engleski

Ferret pathology - Overview of the diagnosis obtained during a six year period

Ferrets were domesticated approximately 4000 years ago, and since then were kept for hunting, racing, laboratory research and as a pet. They were introduced to Croatia as pets about 10 years ago. Since then, no research on ferret pathology was undertaken. In this paper the archive of the Department of Veterinary Pathology was surveyed for all ferret cytology, biopsy and necropsy findings data in the last 6 years to determine the most common pathology of ferret population in Croatia. In a 6 years period, 9 cytology, 24 biopsy and 16 necropsy samples originating from ferrets were submitted for analyses. All lesions detected were summarized in order to estimate the most common pathology. All diagnoses were summarized regardless of sample types and classified based on the main aspect of tissue destruction as inflammation, neoplasia and miscellaneous disorders. In the investigated period 57% of ferret pathology determined was neoplastic lesions, 23% miscellaneous disorders and 20% of lesions with inflammatory pattern. The most common neoplastic lesions detected were lymphomas (36%) and skin neoplasia (32%). In the miscellaneous group of disorders, cardiomyopathies were the most common (27%). Inflammatory lesions were found in various organs with domination of purulent exudate in 60% of cases. Investigated ferrets were middle aged, 5, 3 years average with slight dominance of male gender (65%). Ferrets are still truly exotic pets in Croatia and are mostly kept solitary, without much contact with other ferrets. Croatian veterinarians are trained to provide high quality prophylaxis of viral infectious diseases, which explains higher prevalence of neoplasia of ferrets in this investigation. Most inflammatory cases were found in immunocompromised animals. The average age of 5, 3 years implicated that mature adult ferrets share the same environmental risks as dogs and cats in Croatia.

Ferret; Neoplasia; Inflammation; Miscellaneous disorders

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