Abstract
Hepatobiliary disease was diagnosed in eight of 34 genetically unrelated cohabitating pet ferrets (Mustela putorios furo) during a 7-year period. The eight ferrets ranged in age from 5 to 8 years and exhibited chronic cholangiohepatitis coupled with cellular proliferation ranging from hyperplasia to frank neoplasia. Spiral-shaped argyrophilic bacteria were demonstrated in livers of three ferrets, including two with carcinoma. Sequence analysis of a 400-base pair polymerase chain reaction product amplified from DNA derived from fecal bacteria from one ferret demonstrated 98% and 97% similarity to Helicobacter cholecystus and Helicobacter sp. strain 266-1 , respectively. The clustering of severe hepatic disease in these cohabitating ferroes suggests a possible infectious etiology. The role of Helicobacter species and other bacteria in hepatitis and/or neoplasia in ferrets requires further study.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Bile Duct Neoplasms / etiology
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Bile Duct Neoplasms / microbiology
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Bile Duct Neoplasms / pathology
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Bile Duct Neoplasms / veterinary
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Bile Ducts / pathology
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Biliary Tract Diseases / microbiology
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Biliary Tract Diseases / pathology
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Biliary Tract Diseases / veterinary*
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Cholangiocarcinoma / etiology
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Cholangiocarcinoma / microbiology
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Cholangiocarcinoma / pathology
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Cholangiocarcinoma / veterinary
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Cystadenoma / microbiology
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Cystadenoma / pathology
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Cystadenoma / veterinary
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DNA, Bacterial / analysis
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Female
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Ferrets*
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Helicobacter Infections / complications
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Helicobacter Infections / veterinary*
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Helicobacter pylori / genetics
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Helicobacter pylori / isolation & purification*
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Hepatitis, Animal / microbiology
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Hepatitis, Animal / pathology
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Hyperplasia / veterinary
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Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
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Liver / microbiology
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Liver Diseases / microbiology
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Liver Diseases / pathology
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Liver Diseases / veterinary*
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Male
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Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary