Post by huronna on Oct 25, 2008 7:14:50 GMT -5
ALEUTIAN DISEASE VIRUS (ADV or AD)
by Erika Matulich, Ph.D.
What is it? ADV is a form of parvovirus that affects mink and ferrets. It is not the same parvovirus for dogs and cats. The virus fools the ferret’s immune system into overproducing antibodies, which can then damage internal organs.
What are the symptoms? In general, ADV is a "wasting" disease. However, many ferrets who carry and shed the virus show no symptoms at all. Unfortunately, ADV doesn’t really have definitive recognizable symptoms. However, if a ferret is chronically sick, is losing weight and muscle tone, or has diarrhea and is not thriving, ADV is a possible cause of the ferret’s illness. Your veterinarian can use testing to diagnose ADV. The most common (and inexpensive) test is the counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CEP) test from United Vaccines. This test is not entirely accurate however, and can have both false negatives and false positives. A more sensitive test may be the immunofluorescent antibody test. Your vet may have to perform a battery of tests to make a definitive diagnosis.
How does a ferret get ADV? The virus is transmitted by infected body fluids such as urine, blood, saliva, feces, or nasal discharge. The virus can also be carried on caging, clothing and shoes and can remain dormant for several months without a host. For this reason, avoid contact with other ferrets with an unknown history.
Is my ferret in danger? ADV is much less common than ECE, but has appeared in several states, including Texas. The vast majority of the ferret population does not carry ADV. However, there is no vaccine and no cure for ADV.
What is the treatment? If your ferret tests positive for ADV and is showing symptoms, isolate the ferret and test any other ferrets that it may have contacted. ADV ferrets should be kept away from non-ADV ferrets. The treatment is supportive care. Keep your ferret as comfortable as possible, and make sure plenty of fresh water and nutritious food is always available. Get frequent veterinary checkups to take care of any other secondary problems that your ferret could develop.
How long does it last? Some ferrets with ADV never become severely sick and continue to live a normal life. The majority begin a slow process that can extend over several years. Eventually, this type of ferret may die of organ failure or a secondary infection, but you will have plenty of time to provide supportive care. Some ferrets die very soon after becoming infected (within a few weeks). Have your vet perform a necropsy on these ferrets to determine ADV definitively. Again, there is no vaccine and no cure for ADV. However, euthanasia is not recommended.
What can I do to control this? If your ferret tests positive for ADV, the ferret should not be brought to ferret shows, meetings, or other congregations. If you are breeding ferrets and have an ADV positive ferret, stop breeding. The ferret should have no contact with non-ADV ferrets. People should not handle an ADV-negative ferret after handling an ADV-positive one without changing clothing and disinfecting with a 5-10% chlorine bleach solution (note that most anti-viral disinfectants like Nolvasan are not effective against a parvovirus; SynPhenol-3 is). Dishes, waterbottles, cages, and bedding should not be shared.
Don’t Panic! Although ADV is a serious and confounding disease that requires precautions on your part, it has not reached epidemic levels. If you are concerned about ADV, have your ferrets tested. Work with your veterinarian and get checkups often for your ferrets. Discuss the ADV status at shows and meetings. Learn as much as you can about this disease and other ferret illnesses. When attending ferret congregations, avoid handling other unknown ferrets, and change clothing and disinfect before interacting with your own ferrets.
This article is copyrighted and may not be reprinted, re-used, reposted,
copied, or otherwise distributed without permission from the author.
This article is distributed with permission
of the author to FERRET Dr. Matulich's website
is at www.cypresskeep.com/ferretarticles.html
by Erika Matulich, Ph.D.
What is it? ADV is a form of parvovirus that affects mink and ferrets. It is not the same parvovirus for dogs and cats. The virus fools the ferret’s immune system into overproducing antibodies, which can then damage internal organs.
What are the symptoms? In general, ADV is a "wasting" disease. However, many ferrets who carry and shed the virus show no symptoms at all. Unfortunately, ADV doesn’t really have definitive recognizable symptoms. However, if a ferret is chronically sick, is losing weight and muscle tone, or has diarrhea and is not thriving, ADV is a possible cause of the ferret’s illness. Your veterinarian can use testing to diagnose ADV. The most common (and inexpensive) test is the counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CEP) test from United Vaccines. This test is not entirely accurate however, and can have both false negatives and false positives. A more sensitive test may be the immunofluorescent antibody test. Your vet may have to perform a battery of tests to make a definitive diagnosis.
How does a ferret get ADV? The virus is transmitted by infected body fluids such as urine, blood, saliva, feces, or nasal discharge. The virus can also be carried on caging, clothing and shoes and can remain dormant for several months without a host. For this reason, avoid contact with other ferrets with an unknown history.
Is my ferret in danger? ADV is much less common than ECE, but has appeared in several states, including Texas. The vast majority of the ferret population does not carry ADV. However, there is no vaccine and no cure for ADV.
What is the treatment? If your ferret tests positive for ADV and is showing symptoms, isolate the ferret and test any other ferrets that it may have contacted. ADV ferrets should be kept away from non-ADV ferrets. The treatment is supportive care. Keep your ferret as comfortable as possible, and make sure plenty of fresh water and nutritious food is always available. Get frequent veterinary checkups to take care of any other secondary problems that your ferret could develop.
How long does it last? Some ferrets with ADV never become severely sick and continue to live a normal life. The majority begin a slow process that can extend over several years. Eventually, this type of ferret may die of organ failure or a secondary infection, but you will have plenty of time to provide supportive care. Some ferrets die very soon after becoming infected (within a few weeks). Have your vet perform a necropsy on these ferrets to determine ADV definitively. Again, there is no vaccine and no cure for ADV. However, euthanasia is not recommended.
What can I do to control this? If your ferret tests positive for ADV, the ferret should not be brought to ferret shows, meetings, or other congregations. If you are breeding ferrets and have an ADV positive ferret, stop breeding. The ferret should have no contact with non-ADV ferrets. People should not handle an ADV-negative ferret after handling an ADV-positive one without changing clothing and disinfecting with a 5-10% chlorine bleach solution (note that most anti-viral disinfectants like Nolvasan are not effective against a parvovirus; SynPhenol-3 is). Dishes, waterbottles, cages, and bedding should not be shared.
Don’t Panic! Although ADV is a serious and confounding disease that requires precautions on your part, it has not reached epidemic levels. If you are concerned about ADV, have your ferrets tested. Work with your veterinarian and get checkups often for your ferrets. Discuss the ADV status at shows and meetings. Learn as much as you can about this disease and other ferret illnesses. When attending ferret congregations, avoid handling other unknown ferrets, and change clothing and disinfect before interacting with your own ferrets.
This article is copyrighted and may not be reprinted, re-used, reposted,
copied, or otherwise distributed without permission from the author.
This article is distributed with permission
of the author to FERRET Dr. Matulich's website
is at www.cypresskeep.com/ferretarticles.html
