into a 2 year residency program at Kansas State University. While at MSU, she worked closely with Dr. Matti Kiupel, a name many of you will recognize for all the work he has done in studying a variety ferret diseases. There is also an important omission in the listing of places offering testing. MSU offers a PCR test for ferret ADV. Ferret Health Advancement at MSU <http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/Diagnostics.php> Several years ago, UGA turned all of their ADV samples (that some of us provided) as well as all of their data on ADV to Dr. Matti Kiupel and MSU. In one conversation with Dr. Kiupel he expressed an interest in possibly trying to develop an ADV test that would be both easily affordable, and also very accurate. However, at this time he is very involved with his work on ferret coronaviruses. Some other minor details - ADV is known to be present in wild mink populations although the extent of its presence is unknown. About 15 years ago there was a relocation of a wild mink population from one state to another. While in captivity, the mink were tested for things like canine distemper and ADV. If I remember correctly, about 20% of the captured mink tested positive for ADV. Here is a link to an article published earlier this year that lists other animals that can carry or become infected with ADV. In this study, done in Nova Scotia, Canada, 93% of wild mink trapped and tested had ADV. However, this sample was rather small (only 60 wild American mink). However, there are other studies out there showing a wide range in the percentage of wild mink infected with ADV. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica | Full text | Aleutian mink disease virus in furbearing mammals in Nova Scotia, Canada <http://www.actavetscand.com/content/55/1/10> Here is an article written mostly for mink farmers and published in 2011. Although mostly about mink, it does bring up some interesting questions, like a theory that rather than wild mink infecting farmed mink through exposure, the opposite may be true. In this study, it was found that the wild mink living close to mink farms that were captured and tested had a much higher incidence of ADV than those found away from any mink farms. PLOS ONE: Mink Farms Predict Aleutian Disease Exposure in Wild American Mink <http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0021693> ADV is also present in skunks, and there is a strain of ADV only seen in skunks. Aleutian Disease in Two Domestic Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) <http://vet.sagepub.com/content/44/5/687.full> Raccoons can carry ADV, and infect other animals. However, it is not known if raccoons actually become ill or not. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC189888/pdf/700852.pdf http://furresearch.org/secure/Gorham/Gorham2002.pdf Here is an article that discusses how ADV could be spread by mosquitos. In this study, it was found that a particular type of mosquito could carry the virus for up to 35 days after feeding on an infected mink, and that in some cases the virus actually replicated in the mosquito, indicating they could infect other animals they fed on. Unfortunately, there is only a summary available, unless the article is purchased (for a sum of $39.95). The persistence of Aleutian disease virus in the mosquito Aedes fitchii - Springer <http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF01242558?LI=true> I also question the comment that ADV is rarely observed in ferrets over the last few years. While we are not hearing about big outbreaks, I am concerned that many people have stopped testing, and therefore it is unknown whether or not there is a lot of ADV in the ferret population. There may also be people just not being public about cases of ADV. I know many people who used to test that have stopped, and I also know there are areas in the US where people feel that there is no ADV. I have spoken with several vets and veterinary pathologists who feel that ferret owners are becoming too complacent and that ADV may become a serious threat again, if routine testing is not done. Also, I know from discussions with bother Dr. Robert Wagner and Dr. Matti Kiupel that they are concerned the test ferret owners use most frequently - the CIEP test - is subject to a possible high percentage of false negatives, because the virus can go dormant for extended periods of time, allowing antibody levels to drop low enough to be undetected by the test. My personal experience with ADV and the CIEP test did not support this theory, but my sample was too small to be significant (a total of 11 ferrets). ADV can easily spread. It does not require direct contact with an infected animal, just contact with the bodily fluids (urine, blood saliva, feces, etc.) of an infected animal. Now, there are many people who take their ferrets outside for walks, and while I feel this is a great enrichment exercise for ferrets, I also worry that in doing so these people could be at risk of accidently exposing their ferret to ADV. Mink, raccoons skunks and weasels are very common in most areas of the US and Canada. And, you do not have to live in a rural area to have these animals around you homes. I like less than 10 miles outside of Washington, D.C., and I routinely see skunks and raccoons around my house after dark. I am certain that these animals relieve themselves in my yard on a regular basis. And, since ferrets love to sniff everything they come in contact with, if an infected animal was around, I could expose my ferrets to ADV by allowing them to run around in my yard. Now, I suspect that the chance of pet ferrets getting ADV from unseen things they might encounter while being walked outside is low, it is possible. I am not trying to scare people, but I do think that we need to be certain we do not become complacent about ADV. It is out there, and the only way to prevent its spread is by testing and keeping any infected animals separate from the general population. Sorry for the soapbox rant, but ADV is a subject that I am still very passionate about. As I often say - if you don't test, you don't know. Please think about what I have said, and do what you can to keep your ferrets safe. Danee DeVore ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know! See - http://www.ferretadv.com/ Owner of The Clay Ferret Quality Kits Raised With Love Color Logo TCF [Posted in FML 7981]