Introduction

• This disease has recently been described.
• Cause: infection with Histoplasma capsulatum.
• Signs: green/mucoid diarrhea, thrombocytopenia, hypocalcemia, bilirubinuria.
• Diagnosis: exploratory laparotomy, liver biopsy, laboratory testing, radiography.
• Treatment: itraconazole/amphotericin B nebulization, euthanasia.
• Prognosis: [text]

Pathogenesis

Etiology

• Infection with Histoplasma capsulatum; a fungal disease that tends to grow in avian nitrogen rich feces.

Predisposing factors

General

• Outdoor ferrets, hunting ferrets and other ferrets exposed to soil and bird feces.

Pathophysiology

• Infection probably by inhalation.
• The disease can have just pulmonary involvement or disseminate to other organs.
• Disseminated disease can produce a variety of clinical signs.

Epidemiology

• Rare occurrence in ferrets.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention