Ferret coronavirus explained

The ferret coronavirus is a coronavirus which infects ferrets and is a strain of the species Mink coronavirus 1. The first cases in ferrets were detected in March 1993 in the east coast of the United States. It was previously known as Green Slime Disease. The illness is highly contagious among ferrets, has a short incubation period, and has a mortality rate of about 5 percent. Symptoms include diarrhea and intestinal damage. Less pronounced symptoms are bloody stools, dehydration, lethargy, weight loss, and weakness.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

The reason that this disease is sometimes referred to as Green Slime Disease is that Green Slime Disease causes stool to turn dark green and fluorescent.^[5]

There are two types of ferret coronavirus. These are ferret enteric coronavirus and ferret systemic coronavirus.^[6]    

Notes and References

1. Ferret Coronavirus-Associated Diseases. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice. 2010. 13. 543–560. 10.1016/j.cvex.2010.05.010. Murray. Jerry. Kiupel. Matti. Maes. Roger K.. 3. 20682435. 7110453.
2. Determination of Ferret Enteric Coronavirus Genome in Laboratory Ferrets . Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2017. 23. 1568–1570 . 5572892. Li. T. C.. Yoshizaki. S.. Kataoka. M.. Doan. Y. H.. Ami. Y.. Suzaki. Y.. Nakamura. T.. Takeda. N.. Wakita. T.. 9. 10.3201/eid2309.160215. 28820366.
3. Web site: Epizootic Catarrhal Enteritis (ECE or "Green Slime Disease") in Ferrets. sawneeanimalclinic.com. 2020-11-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20201112024716/https://sawneeanimalclinic.com/downloads/epizootic_catarrhal_enteritis_in_ferrets.pdf. dead.
4. Web site: Viral Infection (ECE) in Ferrets.
5. Web site: Gastrointestinal Problems in Ferrets. April 3, 2020. avianandanimal.com.
6. Web site: Ferret coronavirus taxonomy.