Cystic prostatic disease associated with adrenocortical lesions in the ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A review of case materials at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology ident ified 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 subacut e to chronic-active or pyogranulomatous. In addition to the prostatic lesio ns, hyperplastic and/or neoplastic adrenocortical lesions were present in 4 /6 (66%) ferrets; 1/6 (17%) ferrets had previously been clinically diagnose d with adrenal gland-associated endocrinopathy. The remaining ferret had pr eviously had the right adrenal gland removed, but the reason for the remova l is unknown. Based upon the histologic findings in these six ferrets, ther e appears to be an association between proliferative adrenal lesions and cy stic prostatitis in domestic ferrets.