ferret pathology last - ferret health advancement at msu · etiopathogenesis • unknown •...

Pathology of the Pathology of the Domestic FerretDomestic Ferret

MattiMatti KiupelKiupel

Common in female ferretsCommon in female ferretsCan reach kidney in 2 weeksCan reach kidney in 2 weeks

HydronephrosisHydronephrosis is a is a common common sequelasequela

Bacterial UT InfectionsBacterial UT Infections

LeptospirosisLeptospirosis

•• Uncommon disease or underdiagnosed?Uncommon disease or underdiagnosed?•• Icteric animals, high activity of liver enzymesIcteric animals, high activity of liver enzymes•• Prerenal uraemia, nervous symptoms, apathy, weaknessPrerenal uraemia, nervous symptoms, apathy, weakness

LeptospirosisLeptospirosis

•• Uncommon in ferrets Uncommon in ferrets –– primarily primarily struvitestruvite•• Male ferrets more likely than femalesMale ferrets more likely than females•• More common in pregnant femalesMore common in pregnant females•• DdxDdx prostaticprostatic sqamoussqamous metaplasiametaplasia•• Frequent licking genital area, Frequent licking genital area, anuriaanuria, , occocc. . haematuriahaematuria

UrolithiasisUrolithiasis

•• SequelaeSequelae to to adrenal disease adrenal disease in male ferretsin male ferrets

•• DysuriaDysuria, but , but easily expressedeasily expressed

•• Estrogen effect Estrogen effect on glandular on glandular epitheliumepithelium

•• AdrenalectomyAdrenalectomyis curativeis curative

Cystic Cystic ProstaticProstatic DiseaseDisease

•• Only recently recognisedOnly recently recognised•• Causes Causes dysuriadysuria and urethral blockageand urethral blockage•• SquamousSquamous changes related to excesschanges related to excessoestrogensoestrogens from from proliferativeproliferative adrenal adrenal lesionslesions

•• Multiple Multiple prostaticprostatic cysts with keratin cysts with keratin debrisdebris

•• “Triple bladder syndrome”“Triple bladder syndrome”

ProstaticProstatic SquamousSquamous MetaplasiaMetaplasia

ProstaticProstatic SquamousSquamous MetaplasiaMetaplasia

•• Very common in older ferretsVery common in older ferrets•• Triangular areas of cortical Triangular areas of cortical

scarring containing scarring containing obsolescent obsolescent glomeruliglomeruli

•• Not infarctsNot infarcts•• Early lesions as early as 2 Early lesions as early as 2

yearsyears•• Advanced cases with renal Advanced cases with renal

failure 4.5 yearsfailure 4.5 years•• High protein High protein

diets (>34%)? diets (>34%)?

Chronic Interstitial NephritisChronic Interstitial Nephritis

Chronic Interstitial NephritisChronic Interstitial Nephritis

Renal Cysts Renal Cysts -- Over 25% of ferrets have benign renal cystsOver 25% of ferrets have benign renal cysts

Common Incidental FindingsCommon Incidental Findings

Polycystic Kidney Disease Polycystic Kidney Disease

MastitisMastitis

E. Coli is most common isolate; also see S. E. Coli is most common isolate; also see S. aureusaureus

Must remove kits from Must remove kits from jilljill

•• Induced Induced ovulatorsovulators, , in oestrus until mated, spayed, orin oestrus until mated, spayed, orinjected with injected with HCG/lHCG/l\\LeupronLeupron, , 50% of 50% of unbredunbred jillsjills will diewill die

•• High levels oestrogen >> BM suppressionHigh levels oestrogen >> BM suppression•• Rare in pet ferrets they are castratedRare in pet ferrets they are castrated

EstrusEstrus--associated Anemiaassociated Anemia

•• Signs referable to which Signs referable to which line(sline(s) affected in marrow) affected in marrow•• NonNon--regenerative anaemia (PCV <20%), regenerative anaemia (PCV <20%), leukopenialeukopenia, , thrombocytopeniathrombocytopenia > death by severe anemia most common> death by severe anemia most common

EstrusEstrus--associated Anemiaassociated Anemia

•• Common in Common in American American bloodlinesbloodlines

•• Genetic with Genetic with incomplete incomplete penetrancepenetrance

CardiomyopathyCardiomyopathy

3 types:3 types:

DilatativeDilatativeHypertrophicHypertrophicRestrictive Restrictive

Very similar Very similar to cat ! to cat !


