Ferrets Flashcards
Genus species of ferret
Mustela putorius furo
Family- Mustelidae
How many toes per foot
5 on each foot
What syndrome is common in blaze or white headed ferrets
Waardenburg- deaf
What is the recommended temperature range to house ferrets
39-64F, they tolerate cool better than heat (poor developed sweat glands)
What is the appropriate cage size for ferrets?
24x24 for two
18 inches high
What makes the ferret an excellent model for studies of tracheal physiology
trachea is very long (to go with their very long and narrow thorax)
-also makes the useful for training of human pediatric intubation
T or F. Ferrets are seasonal breeders
T
march thru august
Unbred females in prolonged estrus may develop what syndrome?
aplastic anemia
What is the gestation length for the ferret
42days
T or F. Ferrets are induced ovulators
T
What is the likely causative agent of of abdominal distension (bloat), dyspnea and cyanosis in weanling age ferrets
Clostridium perfringes type A
-best managed by prevention, minimize abrupt change in diet, feed weanlings only BID (not ad lib or more frequent)
Name the helicobacter species that commonly infects ferrets
Helicobacter mustelae
What is the common presentation of infection of ferrets with Helicobacter mustelea
-often time asymptomatic
-gastric or duodenal ulcers (vomiting, wt loss, melena)
-gastric adencarcinoma
(Robust model for H. pylori gastritis in humans)
T or F. H. mustelea produces Urease
T.
This is similar to H. pylori
T or F. Helicobacter can be successfully eradicated from ferrets using triple therapy regimen
T
Amoxicillin/Metronidazole/bismuth subslicylate
What is the etiologic agent of proliferative bowel disease in the ferret
Lawsonia intracelluraris (campylobacter-like species, similar to Deslfovibrio)
T or F. Ferrets are susceptible to a number of Mycobacterium species
T
M. bovis, Movium, M Tb, M celatum
To what viral family does the etiologic agent for Canine Distemper belong
Paramyxovirus (Morbillivirus)
SS RNA
What are the 2 phases of infection with Canine distemper virus in the ferret
- catarrhal (serous nasal discharge, fever, anorexia, rash, hard pad)
- neurological (ataxia, tremors, paralysis
T or F. Vaccination is effective again CDV in ferrets.
T
MLV, with very regimented schedule for kits
What is the etiologic agent for Aleutian Disease in ferrets
Aleutian Mink Disease Virus (ADV)
- parvovirus
- very small, single-stranded DNA
What is the impact of ADV on research
Hypergammaglobulinemia
-severe immunemodulation
What are the clinical signs associated with Aleutian disease in ferrets
-chronic wasting, hypergammaglobulinemia, occasionally neuralgic signs-ataxia, tremors paralysis
To what viral family does the causative agent of influenza belong?
Orthomyxoviridae
-segmented singl stranded RNA
What is the source of infection of Influenza virus to ferrets
humans
What are the best methods to prevent spread of influenza from humans to ferrets
- Vaccination of human handlers agains current influenza strains
- Use of PPE
- Humans should not handle ferrets if showing clinical respiratory signs (during flu season)
What is the genus of the etiologic agent of rabies
- Lyssavirus
- Rhabdovirus
T or F. It is appropriate to vaccinate ferrets for rabies?
T. USDA approved killed vaccine
What is the causative agent of Epizootic Catarrhal Enteritis (green slime disease)
Coronavirus
- RNA
- Ferret Enteric Coronavirus (FRECV)
What are the clinical signs associated with green slime disease (ECE)
-decreased appetite, wt loss, lethargy, diarrhea (green and mucoid), vomiting, dehydration
What are the hallmark histology lesions of ECE
lymphocytic enteritis (ileum, jejunum), villous atropy, necrosis vacuolization of enterocytes
What is the recently identified disease in ferrets that is analogous to Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Ferret systemic coronavirus (FRSCV)
-two disease forms: wet/effusion and dry/granulomatous
How is estrogen induced anemia managed/treated in ferrets
- OHE of non-breeding females
- use of vasectomize males to induce ovulation and terminate estrus
- treatment with hCG to terminate estrus
What is the most common neoplasia in the ferret
insulinoma
T or F. Surgical exploration and excision of the pancreatic tumor are recommended for treatment of insulinoma.
T, in healthy animals
What is the 2nd most common tumor in ferrets
Adrenocortical cell tumor
What are the clinical signs of adrenocortical tumors?
Weight loss, bilateral/symmetric alopecia,
What is the mechanism of action of the drugs Lupron and Deslorelin, that may be used to adrenocortical cell tumors
-GnRH superagonist
-stops production of LH and FSH, due to negative feedback inhibition
(Deslorelin- longterm inpant, treatment of choice
In what age of ferret is it likely to see and aggressive form of lymphoma that typically presents as a mediastinal mass
younger than 2 years
What ferret clinical disease is likely to be associated with the Splenore-Hoeppli phenomenon
Eosinophilic gastroenteritis
