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==Introduction==

==Introduction==

Ferrets (''Mustela putorius furo'') are thought to have been dometicated for over 2000 years and are descended from the wild European Polecat. Despite being domesticated for such a long period, ferrets were only recognised as important in medical research in the 20th century and were only beginning to be used in the 1960s as an important animal model. Ferrets are often utilised in a laboratory setting as they are known to share many anatomical, metabolic and physiological features with humans. Therefore ferrets are often utilised in studies covering a broad subject matter including toxicology, bacteriological and virological studies. Ferrets have also been used as a model for studies into ischemia and ion exchange in the heart, influenza, neurological injury and gastric infections. Ferrets are particularly important in influenza studies as they can be infected with type A and B influenza viruses. According to the US Department of Agriculture Animal Care Report, approximately 17,000 ferrets were used in laboratory studies.  

Ferrets (''Mustela putorius furo'') are thought to have been dometicated for over 2000 years and are descended from the wild European Polecat. Despite being domesticated for such a long period, ferrets were only recognised as important in medical research in the 20th century and were only beginning to be used in the 1960s as an important animal model. Ferrets are often utilised in a laboratory setting as they are known to share many anatomical, metabolic and physiological features with humans. Therefore ferrets are often utilised in studies covering a broad subject matter including toxicology, bacteriological and virological studies. Ferrets have also been used as a model for studies into ischemia and ion exchange in the heart, influenza, neurological injury and gastric infections. Ferrets are particularly important in influenza studies as they can be infected with type A and B influenza viruses. According to the US Department of Agriculture Animal Care Report, approximately 17,000 ferrets per year are used in laboratory studies.  

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