Asian Small-Clawed Otter Husbandry Manual (1998)

defects is also a feature of the disease. Diagnosis is based on histopathological findings in the cerebrum.Mink Enteritis Virus, Feline Panleukopenia, Canine Parvovirus--These closely related viruseshave been shown to affect mink and the skunk. The domestic ferret is not susceptible to these virusesunder natural circumstances. The disease in mustelids is similar to that in felids and includes diarrhea,vomiting, fever, and leukopenia.Canine Distemper has been confirmed in multiple species of mustelids. The clinical presentation inmustelids is similar to that in dogs. In addition to mucopurulent oculonasal discharge, respiratorydisease, diarrhea, hyperkeratosis of the footpads, and C.N.S. signs, ferrets and mink also frequently geta rash under the chin and in the inguinal area. In the black-footed ferret intense pruritis and cutaneoushyperemia is common. Vaccine-induced distemper may have a slightly different clinical presentation.Feline Leukemia Virus--Healthy domestic ferrets have been positive to FeLV by ELISA, but thesignificance of this is unknown. It is possible that the test is cross-reacting with another retrovirus or thatfalse positive results are occurring.Powassan Virus--This arbovirus has been isolated from a healthy Eastern spotted skunk in Californiain 1969 and antibodies to the virus have been isolated from at least one other skunk. Powassan viruscauses encephalitis in humans, but to date has not been associated with clinical disease in mustelids.Herpes Necrotizing Encephalitis is caused by a herpes simplex virus and has been reported inskunks. The virus causes necrotizing meningoencephalitis with necrosis and hemorrhage in the liver andadrenal. Clinical signs include salivation, tremors, and head bobbing. Diagnosis can be made fromserology.Infectious Canine Hepatitis has been reported in the striped skunk and Pseudorabies has beenreported in several species of mustelids. Signs are similar to those of other carnivores. Rabies has beendocumented in numerous species of mustelids. Some species may remain asymptomatic.Experimentally, domestic ferrets are susceptible to Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis, humanRespiratory Syncytial Virus and a strain of Measles that causes human subacute sclerosingpanencephalitis. Serum-virus neutralization antibody to Feline Rhinotracheitis and Feline Calicivirushas been reported in the North American otter, but the significance of this is unknown.Bacterial DiseasePseudomonas pneumonia--Several serotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cause hemorrhagicpneumonia in mink. The disease usually occurs in the autumn and can quickly spread through a ranch.Mortality rates vary from 0.1% to 50%. Animals die quickly, often without showing clinical signs.Occasionally dyspnea, a bloody nasal discharge, or convulsions are seen. The main post mortem lesionis hemorrhagic pneumonia with or without hemorrhagic pleural exudate. There is evidence that bacterialtoxins may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.Asian Small-Clawed Otter Husbandry Manual/Health Care-34-