Evidence: Ferret (Mustela putorius furo) clinical cases
Source: Europe PMC (Europe PubMed Central) REST search — first-hand peer-reviewed abstract records, pulled 2026-08-01. Queries covered clinical case reports and case series for Mustela putorius furo. The cluster returns 12 representative clinical cases with abstracts below. Abstract text is verbatim from source; each case is traceable by PMID.
Studies
- PMID 42063453 (2026, Case reports in veterinary medicine) — Cutaneous Melanoma in a Rabbit With Multiple Metastatic Lesions: A Case Report.. Abstract (opening): <h4>Background</h4>Neoplasia is increasingly common in senior pet rabbits, with cutaneous melanoma being a rare but aggressive type. Its characteristics in rabbits are not fully understood.<h4>Case description</h4>A 5-year-old rabbit initially presented with a cutaneous mass at the ear base. Despite surgical excision, it recurred rapidly with multiple facial/chest masses and pulmonary metastases, leading to euthanasia. Pathological evaluation confirmed malignant melanoma, revealing features such as high mitotic activity and lymphovascular invasion; immunohistochemistry provided the definitive diagnosis.<h4>Conclusion and clinical relevance</h4>This case highlights the highly aggressive and metastatic nature of cutaneous melanoma in rabbits, often resulting in a poor prognosis. Clinicians should be aware of melanoma's aggressive potential in rabbits. Surgical intervention alone may prove inadequate, and current treatment options in rabbits are limited. In this case, surgical intervention was not effective, likely because micrometastasis was already present. Treatment options remain limited, and euthanasia is often required in metastatic cases.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42063453/
- PMID 41777478 (2026, Current therapeutic research, clinical and experimental) — Acute PGAD-Like Genital Arousal in a 59-Year-Old Woman After Duloxetine Withdrawal: A 36-Month Follow-Up Case Report.. Abstract (opening): We report the case of a 59-year-old woman who experienced an acute episode of genital arousal symptoms consistent with Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder/Genito-Pelvic Dysesthesia (PGAD/GPD), but not fulfilling the duration criterion. The patient had several comorbidities known to be associated risk factors for PGAD/GPD. The most plausible contributing factor was the recent self-initiated cessation of duloxetine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) prescribed for a mixed anxiety-depressive disorder. She was managed with rapid multidisciplinary assessment and short-term intravenous clorazepate and amitriptyline, together with analgesics, while the episode remained self-limited and resolved spontaneously within 5 hours after admission. This case aims to raise awareness among clinicians about acute PGAD-like genital arousal episodes potentially associated with antidepressant withdrawal, the need to carefully review medication histories, and the high level of distress and even suicidality that may accompany these symptoms.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41777478/
- PMID 42027880 (2026, Journal of toxicologic pathology) — An exophytic multinodular chordoma of the cervical spine in a ferret.. Abstract (opening): An 8-year-old male ferret was presented with dyspnea and large, palpable cervical masses. Pathological examination revealed multiple exophytic nodular masses arising from the atlas and axis. Those vertebrae were almost completely replaced by neoplastic tissue. Histologically, the masses were composed of physaliferous cells with foamy cytoplasm embedded within a prominent chondro-osseous matrix. The diagnosis of chordoma was confirmed by immunohistochemistry, as tumor cells were positive for pan-cytokeratin, vimentin, S-100, and neuron-specific enolase. Notably, some chondrocytes and osteocytes adjacent to the tumor cells also expressed these markers, suggesting a neoplastic origin rather than a reactive process. Ki-67 labeling was confined to a subset of cytokeratin-positive cells at the periphery of the nodules, indicating that peripheral proliferation contributes to the exophytic growth pattern. This report describes a case of cervical chordoma with a unique exophytic presentation in a ferret.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42027880/
