Spontaneous Aleutian Disease in a Ferret Infected with the Ferret-Derived Aleutian-disease Virus Strain

Abstract

A 9-month-old, castrated, domestic ferret suffering from anorexia, progressive weight loss, weakness, and renomegaly, was presented to the Animal Medical Center of the University of Tokyo. On the basis of the animal's history and of clinical examinations, including a test for antibodies against Aleutian-disease virus, a tentative diagnosis of Aleutian disease was made. In spite of supportive care, the patient's condition deteriorated; the ferret died 80 days after presentation. Postmortem examination, including histopathological and molecular-biological tests, revealed that the causative agent was of the ferret-derived Aleutian-disease virus strain.