Aleutian Disease (AD) is a contagious and potentially fatal viral illness that occasionally affects ferrets. Affecting both mink and ferrets the virus was originally diagnosed in ranch mink in the 1940s and named Aleutian Disease after the Aleutian mink, which seemed to develop the most serious form of the disease. Aleutian Disease is caused by a parvovirus with the majority of illness being related to the body’s immune response to the invading virus and not the actual viral infection itself.

Whenever an infectious agent such as a virus enters the body, the immune system is stimulated and attempts to destroy and eliminate this foreign invader. This holds true for the Aleutian Disease parvovirus. When the virus enters the body, special proteins called antibodies, are formed. These antibodies circulate through the body and attach to the viral particles to help the rest of the immune system recognize and then destroy the alien virus. Unfortunately in the case of the ferret these antibodies are not very effective in destroying the Aleutian Disease virus. Instead, they bind to the viral particles and form what are known as immune complexes. These immune complexes circulate through the body and eventually are deposited in various organs where they cause disease.

The signs of illness are variable and depend on what organ system is being affected by the above mentioned immune complexes. In general, Aleutian Disease manifests as a vague wasting disease with signs including weight loss with or without black tarry stools, lethargy, anemia, weakness or paralysis of the rear legs, general body tremors, and/or breathing difficulty. Signs of illness may not occur for up to two years after contracting the parvovirus infection. This long incubation period and the inconsistent clinical signs make diagnosis of Aleutian Disease a challenge.

Aleutian Disease is relatively uncommon therefore your veterinarian will want to rule out more common causes of ferret illness. Once a diagnostic workup has failed to yield a specific diagnosis, a tentative diagnosis of Aleutian Disease (AD) may be based on a combination of history, clinical signs and high blood levels of certain proteins called gammaglobulins. A more definitive diagnosis can be made using several available serologic tests or by taking surgical biopsies from suspect organs.

Two serologic tests are available for AD virus testing- the counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CEP or CIEP) test available from United Vaccines, Madison, WI, and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for antibodies available from Avecon Diagnostics, Bath PA. The ELISA test can be done on either blood or saliva. Unfortunately the accuracy of these two tests has been called into question. Current research is ongoing at the University of Georgia with the goal of developing better diagnostic tests for this potentially debilitating disease.

Unfortunately there is no specific treatment or preventative vaccine available for Aleutian Disease. Treatment is aimed at providing nutritional support and helping the body fight its over-reactive immune system. A cortisone drug called prednisolone has been advocated as it suppresses the immune system and may decrease the body’s response to the parvovirus immune complexes. Subcutaneous or intravenous fluids may be needed to treat dehydration and AD related kidney disease. Broad-spectrum antibiotics may be needed to treat secondary bacterial infections. For ferret’s that refuse to eat, syringe feeding with Oxbow Pet Products Carnivore Care, Hill’s a/d or Gerber’s chicken baby food may be recommended.

The prognosis for AD is guarded. The severity of illness depends on the severity of organ damage caused by the immune complex deposits. Some ferrets live for many years without developing illness while others become very sick and in spite of treatment succumb to the illness and die.