Aleutian Disease - Treatments
Practical details of the CIEP test
The CIEP test is done by HARLAN UK LTD., HILLCREST, DODGEFORD LANE, BELTON, LOUGHBOROUGH, LE 1 2 9TE. Tel: 01530222794
The firm will supply the heparinised haematocrit tubes, numbered cassettes, tube sealant and master sheet. As the firm is set up to screen many hundreds of samples at a time, it is obviously not economic to send individual samples. 1 suggest that batches of at least 20-30 ferrets should be sampled at a time. You will find Adrian Deeny of Harian UK most helpful if you have any queries.
Blood is obtained by the nail-clipping method. A reliable assistant is needed to hold the ferret at the neck and hindquarters. The nail is clipped near to the base of the quick with sharp clippers and blood usually starts to flow in a few seconds. Hold the tube near to horizontal when collecting blood. 1 generally collect at least 1/2 to 2/3 of a tube but the test can be done on only 1/4 of a tube of blood. Occasionally a second nail has to be clipped to obtain sufficient blood. One end of the tube is sealed in the usual way. The master sheet is completed with the details of the ferret. The clippers and table should be disinfected with PARVO-VIRUCIDE(PET-TEK) between each ferret.
Control of AD
Ferrets giving a positive CIEP test should be regarded as potentially infective to other ferrets, but will not necessarily develop symptoms of illness themselves. Positive animals should not be bred from and should be segregated. Some owners may consider culling positive ferrets, particularly if they own a number of other ferrets which are negative and isolation is impractical. It is advisable for owners of tested negative stock to obtain new ferrets also from "negative" sources. It is my practice to give owners a record of the test result.
Michael Oxenham BVet.Med.MRCVS.
Ref. Aleutian disease in domestic ferrets:
diagnostic findings and survey results.
D. deB. Welchman, M. Oxenham, S.H. Done.
Veterinary Record(1993)132,479~484
GUIDANCE NOTES FOR THE USE OF DOMITOR/VETALAR COMBINATION FOR SHORT ANAESTHESIA (UP TO 20 MINUTES) IN THE FERRET.
Michael Oxenham BVet.Med.MRCVS June 1994
Following the short article in the Record using this method in the Asian short-clawed otter, it became apparent to me that' could be a very useful injectable anaesthetic combination in the ferret.
1 have, therefore, used this combination for over 3 years for a wide range of indications including spaying, castration, vasectomy, laparotomy, leg amputation, tumour removal, wound repair, abscesses, blood sampling and radiography. Some of the ferrets have been very ill and debilitated, but even these cases have tolerated the combination very well and there have been no deaths attributable to these drugs. Previously 1 have used aRompun/Vetelar combination, but 1 have noted more respiratory depression with this method. Once anaesthesia is induced respiration can be shallow for about 5 minutes, oxygen can be given by open mask.
Practical procedure. -
- An accurate weight of the ferret to the nearest 20 gr is essential. Use a good quality 2kg spring balance and a canvas ferret carrying bag with a pursestring cord.
- As the quantities of the drugs used are very small use a lml syringe and 25 gaugeneedle..
- The quantities of Vetalar. are particularly small, so 1 use it diluted 50/50 with injectable water i.e. 50mg/ml strength as per chart.
- The enclosed chart gives the appropriate dose of each drug for the body weight. 1have used this chart for ferrets ranging in weight from 50Ogr to 2.4kg with satisfactory results. The dose of Vetalar can be halved if deep sedation only is needed or if the animal is debilitated or septicaemia.
- The drugs are mixed and given together in the same syringe.
- The route is intramuscular, using the quadriceps muscle . Needless to say, the ferret should be restrained as 1 describe in the Manual of Exotic Pets, 1991 Edition.
- Onset of anaesthesia is very quick - about 2 minutes.
- When the procedure is completed, Antisedan is given - again using the quadriceps route and using the same volume as that for the Domitor dose. Anaesthesia starts to be reversed in 6 - 12 minutes and proceeds steadily.
