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Ferrets (Laboratory) - Pathology (view source)
Revision as of 15:54, 2 March 2011
, 15:54, 2 March 2011→Digestive System
==Digestive System==
==Digestive System==
===General GI===
'''Dental Disease'''
'''Dental Disease'''
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Gross lesions will include discolouration of broken teeth which suggests devitalisation.
Gross lesions will include discolouration of broken teeth which suggests devitalisation.
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'''Megaoesophagus'''
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The cause of megaoesophagus in ferrets is currently unknown, although its clinical presentation is similar to that found in dogs and cats. In some cases a secondary infection with ''Candida sp.'' may been seen. This condition most commonly occurs in middle aged ferrets and any treatment is usually ineffective.
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Gross lesions will include a marked dilation of the intrathoracic oesophagus together will ulcerations anywhere along it's length. Concurrent bronchopneumonia may also be present due to aspiration. Microscopic lesions are often inconclusive but can include muscle atrophy, hyperkeratosis of the epithelial lining and yeast within the mucosa resulting in a lymphocytic and neutrophilic inflammatory response.
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===Bacterial===
===Bacterial===
''Helicobacter mustelae'' can be found in the stomach and duodenum of almost all ferrets after weaning. If in sufficient numbers it can induce chronic, persistant gastritis, ulcer formation and in extreme circumstances gastric lymphoma can occur.
'''Helicobacter mustelae'''
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This bacterial infection can cause disease in significant numbers of ferrets over the age of four via two gastri mechanisms. It can cause stimulation of the lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory response resulting in a loss of granular epithelium, mainly in the pylorus. Secondly this infection has the ability to increase the pH of the stomach. ''Helicobacter'' can also be found in the stomach and duodenum of almost all ferrets after weaning. If there are sufficient numbers, this infection can induce chronic, persistant gastritis, ulcer formation and in extreme circumstances gastric lymphoma can occur. Animals over three years of age will rarely show clinical symptoms with a ''Helicobacter'' infections.
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There are often no gross lesions associated with uncomplicated cases of ''Helicobacter''. Advanced cases may include gastric ulcers and where these occur the gastric mucosa is often lined by moderate amounts of digested blood. Microscopic lesions will include the presence of bacteria in the superficial mucus and in extracellular locations within the gastric glands. The pyloric stomach is the preferred biopsy site.
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