First....the following is a message from my vet, Dr J Murray. From time to time I have asked him about a disease or a cure, and he would try to explain the reasons why and why not. I went to Dr. Murray with the Aleutian Disease question, and he replyed with the following. I have always enjoyed his insight to things, and I thought you might also. Thank you Kathy Lucy To: The ferret shelter with possible Aleutian disease and all ferret owners Q What is Alentian Disease? A Aleutian Disease is a parvo virus infection of mink. Aleutian refers to a mutant "blue" color. These Aleutian colored mink are highly susceptible to the disease and roughly 90% will die from it. The signs in mink include: lethargy, anorexia, cachexia, oral and gastrointestional bleeding, kidney failure, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia, and death. The disease dates back to at least 1946. Most natural cases occur in Aleutian mink; because, they also have an anomaly called chediak-higashi syndrome that effects their white blood cells. In Chediak-Higashi, all affected individuals (man, cattle, mink, mice, cats, and killer whales) are partial albinos. In mink the aleutian color is tpartial albino color. Q What is Aleutian Disease in ferrets? A Aleutian disease in ferrets is also a parvo virus infection. The signs in ferrets include: chronic progressive wasting disease, progressive posterior paralysis, muscle wasting, tremors, urinary incontinence, hyper-gammaglobulinemia, tarry feces, and death. This disease dates back to at least 1966. DIAGNOSIS: Diagnosis is based on jypergammablobulinemia (> 20% of total serum protein) and a positive blood test. Your regular veterinarian can contact 1. United Vaccine Company, Aleutian Disease Serology, Madison, WI: 1-800-283-6465 or 2. Diagnostic Laboratory, Division of Comparative Medicine, MIT, Cambridge, MA 1-617-253-9472 for further info. TREATMENT: There is no specific treatment. There is no vaccine. In breeding or shelter facilities, euthanasia is recommended for all positive animals. In a single pet ferret home, supportive therapy of fluids, antibiotics, and nutritional supplementation can be tried; however, remember this ferret can serve as a potential source of infection to other ferrets. PREVENTION: Since there is no vaccine, preventing exposure is the most important thing! All new ferrets should be either tested or quarantined. All towels, bedding, hammocks, etc. should be washed in hot water with clorox bleach. All bowls, cages, litter pans, floors, etc. should be cleaned with parvosol or 2% clorox bleach (1/2 cup bleach to a gallon of water) or undiluted clorox cleans up with bleach. Parvosol or bleach will kill most viruses (ie. ECE, Parvo, distemper, flu, etc.), most bacteria, and most funguses (including ringworm). Please remember to take care of your healthy animals first, then the quarantined animals last. Then wash your hands and arms with parvosol or 2% bleach. Then shower and change clothes (esp. with ECE). Also never keep ferrets with a mink or use any cages or facilities where mink have been. Jerry Murray, DVM Animal Clinic of Farmers Branch Farmers Branch, Tx. Kathy Lucy for Jerry Murray If you would like to respond or ask anything, pls feel free to use my e-mail. [Posted in FML issue 2108]