Transmission of<i>Mycobacterium bovis</i>from experimentally infected ferrets to non-infected ferrets (<i>Mustela furo</i>)

Qureshi, Tariq; Labes, R E; Lambeth, Matthew R.; Montgomery, H. C.; Griffin, J.F.T.; Mackintosh, C.G.

doi:10.1080/00480169.2000.36173

Cited by 23 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Infected ferrets excrete M. bovis bacilli more readily than pigs or deer, most commonly via the oral cavity, with 23% of oral swabs culturing positive, and tracheobronchial swabs, faeces, urine and mammary glands also being positive (Lugton et al 1997b ; Qureshi et al 2000 ). In experimental infection studies, tuberculous ferrets survived for at least 20 weeks post-infection, despite substantial loss of bodyweight and condition (Cross et al 2000a , b ).…”

Section: The Epidemiology Of Tb and Its Relationship To Ferret Ecologmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feral ferrets (Mustela furo) as hosts and sentinels of tuberculosis in New Zealand

Byrom

Caley

Paterson³

et al. 2015

New Zealand Veterinary Journal

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The control and eventual eradication of bovine tuberculosis (TB) poses major challenges in New Zealand, given the variety of wildlife species susceptible to TB, many of which are capable of onwards transmission of Mycobacterium bovis infection. Here we discuss the role of feral ferrets (Mustela furo), focussing on potential transmission or risk pathways that have implications for management of TB. Firstly inter-specific transmission to ferrets. Ferrets scavenge potentially infected wildlife, including other ferrets, thus prevalence of TB can be amplified through ferrets feeding on tuberculous carcasses, particularly brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula). Secondly intra-specific transmission between ferrets. The rate of ferret-ferret transmission depends on population density, and in some places ferret densities exceed the estimated threshold for disease persistence. TB can therefore potentially be maintained independently of other sources of infection. Thirdly transmission from ferrets to other wildlife. These include the main wildlife maintenance host, brushtail possums, that will occasionally scavenge potentially tuberculous ferret carcasses. Fourthly transmission from ferrets to livestock. This is considered to occur occasionally, but the actual rate of transmission has never been measured. Fifthly geographical spread. M. bovis-infected ferrets can travel large distances and cause new outbreaks of TB at locations previously free of TB, which may have caused an expansion of TB-endemic areas.Ferrets play a complex role in the TB cycle in New Zealand; they are capable of contracting, amplifying and transmitting M. bovis infection, sometimes resulting in ferret populations with a high prevalence of TB. However, ferret population densities are usually too low to sustain infection independently, and transmission to other wildlife or livestock appears a rarer event than with possums. Nevertheless, management of ferrets remains a key part of the National Pest Management Strategy for TB. Control is prudent where M. bovis-infected ferret populations exist in high numbers, to reduce the onward transmission risk of any self-sustained infection to livestock. When ferret numbers are well below the theoretical disease maintenance threshold, ferret control is still sometimes warranted because of the animals’ ability to acquire infection when young and, through dispersal, transport it outside TB-endemic areas. Ferrets can also be used as disease sentinels for TB, especially in areas where alternative sentinel species are rare or expensive to survey, and when sampling of possums is not cost-effective.

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Section: The Epidemiology Of Tb and Its Relationship To Ferret Ecologmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feral ferrets (Mustela furo) as hosts and sentinels of tuberculosis in New Zealand

Byrom

Caley

Paterson³

et al. 2015

New Zealand Veterinary Journal

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“…The few existing studies have mostly focused on systems in which cannibals and conspecific prey have very different phenotypes (i.e. adults vs. larvae, cannibalistic morph vs. normal larva) and diets (Kats et al , 1994; Hoffman & Pfennig, 1999; Qureshi et al , 2000; Mathis, 2003), either of which can facilitate the recognition of conspecific predators. In many systems, however, the cannibal and prey are very similar in phenotype and ecology, and the differences between the morphology and chemicals produced by cannibal and prey may be less pronounced, if a difference exists at all.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of larval dragonflies to conspecific and heterospecific predator cues

Ferris

Rudolf

2007

Ecological Entomology

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1. In cannibalistic populations, smaller individuals are subject to predation by larger conspecifics, and small individuals commonly alter their behaviour in response to cannibals. Little is known, however, about the underlying cues that trigger such responses and how the behavioural responses to conspecific cannibals differ from heterospecific predators. 2. This study tests which cues are used for the detection of conspecific predators in the larva of the dragonfly Plathemis lydia and how the behavioural response to cannibals differed from the response to heterospecific predators. 3. Individuals were exposed to chemical cues, visual cues, and a combination of both cues from conspecifics as well as no predator and heterospecific predator controls during which their activity and feeding rates were observed. 4. Individuals increased their activity, spatial movement and feeding behaviour in response to either visual or chemical cues from conspecific predators, which was opposite to responses displayed with cues from heterospecific predators. Interestingly, the responses to visual and chemical cues from conspecifics combined were weaker than to either cue in isolation and similar to the no cue control. 5. The results clearly indicate that individuals are able to use chemical and visual cues to detect even very subtle differences in phenotype of conspecific predators. 6. The opposite response in behaviour when exposed to conspecific cannibals vs. heterospecific predators suggests that the presence of cannibals will increase the mortality risk of small individuals due to heterospecific predation. This risk‐enhancement is likely to have important consequences for the dynamics of predator–prey interactions.

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“…[19][20][21] Ferret-to-ferret contamination appears unlikely other than through fighting or cannibalism (rare in domestic ferrets). 6,7 In a case report, 2 infected ferrets lived in the same household but a common source of contagion from the environment was considered more probable than ferret-to-ferret transmission. 10 Contamination from food sources might be possible in ferrets that are fed whole prey.…”

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confidence: 99%

A Retrospective Study of 17 Cases of Mycobacteriosis in Domestic Ferrets (Mustela Putorius furo) between 2005 and 2013

Mentré¹,

Bulliot

2015

Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine

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From 2005 to 2013, 17 ferrets were diagnosed with mycobacteriosis at the authors' practices. Clinical findings included ocular, respiratory, and digestive abnormalities. Diagnosis was based on histopathology, specific histochemical stains, and/or on polymerase chain reaction. All bacteria identified belonged to the nontuberculous Mycobacterium complex. Several treatment protocols were attempted, frequently based on the use of enrofloxacin. In all, 3 ferrets were considered cured. Mycobacteriosis in ferrets is a polymorphous disease with diverse clinical presentations. It is also likely an underdiagnosed disease in pet ferrets, which appear to be particularly susceptible to environmental sources. Mycobacteriosis should be included in the differential diagnosis for ocular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal diseases; in particular, it should be differentiated from systemic coronavirus infection.

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Transmission ofMycobacterium bovisfrom experimentally infected ferrets to non-infected ferrets (Mustela furo)

Abstract: Horizontal transmission of M. bovis infection was demonstrated in ferrets under experimental housing conditions. Routes of transmission may involve cannibalism and factors such as den sharing, playing, fighting, mating, and sniffing of faeces.

Cited by 23 publications

References 11 publications

Feral ferrets (Mustela furo) as hosts and sentinels of tuberculosis in New Zealand

Feral ferrets (Mustela furo) as hosts and sentinels of tuberculosis in New Zealand

Responses of larval dragonflies to conspecific and heterospecific predator cues

A Retrospective Study of 17 Cases of Mycobacteriosis in Domestic Ferrets (Mustela Putorius furo) between 2005 and 2013

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