Vet Pathol Download to Citation Manager
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Garner, M. M.
Right arrow Articles by Kiupel, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Garner, M. M.
Right arrow Articles by Kiupel, M.
Vet Pathol 45:236-246 (2008)
© 2008 American College of Veterinary Pathologists
WILDLIFE, MARINE, AND ZOO ANIMALS

Clinicopathologic Features of a Systemic Coronavirus-Associated Disease Resembling Feline Infectious Peritonitis in the Domestic Ferret (Mustela putorius)

M. M. Garner, K. Ramsell, N. Morera, C. Juan-Sallés, J. Jiménez, M. Ardiaca, A. Montesinos, J. P. Teifke, C. V. Löhr, J. F. Evermann, T. V. Baszler, R. W. Nordhausen, A. G. Wise, R. K. Maes and M. Kiupel

Northwest ZooPath, Monroe, WA (MMG), Southwest Animal Hospital, Beaverton, OR (KR), ConZOOlting Wildlife Management, Samalüs, Spain (CJS), Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Pullman, WA (JFE, TVB), Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Isle of Riems, Germany (JPT), Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR (CVL), California Animal Heath and Food Safety Laboratory, Davis, CA (RWN), and Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Lansing, MI (AGW, RKM, MK)

Abstract

From 2002 to 2007, 23 ferrets from Europe and the United States were diagnosed with systemic pyogranulomatous inflammation resembling feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). The average age at the time of diagnosis was 11 months. The disease was progressive in all cases, and average duration of clinical illness was 67 days. Common clinical findings were anorexia, weight loss, diarrhea, and large, palpable intra-abdominal masses; less frequent findings included hind limb paresis, central nervous system signs, vomiting, and dyspnea. Frequent hematologic findings were mild anemia, thrombocytopenia, and hypergammaglobulinemia. Grossly, whitish nodules were found in numerous tissues, most frequently the mesenteric adipose tissue and lymph nodes, visceral peritoneum, liver, kidneys, spleen, and lungs. One ferret had a serous abdominal effusion. Microscopically, pyogranulomatous inflammation involved especially the visceral peritoneum, mesenteric adipose tissue, liver, lungs, kidneys, lymph nodes, spleen, pancreas, adrenal glands, and/or blood vessels. Immunohistochemically, all cases were positive for coronavirus antigen using monoclonal antibody FIPV3-70. Electron microscopic examination of inflammatory lesions identified particles with coronavirus morphology in the cytoplasm of macrophages. Partial sequencing of the coronavirus spike gene obtained from frozen tissue indicates that the virus is related to ferret enteric coronavirus.

Key words: Coronavirus; feline infectious peritonitis; ferrets; immunohistochemistry; PCR.

Request reprints from Michael M Garner, 654 W. Main, Monroe, WA 98296 (USA). E-mail: zoopath{at}aol.com






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2008 by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.