Alutian Disease

Aleutian disease (AD) is caused by a parovirus and is an immune deficiency disease, capable of being transmitted from infected parents to offspring and from infected ferrets to any other ferret via direct or indirect contact.

Symptoms vary tremendeously and may include black tarry faeces, weight loss, aggressiveness, recurrent fevers, thyroiditis, posterior paralysis and eventual death; in stressed animals death may occur extremely suddenly.

Veterinary advice should be sought for all ferrets thought to be infected or in contact with an infected ferret.