- Because of the pharmacological action of Domitor it is unnecessary topremedicate with atropine, which incidentally should be used with all other anaesthetics.
| Body wt of ferret grams | DOMITOR 1mg/ml i/m | VETALAR 50mg/ml i/m half normal strength |
ANTISEDAN 5mg/ml i/m |
| Dose rate 120ug/kg Volume ml |
Dose rate 10mg/kg Volume |
Dose rate 0.6mg/kg Volume |
|
| 500 | 0.06ml | 0.10ml | 0.06ml |
| 600 | 0.07ml | 0.12ml | 0.07ml |
| 700 | 0.08ml | 0.14ml | 0.08ml |
| 800 | 0.10ml | 0.16ml | 0.10ml |
| 900 | 0.11ml | 0.18ml | 0.11ml |
| 1000 | 0.12ml | 0.20ml | 0.12ml |
| 1100 | 0.13ml | 0.22ml | 0.13ml |
| 1200 | 0.14ml | 0.24ml | 0.14ml |
| 1300 | 0.16ml | 0.26ml | 0.16ml |
| 1400 | 0.17ml | 0.28ml | 0.17ml |
| 1500 | 0.18ml | 0.30ml | 0.18ml |
| 1600 | 0.19ml | 0.32ml | 0.19ml |
| 1700 | 0.20ml | 0.34ml | 0.20ml |
| 1800 | 0.22ml | 0.36ml | 0.22ml |
| 1900 | 0.23ml | 0.38ml | 0.23ml |
| 2000 | 0.24ml | 0.40ml | 0.24ml |
| 2100 | 0.25ml | 0.42ml | 0.25ml |
| 2200 | 0.26ml | 0.44ml | 0.26ml |
Dose rates can be halved if sedation only is needed.
Some information follows regarding female (jill) ferrets regarding their breeding cycle & control of oestrous with the so called 'jill-jab, and other miscellaneous conditions. This information is reproduced from the BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets.
Males (hobs)
Puberty occurs at 5-9 months of age during the spring after birth. The hob is in season from January to August when the testicles enlarge and descend into the scrotum. From September to December the testicles atrophy and retract into the inguinal area or abdomen. There is a J-shaped penis which makes catheterisation difficult.
Castration reduces aggression between males and the characteristic musky body odour; this is done preferably from January to September, when the hob is in season and the testicles are descended.
Anal gland removal is sometimes requested in the belief that the operation will rduce the ferret's natural adour. This is a false premise, since the animal's musky odour is produced by skin secretions and by the stronger smelling urine of the hob. 'Descenting' is indisputedly a mutilation and is not to be recommended.
Females (jills)
Puberty occurs during the spring after birth. The jill is seasonally polyoestrous, commencing the last week of March and lasting until September. Onset of oestrus may be much earlier if the jill is subjected to artificial light. Oestrus is recognised by a swollen vulva (see Figure 5) and will persist for 6 months or until ovulation is incuded by mating. Coitus is notable for the aggressive neck gripping by the hob, which, together with mounting and intromission , is essential to induce ovulation. Coitus can last for 1 - 3 hours. Fetuses can be palpated at 14 - 21 days. Gestation is 38 - 44 days (average42). An infertile mating or one with a vasectomised hob may result in a pseudopregnancy which also lasts about 42 days. Litter size is 5 - 13 kits (average 8). Young are born very underdeveloped and are almost impossible to hand-rear before 1 week of age. Dystocia is rarely a problem but oxytocin (3iu i/m) can be given if necessary. Kits are born up to 30 minutes apart. Disturbance during the first week after birth may cause cannibalism. New born kits are subject to harm by wide fluctuations in temperature. They commence eating solid food at 3 weeks and the eyes open between 4 and 5 weeks. Weaning age is 6 - 8 weeks. Jills return to oestrus shortly after weaning and can have two litters per year.
