Myofasciitis in the domestic ferret.

Since late 2003, an inflammatory disease of muscle and fascia has been diagnosed in several ferrets at Northwest ZooPath, and this report describes the condition in 17 ferrets. It is a disease of young ferrets, characterized by rapid onset of clinical signs, high fever, neutrophilic leukocytosis, treatment failure, and death (or euthanasia). Gross lesions include atrophy of skeletal muscle; red and white mottling and dilatation of the esophagus; and splenomegaly. Histologically, moderate to severe suppurative to pyogranulomatous inflammation is in the skeletal muscle and the fascia at multiple sites, including esophagus, heart, limbs, body wall, head, and lumbar regions. Myeloid hyperplasia of spleen and/or bone marrow also is a prominent feature. Ultrastructural lesions include mitochondrial swelling, intracellular edema, disruption of myofibrils and Z bands. Bacterial and viral cultures, electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and polymerase chain reaction were negative for a variety of infectious agents. The clinical presentation and distribution of lesions suggests that polymyositis in domestic ferrets is likely a distinct entity. The etiopathogenesis if this condition is not known.

Prevalence and ultrastructure of sarcocystis in American woodcock harvested in Connecticut.

The range-wide population of American woodcock Scolopax minor has been in slow, steady decline since the late 1960s. The parasite load carried by woodcock and its possible role in the population decline has not been investigated since the early 1970s. A survey of parasites in American woodcock in Connecticut was undertaken in 2002: Sarcocystis spp. was found in 32 of 78 (42%) individuals examined. Elongate sarcocysts, 25 x 125 micro, containing numerous packed bradyzoites with distinct, tightly packed villar projections of the cyst wall, were found scattered throughout skeletal type and myocardial muscle. Sarcocystis spp. was also recorded during the earlier surveys and considered common, but was not examined with the use of electron microscopy. The present study includes the first ultrastructural description of Sarcocystis sp. in the skeletal muscle of woodcock and will serve as a basis for future comparisons in woodcock.