- PMID 41482860 (2026, Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc) — Systemic <i>Mycobacterium celatum</i> infection in a female domestic ferret.. Abstract (opening): <i>Mycobacterium celatum</i> is a slow-growing, non-tuberculous mycobacterium with occasional branching morphology that has been reported mainly in immunocompromised human patients and rarely in other animal species. A 5-y-old female ferret was presented to a veterinary clinic with a history of anorexia and lethargy; peripheral lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and pneumonia were detected. Despite treatment, progressive deterioration of the ferret's health led to euthanasia of the animal. Autopsy revealed numerous small 1-4-mm white nodules in the lung, spleen, and kidneys. Histologically, the kidney and lung nodules were pyogranulomas containing slender, elongate acid-fast bacilli with occasional branching. Bacterial culture was negative after 5 d of aerobic incubation. A PCR assay of kidney tissue was positive for <i>Mycobacterium</i> spp., with 100% DNA sequence similarity to <i>M. celatum. M. celatum</i> can cause systemic infection in humans and animals resembling tuberculoid mycobacterial infection. The diagnosis can be challenging due to cross-reactivity with tuberculosis-specific molecular assays and slow growth on bacterial culture. Although <i>M. celatum</i> has been reported elsewhere in ferrets more commonly than in other animals, <i>M. celatum</i> has not been reported previously in any animal species in North America, to our knowledge. <i>M. celatum</i> should be included as a potential pathogen in systemic mycobacterial infections, especially in ferrets.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41482860/
- PMID 41612690 (2026, Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc) — Congenital oropharyngeal teratoma in a neonatal goat and brief review of extragonadal teratomas in animals.. Abstract (opening): Teratomas originate from pluripotent germ cells and differentiate into the 3 germ cell layers: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. Hence, these tumors arise most often in the gonads. Extragonadal teratomas are rare in veterinary medicine. Congenital oropharyngeal teratoma, also known as epignathus, is a neoplasm that has been reported in humans and a few veterinary species. We describe the clinical, gross, cytologic, and histopathologic features of an oropharyngeal teratoma in a neonatal Boer × Nigerian Dwarf goat that died within 4 h of birth, and briefly review extragonadal teratomas in veterinary species.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41612690/
- PMID 42081574 (2026, PLoS pathogens) — Characterization of atypical Ebola virus disease in ferrets.. Abstract (opening): Ebola virus (EBOV) infection typically results in severe-and often lethal-acute disease. However, increasing evidence suggests that EBOV can persist in certain immune-privileged tissues, which may then serve as reservoirs for the later reemergence of EBOV and disease recrudescence. Here, we report atypical EVD recrudescence in a ferret model inoculated with an otherwise lethal dose of EBOV and treated with low doses of a highly potent monoclonal antibody cocktail. Among 32 antibody-treated ferrets, 14 animals survived, while 8 succumbed to acute EVD within about 5-8 days. The remaining 10 animals succumbed to atypical EVD between 12 and 18 days post-infection (DPI) despite having shown no, or very minor, signs of illness during the acute phase of disease. While viremia disappeared by 14 DPI in most animals that succumbed to atypical EVD, it rebounded modestly just prior to death. Unlike animals that died of acute EVD, those that died of atypical EVD showed only a moderate systemic inflammatory response and few signs of organ dysfunction, in line with low levels of virus in the liver and spleen. Interestingly, however, ferrets that died of atypical EVD showed high levels of virus in the brain, consistent with increased markers of inflammation in the central nervous system and significant pathological changes, including a breakdown in the blood-brain barrier and severe meningoencephalitis. Not only does this study shed important light on the atypical and underappreciated manifestations of EVD, but it also establishes the ferret as a valuable model of EBOV recrudescence.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42081574/
- PMID 41902252 (2026, Viruses) — Animal Models for Swine Influenza Virus Research: Pathology, Viral Dynamics, and Immune Responses.. Abstract (opening): Swine influenza virus (SIV) continues to evolve and possesses notable zoonotic potential, making it an important respiratory pathogen of concern for both the global swine industry and public health. Owing to antigenic drift, genetic reassortment, and regional lineage diversity, vaccine efficacy against SIV shows marked variability across different epidemiological contexts. Therefore, establishing appropriate animal models to dissect its pathogenic mechanisms, transmission characteristics, and immune response patterns is of critical importance. This review systematically summarises the animal models commonly used in SIV research, including mice, ferrets, guinea pigs, pigs, and non-human primates, and provides an integrated analysis across three core dimensions: pathological manifestations, viral replication kinetics, and immune architecture. The evidence indicates that substantial inter-model differences exist in pulmonary lesion distribution, transmission