Phoenix Zoo, Arizona Center for Nature Conservation, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA,
Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.
J Zoo Wildl Med. 2021 Jan;51(4):814-824. doi: 10.1638/2019-0208.
The black-footed ferret () is an endangered mustelid native to North America. Gastroenteritis is a documented cause of morbidity and mortality in managed individuals, particularly by infectious agents. Fecal cytology is an inexpensive and rapid test that can help guide clinical management strategies for animals with enteritis; however, normal parameters have not been established in black-footed ferrets. The objective of this study was to characterize fecal cytological findings of 50 fecal samples from 18 black-footed ferrets that received two different diet types (ground meat versus whole prey) and that were visibly judged to be normal or abnormal. This study also tested for the presence of enterotoxin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in all abnormal and a subset of normal fecal samples. Significantly higher spore-forming bacteria and yeast prevalence were present in normal feces from individuals following the meat-based compared with the whole-prey diet. Samples from individuals with abnormal feces had significantly more spore-forming bacteria than normal feces, regardless of diet. Normal feces had higher diplococci and spore-forming bacteria compared with domestic canine and feline standards. A single abnormal fecal sample was positive for enterotoxin and originated from the only animal requiring treatment. Results indicate that low numbers of spore-forming bacteria can be found in fecal samples from clinically normal black-footed ferrets. Fecal cytology shows significantly increased spore-formers in clinically abnormal ferrets and in clinically normal ferrets following a ground meat-based diet.
黑脚雪貂（）是一种原产于北美的濒危鼬科动物。肠胃炎是一种已被记录的导致管理个体发病和死亡的原因，尤其是由传染性病原体引起的。粪便细胞学检查是一种廉价且快速的检测方法，可以帮助指导患有肠炎的动物的临床管理策略；然而，尚未在黑脚雪貂中建立正常参数。本研究的目的是描述 18 只黑脚雪貂的 50 份粪便样本的粪便细胞学特征，这些雪貂分别接受了两种不同的饮食类型（肉末与全猎物），且肉眼判断为正常或异常。本研究还通过酶联免疫吸附试验检测了所有异常和部分正常粪便样本中 肠毒素的存在。与全猎物饮食相比，采用基于肉末的饮食的个体的正常粪便中，形成孢子的细菌和酵母的流行率明显更高。无论饮食如何，异常粪便样本中的形成孢子的细菌数量都明显多于正常粪便。正常粪便中的双球菌和形成孢子的细菌比犬和猫的标准都要高。一份异常粪便样本呈肠毒素阳性，且来源于唯一需要治疗的动物。结果表明，在临床正常的黑脚雪貂的粪便样本中可以发现少量的形成孢子的细菌。粪便细胞学检查显示，在临床异常的雪貂和接受基于肉末的饮食的临床正常雪貂中，形成孢子的细菌数量明显增加。
