Development of renal adenocarcinoma in a ferret with renal cortical cysts (Mustela putorius furo)

CASE DESCRIPTION A 5.5-year-old 0.929-kg spayed female domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) underwent serial abdominal ultrasonographic and clinicopathologic examinations after multiple renal cysts were detected bilaterally during a routine examination. CLINICAL FINDINGS The ferret was apparently healthy at the start of the monitoring period and had no clinical signs for > 20 months. Four months after the initial examination, the largest cyst became increasingly mineralized; 17 months after detection, it had increased in size and become amorphous, and the ferret’s plasma BUN concentration was mildly high. Within 21 months after the first visit, a nodule was detectable, and hydronephrosis developed in the kidney with the largest cyst. Findings for fine-needle aspirates from the nodule were consistent with renal carcinoma. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME Contrast-enhanced CT revealed severe unilateral nephromegaly with no contrast uptake in the affected ureter. Following surgical removal of the affected kidney, histologic examination identified renal adenocarcinoma replacing the entire renal cortex and medulla. The ferret was euthanized postoperatively because of declining condition. On necropsy, metastasis to a mesenteric lymph node was identified; comorbidities included 2 other neoplasms and acute, severe injury of the contralateral kidney. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Neoplastic transformation of a renal cyst was suspected in the ferret of this report on the basis of observed ultrasonographic changes over time and extensive infiltration of the neoplasm throughout the affected kidney. Renal cysts are linked to renal neoplasia in other species, and the findings for this patient supported the need for periodic monitoring of renal cysts in ferrets.

Descrição Anatômica Osteológica, Osteotécnica e Osteomontagem de Furão Ferret (Mustela putorius furo – Linnaeus, 1758) / Anatomical Osteological, Osteotechnical and Osteomontage of Ferret (Mustela putorius furo – Linnaeus, 1758)

Mustela putorius furo é um carnívoro que possui registro de aproximadamente 28 milhões de anos atrás, estando dentre as 67 espécies da família Mustelidae. O prelúdio da sua domesticação foi para a proteção de grãos em armazéns, pois é um animal ágil que caça roedores facilmente. Era comum essa espécie ser abatida para o comércio de pele, além de serem mantidos em cativeiro para estudos laboratoriais. Atualmente sua criação é destinada para venda como animal de estimação. Como M. putorius furo não é endêmico do Brasil, o objetivo deste trabalho é utilizar técnicas de Osteologia e Osteomontagem para evidenciar os principais ossos da espécie, por meio de osteologia e osteomontagem para fornecer informações anatômicas da espécie e disponibilizar o esqueleto para estudos futuros.

Identifying Behavioural Traits and Underlying Personality Dimensions in Domestic Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)

The aim of this study was to examine the personality structure of domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) by using owner-based reporting of personality traits. A total of 743 ferret owners participated in an online questionnaire, with a total of 1029 ferrets being assessed. Respondents rated 67 adjectives based on their ferret(s) behavioural traits and personality. Principal component analysis (PCA) of these trait ratings identified four underlying personality dimensions, which accounted for 47.1% of the total variance. These were labelled according to the traits that they encompass: Extraversion, Sociability, Attentiveness, and Neuroticism. Details about ferret sex, de-sexing status, age, and coat colour were also sought, and General Linear Mixed Models were used to test the main effects of these characteristics on the personality dimensions. It was found that sex (p < 0.01) and age (p < 0.001) significantly influenced certain personality components, whereas de-sexing did not. Sociability, Attentiveness, and Neuroticism were found to differ based on sex, whereby males were rated as more sociable than females, but females were rated higher on the Attentiveness and Neuroticism subscales. Finally, Extraversion was found to generally decrease with age. We can use the findings of this study to make cross-species comparisons and further inform the discussion regarding the adaptive relevance of animal personality. Identifying differences in personality types can improve welfare by using this information to satisfy the different needs of individuals.