title: Prevalence of deafness and association with coat variations in client-owned ferrets.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of congenital sensorineural deafness (CSD) and its association with phenotypic markers in client-owned ferrets.
  
  
  METHODS
  Epidemiological study.
  
  
  METHODS
  152 healthy European pet ferrets.
  
  
  METHODS
  Brainstem auditory evoked response tests were recorded in ferrets during general anesthesia. Phenotypic markers such as sex, coat color and pattern, coat length (Angora or not), and premature graying trait were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 44 of the 152 (29%) ferrets were affected by CSD; 10 (7%) were unilaterally deaf, and 34 (22%) were bilaterally deaf. There was no association between CSD and sex or Angora trait, but a strong association between CSD and white patterned coat or premature graying was identified. All panda, American panda, and blaze ferrets were deaf.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ferrets in this study had a high prevalence of CSD that was strictly associated with coat color patterns, specifically white markings and premature graying. This seemed to be an emerging congenital defect in pet ferrets because white-marked coats are a popular new coat color. Breeders should have a greater awareness and understanding of this defect to reduce its prevalence for the overall benefit of the species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Veterinary Hospital Center FREGIS, 43 ave Aristide Briand, 94110 Arcueil, France.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abitbol
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gnirs
authors.forename: Minh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cauzinille
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000151:congenital / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010860:Pigments, Biological
chemical_list: D010860:Pigments, Biological