PMC:2700745 / 21835-22855 JSONTXT

{"target":"https://pubannotation.org/docs/sourcedb/PMC/sourceid/2700745","sourcedb":"PMC","sourceid":"2700745","source_url":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/2700745","text":"A limitation of ferret studies is the lack of specific reagents for studying the ferret immune system, compared with similar resources for mice. However, this issue will probably be resolved in the near future with the development of reagents such as cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies (mAb). For example, CD8+ cells in mouse bronchoalveolar lavages from pneumonic ferrets were identified with mAb to human CD8 (Rutigliano et al., 2008). Caging can also be a problem, because most animal facilities require that 1–3 ferrets be housed in rabbit-style cage systems. Proper caging for work with H5N1 influenza virus is at the final stages of development, but not yet available for use. Access to specific pathogen-free (influenza virus seronegative) ferrets is also an issue, and will become increasingly so as the demand for ferret studies grows. Finally, although ferrets are relatively passive in temperament relative to their mink cousins, they can become fairly aggressive after being exposed to invasive procedures.","tracks":[]}