In In fulminantfulminant cases, cases, may see active may see active myocardial necrosismyocardial necrosis

Usually just see scar Usually just see scar tissue replacing tissue replacing myocardiummyocardium


PolyfasciitisPolyfasciitis

•• High feverHigh fever•• Lethargy and ataxiaLethargy and ataxia•• Pain when Pain when movinmovin•• AnorexiaAnorexia•• Marked Marked leukocytosisleukocytosis with mature with mature neutrophilianeutrophilia (34,000)(34,000)

PolyfasciitisPolyfasciitis

EtiopathogenesisEtiopathogenesis

•• Unknown Unknown •• Presentation and microscopic lesions suggest an Presentation and microscopic lesions suggest an

infectious etiology, most likely bacterial :infectious etiology, most likely bacterial :•• Poor response to a broad variety of antibioticsPoor response to a broad variety of antibiotics•• No bacteria observed microscopicallyNo bacteria observed microscopically•• Fresh samples rarely available for culture or originate Fresh samples rarely available for culture or originate

from ferrets treated with antibioticsfrom ferrets treated with antibiotics•• Other differentials: Other differentials:

•• vaccinevaccine--related related polymyositispolymyositis in humansin humans•• vaccine reactions in ferrets (sarcoma)vaccine reactions in ferrets (sarcoma)•• myositismyositis not described as adverse affectnot described as adverse affect•• Vaccine history of ferrets not consistentVaccine history of ferrets not consistent•• Heritable disease unlikely, ferrets from different Heritable disease unlikely, ferrets from different

breeding facilitiesbreeding facilities

•• Animals in heartwormAnimals in heartworm--endemic areas need endemic areas need preventativepreventative

•• Small worm burden Small worm burden KILLSKILLS

•• Requires occult test for Requires occult test for diagnosisdiagnosis

•• 50% mortality with 50% mortality with treatmenttreatment

•• HeartgardHeartgard or or ivermectingivermecting solutions solutions may be used as may be used as monthly preventionmonthly prevention

DirofilariasisDirofilariasis

•• Most commonly seen Most commonly seen in animals receiving in animals receiving nutrition via syringe nutrition via syringe

•• Even antibiotics cause Even antibiotics cause extensive damage when extensive damage when instilled into lunginstilled into lung

•• Usual cause of death in Usual cause of death in megaesophagusmegaesophagus

Aspiration PneumoniaAspiration Pneumonia

Common incidental finding which is Common incidental finding which is misinterpreted by practitionersmisinterpreted by practitioners

Endogenous Lipid PneumoniaEndogenous Lipid Pneumonia

““foam cell foci” or “foam cell foci” or “subpleuralsubpleural histiocytosishistiocytosis””No clinical significance, cause and origin of lipid unknownNo clinical significance, cause and origin of lipid unknown

Endogenous Lipid PneumoniaEndogenous Lipid Pneumonia

•• Can contract bothCan contract bothType A and Type BType A and Type Binfluenza from influenza from humanshumans

•• Symptoms similar Symptoms similar to man, but slightly to man, but slightly more severe and more severe and longer lastinglonger lasting

•• Symptomatic Symptomatic treatment only if treatment only if anorexicanorexic

•• May use antihistamines toMay use antihistamines todecrease watery nasal dischargedecrease watery nasal discharge

