Overview

Epizootic Catarrhal Enteritis (ECE), colloquially known as “Green Slime Disease,” is a highly contagious viral enteritis of ferrets caused by a ferret enteric coronavirus (FRECV). First recognized in the mid-1990s, ECE remains endemic in ferret populations and causes outbreaks when a new ferret is introduced to a household or when ferrets attend shows and social gatherings. It is distinct from the ferret systemic coronavirus that causes a more severe, FIP-like disease.

Transmission

The virus spreads through the fecal-oral route. Adult ferrets — particularly those recently introduced from shelters, pet stores, or shows — can shed virus while appearing perfectly healthy, acting as silent carriers. Young ferrets exposed to the virus typically develop mild or subclinical illness, while older ferrets often develop severe disease.

Clinical Signs

Classic presentation includes:

  • Profuse, bright green, mucoid (“slimy”) diarrhea that is the hallmark of the disease
  • Vomiting
  • Lethargy and marked decrease in activity
  • Anorexia or markedly reduced appetite
  • Dehydration that can become severe
  • Weight loss, sometimes dramatic
  • In chronic cases, malabsorption leading to seed-like undigested food in stool

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is often made clinically based on the characteristic green diarrhea and history of exposure to a new ferret. Supportive testing includes:

  • PCR for ferret coronavirus on fecal samples
  • CBC and biochemistry to assess hydration and rule out concurrent disease
  • Intestinal biopsy in chronic or atypical cases, showing villous atrophy and lymphoplasmacytic enteritis

Treatment

There is no specific antiviral therapy. Management is supportive:

  • Fluid therapy — subcutaneous or intravenous — to correct dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
  • Nutritional support with a high-calorie, easily digestible recovery diet; syringe feeding may be required
  • Gastroprotectants such as sucralfate and famotidine to manage gastric ulceration secondary to vomiting
  • Antibiotics such as amoxicillin or metronidazole to address secondary bacterial overgrowth
  • Antiemetics such as maropitant or ondansetron in severe vomiting
  • Strict isolation from other ferrets for at least several weeks; the virus can be shed for months

Prognosis

Most ferrets recover with supportive care, though some older or debilitated animals develop chronic malabsorption that persists for life. Survivors may continue to shed virus intermittently for extended periods, so quarantine of new ferrets is critical to prevent household outbreaks.

Prevention

Quarantine new ferrets for at least 3-4 weeks before introducing them to resident ferrets. Avoid exposing ferrets with unknown status to your household. There is no commercially available vaccine.

When to Seek Care

Any ferret with green, mucoid diarrhea, persistent vomiting, or lethargy should be seen by a veterinarian promptly. Dehydration can progress rapidly in a small-bodied species.