Otter and Small Mustelids Mod 12

Small Mustelid Species

• The gestation period of the least weasel is 42 days.
• The European otter has a delayed implantation for 9-10 months.
• The weight range of the least weasel is 200-300 g.

Bacterial Disease

• Metronidazole is an effective antibiotic against anaerobic bacteria.
• Helicobacter spp. can cause gastritis in otters.

Viral Disease

• A viral disease reported in otters can cause a temporary lowering of the lymphocyte cell count.

Parasitic Diseases

• Pseudoterranova decipiens is a parasite that causes severe enteritis in European otters due to its use of a marine fish as an intermediate host.
• Echinococcus multilocularis is a parasite associated with fibrosis and damage to the gall bladder in European otters.
• Aelurostrongylus falciformis is a parasite that inhabits the nasal, tracheal, and bronchial mucosa of European otters.
• Aleuria mustelae is a parasite that causes severe disease in Pine martens, with extensive alopecic, pruritic skin areas.

Anesthesia and Treatment

• A combination of ketamine and medetomidine provides good relaxation and excellent analgesia for otters.
• There is no known treatment for Aleuria mustelae infection in mustelids.

Parasitic Infections

• Capillaria aerophila lives in the nasal sinuses of Mustelids, particularly weasels, stoats, pine martens, and polecats, and has a complex lifecycle involving snails, slugs, and wild rodents.
• Dioctophyme renale is a parasite that has been reported in stoats and weasels, with adults found in the right ventricle and juvenile stages in the lungs.

Insulators and Toxic Substances

• Insulators are commonly used for electrical purposes.
• Insulators tend to concentrate in the body fat and liver.
• The concentration of insulators increases as you move up the food chain.
• Activated charcoal and supportive care are commonly used treatments for exposure to insulators.
• Low levels of vitamin A and high levels of dieldrin have been associated with a condition known as hypervitaminosis A.