InfluenzaInfluenza

Chryseomonas luteolusChryseomonas luteolus

•• Also seen as purulent Also seen as purulent pleuritispleuritis or purulent or purulent lymphadenitis or nephritislymphadenitis or nephritis

•• Rare conditionRare condition•• May be infected with all May be infected with all

commonly seen commonly seen dimorphic fungi dimorphic fungi ((HistoplasmaHistoplasma, , Cryptococcus, Cryptococcus, BlastomycesBlastomyces, , CoccidiomyocidesCoccidiomyocides))

•• Disseminated infection with Disseminated infection with pneumonia most commonly seenpneumonia most commonly seen

•• Most are advanced at time of Most are advanced at time of dxdxand refractory to treatmentand refractory to treatment

Systemic MycosisSystemic Mycosis

DermatomycosisDermatomycosis

•• Uncommon in ferretsUncommon in ferrets•• Young or Young or immunosuppressedimmunosuppressed•• MicrosporiumMicrosporium caniscanis•• TrichophytonTrichophyton mentagrophytesmentagrophytes•• NecropsyNecropsy

–– Crusting Crusting allopeciaallopecia, brittle hair, brittle hair–– Many broken hair shaftsMany broken hair shafts–– (generalised rash)(generalised rash)

•• Most common Most common orthopedic orthopedic tumor of ferrettumor of ferret

•• Only on spineOnly on spine•• Develops from Develops from primitive notochordprimitive notochord

•• Most commonly Most commonly seen at tail tipseen at tail tip

ChordomaChordoma

ChordomaChordoma

•• Lobulated mass with 3 concentric zonesLobulated mass with 3 concentric zones–– Zone I: Discrete, vacuolated cells in a Zone I: Discrete, vacuolated cells in a myxomatousmyxomatous matrixmatrix–– Zone II: Small discrete cells in a hyaline matrixZone II: Small discrete cells in a hyaline matrix–– Zone III: Central area of mineralizationZone III: Central area of mineralization

ChordomaChordoma

AlcianAlcian BlueBlue

ChordomaChordoma

PASPAS

PAS with diastasePAS with diastase

-- IntraIntra-- and and extracellularextracellularacidic acidic mucopolysaccharidesmucopolysaccharides

-- Intracellular glycogen Intracellular glycogen accumulationaccumulation

SS--100100

NSENSE

ChordomaChordoma

CytokeratinCytokeratin

VimentinVimentin

•• OsteonectinOsteonectin–– Role in regulation of Role in regulation of

osteoblastosteoblast and and platelet adhesion to platelet adhesion to the the extracellularextracellularmatrixmatrix

•• OsteocalcinOsteocalcin–– Prevalent Prevalent

noncollagenous, noncollagenous, intraosseus proteinintraosseus protein

–– Considered specific Considered specific for bone forming for bone forming cells and tumorscells and tumors

ChordomaChordoma

•• Benign tumors of flat bonesBenign tumors of flat bones•• Complete surgical excision Complete surgical excision curativecurative

OsteomaOsteoma

BeforeBefore AfterAfter

OsteomaOsteoma

•• Uncommon malignancies that Uncommon malignancies that are most commonly seen on are most commonly seen on extremitiesextremities

•• Low malignant potentialLow malignant potential

OsteosarcomaOsteosarcoma

HemangiosarcomaHemangiosarcoma

•• May arise in any organ May arise in any organ •• NeoplasmsNeoplasms of blood vesselsof blood vessels•• Often result in hemorrhageOften result in hemorrhage

•• Low Low metastaticmetastatic potential for skin tumorspotential for skin tumors•• Moderate Moderate metastaticmetastatic potential for visceral tumorspotential for visceral tumors


SebaceousSebaceousEpitheliomaEpithelioma•• Most common Most common skin tumor in skin tumor in ferretsferrets

•• Invariably Invariably benignbenign

•• Often look Often look much worse much worse than they than they really arereally are

•• Don’t believe Don’t believe malignant malignant diagnoses!diagnoses!

