Cystic Prostatic Disease Associated with Adrenocortical Lesions in the Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

Abstract

A review of case materials at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology identified six cases of prostatitis in domestic ferrets ( Mustela putorius furo). Five of these ferrets (83%) had one or more cysts and the remaining ferret had a paraprostatic cyst. Three of the six ferrets (50%) exhibited various degrees of prostatic squamous metaplasia. Inflammation ranged from subacute to chronic-active or pyogranulomatous. In addition to the prostatic lesions, hyperplastic and/or neoplastic adrenocortical lesions were present in 4/6 (66%) ferrets; 1/6 (17%) ferrets had previously been clinically diagnosed with adrenal gland-associated endocrinopathy. The remaining ferret had previously had the right adrenal gland removed, but the reason for the removal is unknown. Based upon the histologic findings in these six ferrets, there appears to be an association between proliferative adrenal lesions and cystic prostatitis in domestic ferrets.