efficiency, mucosal immune development, and cellular immune complexity, which in turn define their functional roles in mechanistic studies, transmission research, and vaccine evaluation. Building on this framework, this review further emphasises the value of a tiered, multi-model strategy in SIV research. In vitro systems and mouse models are well suited for early mechanistic exploration and preliminary vaccine screening; ferret and guinea pig models facilitate the evaluation of transmission dynamics; and the pig model, as the natural host system, remains the critical platform for confirming protective efficacy, identifying potential immunopathological risks, and assessing translational relevance. Importantly, the potential occurrence of vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease under antigen-mismatched conditions highlights the need to evaluate both protective performance and immunological safety during vaccine development. Overall, rational integration of evidence across multiple models, anchored to the natural host, will improve the predictability and translational reliability of SIV vaccine research.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41902252/
- PMID 42053522 (2026, American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology) — Considerations for early life genetic therapies in cystic fibrosis.. Abstract (opening): Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding for the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) anion channel. Since the initial characterization of CF in the early 20th century, advances in clinical management have reduced disease burden and increased longevity. These advances are amplified by the recent development of highly effective CFTR modulator therapies (HEMTs) that have provided remarkable clinical results in people with CF (pwCF). However, some pwCF do not benefit from HEMT due to several limiting factors. Genetic therapies have increasingly emerged as prospective, complementary treatments to HEMTs for those unable to benefit from HEMTs. Genetic therapies have yet to be approved for clinical use in pwCF, but multiple clinical trials are in progress. In anticipation of future approval of one or more of these candidates, it is essential to identify and discuss how these genetic therapies might be used in early life, when many CF lesions originate, especially for those with severe mutations. In this multidisciplinary review, we discuss several pertinent factors such as CFTR localization and function, CF disease origins, emerging developments in genetic therapies, ethical considerations, and other perspectives needed to guide future genetic therapies in early life.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42053522/
- PMID 41600859 (2026, Viruses) — Pathogenesis and Research Models of Acute Influenza-Associated Encephalitis/Encephalopathy: An Update.. Abstract (opening): Influenza-associated encephalitis/encephalopathy (IAE) is a severe neurological complication characterized by central nervous system dysfunction and structural damage following influenza virus infection. Predominantly affecting infants and young children, IAE exhibits its highest incidence in those under five years of age. Key clinical manifestations of IAE include acute seizures, sudden high fever, and impaired consciousness, frequently progressing to coma. Neuroimaging, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), often reveals multifocal brain lesions involving multiple brain regions, including the cerebellum, brainstem, and corpus callosum. The prognosis of IAE is poor, with a mortality rate reaching 30%. Current diagnosis relies heavily on clinical presentation and characteristic neuroimaging findings, as the precise pathogenesis of IAE remains elusive. While various research models, including cell lines, brain organoids, and animal models, have been developed to recapitulate IAE features, significant limitations persist in modeling the core clinical pathophysiology observed in pediatric patients, necessitating further model refinement. This review synthesizes the clinical spectrum of IAE, summarizes progress in understanding its pathogenesis, and critically evaluates existing research models. We aim to provide a foundation for utilizing experimental approaches to elucidate IAE mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic strategies.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41600859/