CutaneousCutaneous NeoplasmsNeoplasms

Mast cell tumorsMast cell tumors

•• Scaly, flat tumors Scaly, flat tumors •• May be multiple and May be multiple and pruriticpruritic•• Invariably benignInvariably benign•• Surgical excision is curativeSurgical excision is curative


Apocrine tumorsApocrine tumors

•• Arise from Arise from scent glands of scent glands of ferretsferrets

•• Primarily seen Primarily seen in head, neck, in head, neck, prepuce, and prepuce, and vulvavulva

•• Most Most commonly commonly benign benign –– “Blue “Blue dot disease”dot disease”


Preputial/vulvarPreputial/vulvar tumors tumors --High incidence of malignancyHigh incidence of malignancy•• Metastasize to local lymph nodes, visceraMetastasize to local lymph nodes, viscera•• ArlyArly removal of all tumors in this area is recommendedremoval of all tumors in this area is recommended


LeiomyomaLeiomyoma/ / LeiomyosarcomaLeiomyosarcoma

•• Most commonly Most commonly seen over skin of seen over skin of back or shouldersback or shoulders

•• Arise from erector Arise from erector pilipili muscle muscle ––““piloleiomyomapiloleiomyoma””•• Low grade Low grade malignancies malignancies but behave in a but behave in a benign fashionbenign fashion


VaccineVaccine--site sarcomassite sarcomas

•• Recently describedRecently describedneoplasmsneoplasms at injectionat injectionsitessites

•• PleomorphicPleomorphicfibrosarcomasfibrosarcomas

•• Variable in Variable in appearance with appearance with

•• LymphocyticLymphocyticaggregatesaggregates

•• ImmunopositiveImmunopositive for for smooth muscle smooth muscle actinactin, , desmindesmin

•• Behavior?Behavior?



•• Spindle cell tumors Spindle cell tumors –– usually arise usually arise from smooth musclefrom smooth muscle

•• Locally aggressive, slow toLocally aggressive, slow tometastasizemetastasize

•• Malignant peripheral nerve sheath Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors tumors

•• Difficult to excise, usually recurDifficult to excise, usually recur

EctoparasitesEctoparasites

•• Ticks (Ticks (IxodesIxodes sp)sp)•• Ear mites (Ear mites (OtodectesOtodectes cyanotiscyanotis))•• Fleas (Fleas (CtenocephalidesCtenocephalides sp.)sp.)•• Sarcoptic mange has been reportedSarcoptic mange has been reported

–– Very pruritic, whole body formVery pruritic, whole body form–– Variable pruritic form localised to the feetVariable pruritic form localised to the feet

•• Demodectic mange in old or Demodectic mange in old or immunosuppressedimmunosuppressed ferretsferrets–– Biopsy moderate hyperkeratosis and mitesBiopsy moderate hyperkeratosis and mites

EctoparasitesEctoparasitesIxodes hexagonusIxodes hexagonus (hedgehog)(hedgehog)

EctoparasitesEctoparasitesEarmitesEarmites ((OtodectesOtodectes cyanotescyanotes))

EctoparasitesEctoparasitesDemodexDemodex spsp

Occasionally seen in Occasionally seen in ferretsferrets

Cause not identifiedCause not identified

CataractsCataracts

Rarely seen in Rarely seen in ferretsferrets

May be primary or May be primary or secondarysecondary

Poorly responsive Poorly responsive to topical therapyto topical therapy

BuphthalmiaBuphthalmia

GlaucomaGlaucoma

Very common in older ferretsVery common in older ferrets

Owners rarely notice the ferret is blind!!!Owners rarely notice the ferret is blind!!!

Peripheral Retinal AtrophyPeripheral Retinal Atrophy

ferret pathology last - ferret health advancement at msu · etiopathogenesis • unknown •...

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