Oestrogen-induced anaemia
The high levels of endogenous oestrogens, which are present during the prolonged oestrus of the unmated jill, may cause progressive depression of the bone marrow, This results in a debilitating and potentially fatal pancytopoenia (Kociba Caputo, 1981: Cooper et al, 1985). Clinical signs include weight loss, anorexia, alopecia, pale mucous membranes, laboured respiration and, later, melaena and subcutaneous petechial haemorrhages on the abdomen and flanks. Secondary infections often occur. The PCV can be less than 0.10. Treatment is unlikely to be successful in the advanced stages, but either spaying or hormonal treatment to stop oestrus, together with supportive therapy, can be attempted if the PCV is above 0.15. Repeated transfusions of 10ml fresh whole blood containing 1ml sodium citrate have been used (Ryland, 1982). Crossmatching does not appear to be necessary as evidence of blood groups could not be detected by Manning and Bell (1990)
Control of oestrus is, therefore, important in non-breeding jills. This can be achieved by spaying, the use of vasectomised hobs or by hormonal means. Mating with a vasectomised hob will usually induce a pseudopregancy lasting about 42 days and is repeated when jill returns to oestrus. Proligestone (delvosteron, Mycofarm: Covinan, Intervet) can be given from the end of March or when oestrus commences if earlier. The dose is 0.5ml subcutaneously. In 91.6% of jills this will suppress oestrus for the rest of the summer (Oxenham, 1990a). If the jill returns to oestrus, a second dose can be given. Jills breed satisfactorily the year following use of this hormone. No cases of pyometra have been seen by the author following its use.
Chronic gonadotrophins will induce ovulation followed by a pseudopregnancy of 40 - 50 days duration. This may be useful if an owner wants to breed the jill in the middle of the summer. The following can be used for this purpose:-
Human chorionic gonadortrophin (Chorulon, Interver) (20iu i/m) or buserelin (receptal, Hoechst) (O.25ml i/m) which has a follicle stimulating/luteinising function (Wilson, personal communication).
Pymometra
This is a uncommon condition but can occur soon after the start of the pseudopregnancy phase. A variety of organisms has been isolated from infected uteri including streptococcus spp.' staphylococcus spp.' E.coli and Corynebacterium spp. The ferret will be anorexic, depressed and often febrile. The enlarged uterus is palpable. Rupture of the uterus and peritonitis can follow, so ovarichysterectomy is required urgently.
Hypocalcaemia
This can occur 3 - 4 weeks post partum. Signs include hyperaesthesia, posterior paresis and convulsions. Intraperitoneal injection of calcium borogluconate gives a quick response, with subsequent additions of calcium supplements to the diet.
Pregnancy toxaemia
This causes sudden death of the jill a few days before parturition. The main autopsy finding is a fatty liver. The cause is unknown but there may be a nutritional factor.
Mastitis
This occurs in the early lactation phase. The glands quickly become swollen and hard. The jill is lethargic, anorexic and pyrexic and will cease to feed the kits. The condition require urgent treatment with antibiotics. The usual causal agent jis E.coli and ampicillin (10mg/kg i/m bid) or gentamicin (5mg/kg i/m sid) are indicated.
Canine distemper (CD)
Ferrets are highly susceptible to the distemper virus. The usual source is the dog and the incubation period is 7-9 days. Clinical signs are similair to those in the dog with mucopurulent ocular and nasal discharge, high temperature and anorexia. This is followed by a rash under the chin and inguinal area. The terminal phase is marked by central nervous signs, convulsions and death. Distemper must be regarded as 100% fatal in the ferret and euthanasia should be recommended once diagnosis is certain. There is no ferret distemper vaccine currently licensed for use in the UK. Most of the dog vaccines available are either insufficiently attenuated for ferret use or have other live virus components such as adenovirus, parvovirus and parainfluenza virus which are unnecessary for this species. The use of an unsuitable vaccine can cause clinical distemper with a fatal result.
Abscesses
These are common in the submandibular area and are often caused by Staphylococcus spp. or Streptococcus spp. They probably arise through damage to the buccal mucosa by sharp bones in the diet. Treatment is by drainage under general anaesthesia followed by a broad-spectrum antibiotic such as ampicillin.
Enteritis
This is a common condition particularly in young ferrets and is often the cause of sudden death. Haemolytic E. coli is the most common causative organism.
Campylobacter spp. have been associated with proliferative colitis and gastric ulceration. The faeces of ferrets vary in consistency and the animal is not necessarily ill or in danger if the faeces is less solid than usual. It is probable that dietary factors play a part in starting cases of enteritis, such as decomposition, contamination or sudden changes of food, so attention must be given to this aspect of the condition. The treatment chosen will depend upon culture and sensitivity tests. There is usually a wide choice of broad-spectrum antibiotics for E. coli, but for Campylobacter spp. chloramphenicol or Gentamicin are likely to be more effective. Fluid and electrolyte replacement are necessary in very sick animals and this is acheived by oral administration of Lectade (25ml/kg tid).
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CEP IFA AND PCR ALEUTIAN TESTS>>