To browse Academia. The gastrointestinal tract of the domestic ferret, Mustela putorius furo, has been studied extensively as a model for several human gastrointestinal tract diseases, including spontaneous gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux, gastric carcinoma and lymphoma, the lack of acid mucosubstances similar to humans, and Helicobacter mustelae infection. To discuss the implications of the role of Helicobacter in disease, we must first review the unique anatomy and physiology of the ferret digestive system.
Antibiotic therapy is lengthy and is not always effective. It has been shown previously that oral immunization against Helicobacter felis in mice can prevent colonization after challenge. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of therapeutic immunization in eradicating an established Helicobacter infection and in reducing gastritis. METHODS: Domestic ferrets, confirmed to be infected with Helicobacter mustelae by gastric endoscopy, were orally immunized with varying doses of purified Helicobacter pylori urease in combination with the mucosal adjuvant cholera toxin.
Ferrets were assessed 1 week and 6 weeks after treatment for infection and pathology. Oral immunization of chronically infected animals markedly reduced gastric inflammation. Gastroenterology Jun; 6 Proceedings from the Association of Avian …, The anatomy and physiology of the ferret is different than cats or dogs.
Gastrointestinal disease has is usually manifested by diarrhea, weight loss, and anorexia. The role of Helicobacter mustelae has been studied as a model for gastrointestinal disease in other species. The Virginia opossum's gastrointestinal tract has served as a model for omnivorous marsupials. Cystic fibrosis CF is a multiorgan disease caused by loss of a functional cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator CFTR chloride channel in many epithelia of the body.
Here we report the pathology observed in the gastrointestinal organs of juvenile to adult CFTR-knockout ferrets. CF gastrointestinal manifestations included gastric ulceration, intestinal bacterial overgrowth with villous atrophy, and rectal prolapse.
