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Post by BlueCrow on Jan 16, 2015 15:46:56 GMT -5
Hello there, I am new to the forum. I am looking for input from anyone who has heard of or dealt with mycobacterium. Just last summer, I had two, beautiful, healthy, ferrets. By the end of July, my 3 1/2 year old Marshall's female, Folly developed a limp in her back leg. I brought her to the vet and they told me nothing was structurally wrong with her leg and sent me home. within a few days she was completely incapacitated. I brought her to my usual vet who sent me to a University hospital. Each did a number of tests and tried various medications. After $2000 in vet bills and a month of fluid injections, syringe feeding and seven different medications, Folly died in the vet waiting room just before she was going to be euthanized. They never knew what was wrong with her. Two months later, I noticed that Felix, my 5 year old male Canadian ferret, had lost a very significant amount of weight. An ultrasound showed that his kidneys and other organs are in very bad shape. An aspirate of his spleen showed that he is infected with mycobacterium which has caused him to go into kidney failure. He is currently still living but extremely skinny and weak. Yesterday he stopped eating. He still wants to run around but it is hard for him. I strongly suspect this is what Folly had too although her organs appeared normal under ultrasound. This diagnosis was especially concerning for me as I work at a zoo. None of our animals have been known to have mycobacterium although my vet suspects I may have brought it home from work. I am worried for my zoo animals and my two small dogs. I know that there is currently no treatment for mycobacterium and I am sadly very aware that I am losing Felix. Neither of my vets or those working at my zoo seem to know much about this bacteria. If any of you have any information or experience with it, please share it with me. The university vet recommends a necropsy on Felix in order to determine which strain of mycobacterium he has. I have good reason not to trust the university's motives and I suspect it is to fulfill their own curiosity. I would prefer him to be buried next to Folly. Is there any good reason for me to know the strain? I have had a tb test. Thanks!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2015 16:13:00 GMT -5
Hi and Welcome to the HFF  I am so sorry about your Folly and Felix. I'm not familiar with mycobacterium, but I'll do some research. We have some very experienced ferrents and several breeders on the forum, so maybe someone can help or is more knowledgable than I am. I'm tagging bitbyter. He's one of the smartest people I know and he is in your part of the world. I'm guessing that because you mentioned Felix is a male Canadian Ferret. Even if you're not there, Jason may be some help. All my best to you and your Felix. |
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Post by BlueCrow on Jan 16, 2015 17:58:39 GMT -5
Thanks for your help and your kind words. I live in Colorado. Felix's tattoo is of a line that goes down towards the inside of his ear rather than across along the outside. My vet guesses he is either a Canadian ferret or he just has a botched tattoo.  |
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Post by Heather on Jan 16, 2015 18:12:48 GMT -5
Four clinical syndromes comprise nearly all cases: pulmonary disease, lymphadenitis, skin or soft tissue disease, and disseminated disease in AIDS. M avium and M intracellulare (known together as M avium-intracellulare complex) are the most common causes of pulmonary disease, lymphadenitis, and disseminated disease. All 4 clinical syndromes seem to be increasing in frequency, particularly in immunosuppressed hosts.
Group 1 - Photochromogens (eg, Mycobacterium kansasii, M marinum (see image above) , Mycobacterium simiae)
Group 2 - Scotochromogens (eg, Mycobacterium scrofulaceum, Mycobacterium szulgai, Mycobacterium gordonae)
Group 3 - Nonphotochromogens (eg, Mycobacterium malmoense, Mycobacterium xenopi, M avium-intracellulare)
Group 4 - Fast growers (3-5 d) (eg, Mycobacterium fortuitum, Mycobacterium chelonae, Mycobacterium abscessus)
The problem appears that one has to know what type of of the disease you're dealing with, without this knowledge you cannot treat. As difficult as this for you I would be doing a necropsy. This is in my mind imperative for you to get any type of answers. Your vet doesn't need to send the whole body to the university. Only samples of the diseased tissue or organs. My vet does this frequently and after it's done returns the bodies to me for burial.
ciao
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Post by Heather on Jan 16, 2015 18:13:37 GMT -5
No, your Felix is an RC or Real Canadian ferret. A ferret farm in Manitoba
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2015 18:36:01 GMT -5
Personally, i would want to know
I am terribly,terribly sorry.
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Post by BlueCrow on Jan 16, 2015 18:41:34 GMT -5
Heather,
thank you for your input. You mentioned that treatments vary depending on which strain of mycobacterium. I was under the impression that no form of this bacteria is treatable. I will not be getting another ferret and I don't work with any mustelids. I know that the bacteria can pass to other types of animals. I would consider a necropsy if I thought it would increase the likelihood of survival for any potentially infected zoo animals but it is my understanding that any animals exhibiting any strain of mycobacteria are suggested for immediate euthanasia. Have you heard of a treatment for any form of this disease being given to a ferret or any non-human animal? The university told me that the CDC has only experimental approaches to dealing with mycobacterium and they are reserved only for human patients.
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Post by bitbyter on Jan 16, 2015 21:39:41 GMT -5
Apparently it can be treated in cats (and other animals) but it seems like how effective the treatment is tends to vary widely. There are many antibiotic resistant strains of mycobacterium (human strains are also becoming antibiotic resistant). Even if the bacteria initially responds to the treatment, if it isn't totally killed off, it can rapidly develop resistance.
I'd really insist to your employers that the animals at the zoo need to be tested (or at least the ones you really have contact with and are susceptible). If I remember correctly, mycobacterium (often presented as tuberculosis) is one of those diseases that can be "carried" and spread. That is an animal (or person) can be infected and infectious but totally asymptomatic (appears health).
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Post by BlueCrow on Jan 16, 2015 23:29:17 GMT -5
Thank you for the information, I have found several articles describing instances in which ferrets have been successfully treated with rifampicin, clofazimine and clarithromycin. I am very confused and frustrated. Both of my vets neglected to offer me any form of treatment and instead suggested euthanasia.
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Post by Heather on Jan 16, 2015 23:45:44 GMT -5
That's heartbreaking really. Options are often available if vets are willing to look for them or to admit they don't know and pool their resources.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2015 16:36:58 GMT -5
My Account was just approved but unfortunately, I am all out of ferrets so I don't imagine I will be using it. Felix died late last night. After doing some research, I learned that there are, in fact, treatment options for mycobacterium. I am beyond furious with the terrible veterinarian. Dr. Johnston at CSU's Veterinary Teaching Hospital originally told me that treatment was impossible. Only after I emailed him to tell him about my findings did he admit that while he was aware of treatment possibilities, due to his moral opposition to treating mycobacterium, he chose to send me home with $700 of misinformation. In fact, he sent me home with an antibiotic that is sometimes used to treat mycobacterium but after discovering the mycobacterium in Felix's sample, I was told not to give it to him, that it would only cause him harm. After my email confrontation, Dr Johnston offered me a "solution." He wanted to put my extremely ill ferret through surgery to remove his spleen. Then he would test the spleen to determine if it was affected by a strain he was willing to treat. Clearly this sick man knew that Felix could never recover from that. He wanted to do research and was annoyed when I refused a euthanasia and necropsy. If anyone in Colorado finds themselves in need of help for a similar problem, go to Alameda East Veterinary Hospital. It is the one that was once featured on Animal Planet's "Emergency Vets." Their staff was extremely sympathetic and happy to give me the antibiotics Felix so desperately needed. Unfortunately it was too late. Thanks everyone for your support! Hope all is well with you and all of your creatures!
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