- PMID 41517886 (2026, Influenza and other respiratory viruses) — Influenza Surveillance in the Central African Republic From 2015 to 2018 to Inform Vaccination and Treatment Strategies.. Abstract (opening): <h4>Background</h4>Surveillance of influenza infections and virus characterisation are essential to guide prevention strategies. In the Central African Republic (CAR), data on influenza viruses are patchy and poorly documented.<h4>Objective</h4>To study the clinical, seasonal, genetic and phenotypic characteristics of influenza viruses circulating in the CAR population.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>From January 2015 to December 2018, the presence of influenza A and B viruses in patients presenting with influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms or severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) was investigated by RT-qPCR. Influenza genetic diversity was evaluated by phylogenetic analyses, and antigenic properties were investigated by haemagglutination inhibition assays, whereas reduced susceptibility to neuraminidase inhibitors was assessed through the presence of known genetic markers and neuraminidase assay. The relationship between patients' clinical characteristics and infection status was investigated using statistical analyses.<h4>Results</h4>Over the surveillance period influenza viruses were detected in 9.7% of samples (n = 6134), with the highest intensity of circulation occurring in 2016 (15.8%), attributed mainly to A(H3N2). Periods of increased influenza transmission (June to October) generally coincided with rainy seasons; however, variations in terms of monthly distribution of cases between years were evident. Hospitalisation rates (SARI) were most frequent in infants (0-11 months, 37.9%) and young children (1-4 years, 24.8%), whereas influenza prevalences were highest in the 15-49 (12.0%) and ≥ 50 (15.2%) years old categories. A new A(H1N1)pdm09 6B.1 hemagglutinin subgroup characterised by amino acid substitutions S84N, S162N and I216T was detected in 2015, with associated antigenic drift, and subsequently, two of these viruses showed highly reduced inhibition by oseltamivir.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This study showcases the value of local influenza sentinel networks to specifically inform vaccination strategies and highlights the need for improved strain characterisation in tropical regions.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41517886/
- PMID 41483683 (2026, EBioMedicine) — Current knowledge on the host-pathogen interactions of henipaviruses and novel platforms to enable further characterisation.. Abstract (opening): Henipaviruses, particularly the species Nipah (NiV) and Hendra (HeV), are emerging viral threats with potential to cause a public health emergency of international concern due to their high virulence and absence of approved preventative and therapeutical countermeasures. Consequently, research of NiV and HeV is restricted to high-containment laboratories and relies heavily on in vitro models. Despite NiV and HeV initial characterisation >25 years ago, significant gaps remain in the knowledge of the host-pathogen interactions, which are an important research focus for design of therapeutics and supportive care modalities. This review summarises current knowledge in the host-pathogen interactions of henipaviruses and critically assesses the current and emerging in vivo and in vitro models for henipavirus research.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41483683/
- PMID 41586145 (2026, The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne) — Torsion of the papillary process of the caudate liver lobe in an American pit bull mix dog.. Abstract (opening): A 6-year-old castrated male American pit bull mix dog was presented with acute vomiting, lethargy, and abdominal distention. Abdominal radiographs revealed a mass effect in the right cranial abdomen, with regional loss of serosal detail. Abdominal ultrasound and contrast-enhanced computed tomography identified a non-enhancing, malpositioned papillary process of the caudate liver lobe with associated venous thrombosis and surrounding peritoneal effusion. Exploratory laparotomy confirmed a 360° torsion of the papillary process of the caudate liver lobe, necessitating lobectomy. Histopathologic assessment demonstrated hepatic infarction with no evidence of neoplasia, and postoperative recovery was uneventful. Liver lobe torsion is a rare, life-threatening condition in dogs, often presenting with nonspecific gastrointestinal signs. Definitive diagnosis relies on advanced imaging, with contrast-enhanced computed tomography particularly valuable for identifying patterns characteristic of organ torsion. This case highlights the importance of considering liver lobe torsion as a differential diagnosis in dogs with acute abdominal signs and supports the role of timely surgical intervention in achieving favorable outcomes. Key clinical message: Liver lobe torsion, though rare, should be considered in dogs presented with acute gastrointestinal signs and abdominal effusion. Prompt diagnosis using advanced imaging and timely surgical intervention can lead to an excellent prognosis.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41586145/
Source text: pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_ferret_clinical_2026-08-01.txt (Europe PMC first-hand abstracts, pulled 2026-08-01).