Pulmonary Blastomycosis in a Domestic Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 34-month-old male, neutered ferret was referred to University of Wisconsin, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Special Species Health Service with a 6-week history of dyspnea, coughing, lethargy, and weight loss. The patient was not responding to antibiotic therapy and his condition was deteriorating. When presented to the teaching hospital, the animal was in respiratory distress, lethargic and had an ulcerative, crusting lesion on the left naris. In a standard, whole-body radiographic study of the ferret, lesions were identified in the chest cavity. A thoracic computed tomographic examination was then performed to better delineate the extent of the lesions and determinate the best position for fine-needle aspiration of the abnormal tissue. Cytology and fungal culture of the aspirated material confirmed blastomycosis. Despite intensive care, the animal died within 24 hours of presentation. Necropsy results confirmed pyogranulomatous pleuropneumonia with focal pulmonary abscessation caused by a Blastomyces dermatitidis infection. This case is the second report of B. dermatitidis granulomatous pneumonia and pleuritis in a ferret and the first report of this disease in a domestic ferret exclusively housed indoors. Additionally, this is the first description of pulmonary blastomycosis computed tomographic findings in a nonhuman species.