Hi! My name is Debbie Rogers. Many of you know me, but for those of you that don't, I will give you a short introduction.
I have only been involved in this wonderful world of skunks since 1999, though I fell for them hook, line and sinker. They won me over heart and soul! I have worked around and had an appreciation for animals all my life. Since 1985 I have worked in various animal hospitals as a technician and currently as a groomer and part time technician.
I, as well as all of you I'm sure, am determined to have the happiest, healthiest and longest lived skunks. They became my life and inspiration. My life was devastated in Oct. '03 after the loss of my first skunk Tucker to renal failure. He was such a trooper. He had already overcome other health obstacles and been so carefully monitored. I just couldn't understand. In April '04, six months later, I lost his brother Jasper, no warning, only days and he was gone. A month later my baby skunk, had a one pound Terratoma tumor removed (along with his left kidney and adrenal gland). Six months later it was back bigger and angrier than before. The difficult decision was made not to put his body and spirit back through it all again. To say the least I was beyond devastation! The only thing that kept me going each day were the rest of my skunkie kids. With encouragement from them, we took it one day at a time.
As time went on , I had a persistent nagging that would not let up. I understood the Terratoma, but Tucker and Jasper's, along with many others skunks deaths were unanswered. So many with similar symptoms. With Tucker's illness, I spoke to other skunk owners, vet upon vet, homeopathic/natural medicine vets, animal communicators, certified technicians, pathologist and even doctors and nurses in the human field....Nothing! Jasper's necropsy report on a kidney that had hemorrhaged and was the size of a baseball and a spleen that had lesions all through it mainly said idiopathic, possibly immune mediated....again nothing! The nagging continued and after many conversations with close friends, I dove into months of research. As strange as it may sound, I feel like I was just a body, a means of getting the information guided by the skunks. Without getting into the depth of what all took place, things were just too coincidental and really just fell into place. I couldn't have made it come together like it did.
When I felt I had enough information and proof (articles, pathology and histopathology reports, bloodwork) of what I thought could be a cause of death or illness, I presented the information to the doctors at both practices where I worked. Everyone agreed it was a likely possibility and deserved further investigation. What I found was Aleutian Mink Virus Disease or ADV.
For those of you who are not familiar with ADV, I will try to explain. ADV is caused by a parvovirus. This is not a new virus, it was first reported in the 1940's in ranch-bred mink and was named after the highly susceptible Aleutian mink. The virus was then reported in ferrets in the late 1960's. There are several different strains of this virus varying in strength and immune response. It has been seen in many different species: mink, ferret, raccoon, otter and even wild skunks, but from my understanding this is the first time it has been looked at in domestic/pen raised skunks. Basically the virus interferes with the immune system. ADV causes a huge increase in the production of antibodies. These antibodies combine with the ADV particles to form compounds called antigen/antibody complexes. These complexes are then deposited within the tissues of multiple organs, such as, but not limited to the kidneys, liver, spleen, heart, bile ducts,
spinal cord, brain, gastrointestinal track, blood vessels and bladder, resulting in inflammation. If the inflammation is mild, the animal may appear clinically normal. If the inflammation is severe enough, the animal will show signs of disease relating to the organs affected. In other species it has caused ascending (traveling from the back towards the front) paralysis, twitching or seizures, respiratory signs such as sneezing or coughing, blood in stool, anemia, enlarge spleen, liver and kidney disease. It can cause just about anything, and everything we see in skunks. ADV cannot be diagnosed on clinical signs alone. There are tests, but not all are very accurate. The most definitive diagnosis of ADV is made by histopathologic examination of tissues of multiple organs. The virus is currently being studied more in depth in ferrets, to learn its DNA structure, how transmission occurs, how the virus works. Eventually they hope to learn enough to come up with a cure and a vaccine. There is no definitive treatment for ADV, though in ferrets with clinical disease, supportive care, use of anti-inflammatory agents and immunosuppressive therapy with prednisone has been used.
With the support of the doctors I work with, my next step was to find out how to test. In all my research there were several tests, but none were very accurate. Some were even species specific and there are many different strains of this virus and many different species affected. I also learned that there was a team of veterinarians at the University of GA who have been doing research with ADV for the past five years. They already had several tests for ADV and were studying the virus in ferrets in hopes to develop a vaccine. Like I said earlier, how coincidental, this is my state university and actually where Jasper's necropsy (along with many others) had been sent. I contacted one of the veterinarians that was the head of this group, Dr, Bran Ritchie, who immediately put me in contact with Kate Pennick. In speaking with her, she graciously opened the door for me to send samples (blood, urine and feces) on all of my skunks. I was also made aware in our conversation, because the university does not throw away any samples, she could go back and look at Jasper's for ADV. I never dreamed of this. I first contacted Kate in April this year. This was a busy time for her and this team. They were coming to an end of one of their study phases and busy putting their findings together to be published this fall. With the samples I submitted, and with samples from two necropsies that I know of (Jasper's being one), both tested strongly positive for ADV, it has been enough to render further research. Kate has graciously offered to include our skunks in this study of ADV, which will ultimately help vets and others to be made aware of this virus and how it works in each species and hopefully lead to a cure and or vaccine.
This is not my research, nor was it done alone; many contributed! I truly believe it belongs to the SKUNKS!
I know if you just finished reading this, you are probably in shock. This post has not been sent to cause mass panic or for you to feel it is "Dooms Day" for our precious babies! This virus has been in our skunks whether we knew or not. Knowing can be a great thing. It may help save lives or at least prolong their lives without suffering.
I apologize for such a long post, but I feel this needed to be explained and not just thrown out there!
Sincerely,
Deb Rogers
Submission Form
Please copy and print for your vet
ADV (Aleutian Disease Virus) Submission Information
** All samples must be submitted by a veterinarian**
I personally have been using hospital letterhead. Which includes:
· Hospital Name
· Address
· Doctor's Name
· Office Phone and Fax Numbers
In addition:
· Owner's Name
· Pet's Name
· Domestic Skunk (no samples from wild skunks can be accepted due to shipping and the possibility of rabies)
· Male/Female * Spayed/Neutered
· Age
· Color
· Breeder, if known (Troy, Ruby's, etc.)
· Doctor's Signature
Comments: (If the patient is sick, anything abnormal on bloodwork, anything that would cause owner or vet to suspect ADV.) If abnormal bloodwork or other tests have been performed and you are able to attach copies, I would. Only important documentation should be sent so we do not overwhelm them with paperwork.
This is research, so there is no charge for submitting a sample. This research is funded by grants and donations.
As far as donations, it is not required, but I personally feel it is very important. It doesn't matter how small; it still says something about us as skunk owners. We make them aware that we support this research and care enough about these wonderful animals to want continued answers, hopefully followed by a cure, vaccine, etc. I know there are times that one cannot afford to make a donation; we have all been there. This in no way should keep you from submitting samples.
Samples Submitted
(From: Kate Pennick)
Necropsy Tissue Samples: Collect pieces of major organs in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Fresh tissue samples placed in sterile tubes is also useful (they may also be frozen if unable to send after a day or two in fridge.)
**NOTE: If you wish other causes of death other than ADV to be considered, you will need to have your vet perform a necropsy and send separate tissue samples to a diagnostic lab for histopathology. Tissue samples submitted to Kate will only be looked at for ADV. Also note that ADV will not likely be picked up while performing either necropsy or histopathology. It takes knowledge of this virus, special equipment and a special eye.**
Serum: May be done two ways-
1. Collect blood (1/2 ml is fine) and (remove needle) place in serum separation tube, allow blood to clot, spin down to isolate serum.
2. Collect blood (1/2 ml is fine) and (remove needle) place in regular tube without additive, allow blood to clot, spin down and separate serum into new sterile tube to prevent interference from remaining blood portion.
Urine: Cystocentesis is best, but catch method is okay. Just make sure sample is in a sterile tube.
Fecal: Fresh is best, try to place in sterile tube (vets normally have appropriate fecal collection tubes)
If making a donation: make check payable to University Foundation. ADV-Skunk should be written in the notations line of check. You may also send a donation to my address and I will make sure it gets into the ADV account.
Kate Pennick
Department of Pathology
College of Veterinary Medicine
The University of Georgia
501 DW Brooks Drive
Athens, GA 30602-7388
I personally would like to remind anyone who is submitting samples. This is research and done on the university's time. Even if a skunk is possibly clinical and we as owners would have wanted an answer yesterday, we need to be patient and understanding; research takes time. I think Kate and the team of veterinarians she works with are wonderful. I am so excited and grateful that they have opened the door to include our skunks in their ADV research.
Sincerely,
Deb Rogers