Abstract
ABSTRACTBackground: Basic pathologic characteristics for farmed minks were previously reported worldwide. However, its status in the wild has not been studied in detail.Objective: Serology and electrophoresis were carried out for evidence of exposure to 12 mink pathogens on two different locations.Animals and methods: Serology was done in 87 wild minks by reference techniques against Toxoplasma gondii, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Neospora caninum, Brucella abortus, Mycobacterium bovis, Leptospira interrogans, canine distemper virus (CDV), canine adenovirus (CAV), canine parvovirus (CPV), rabies virus (RV), Influenza A virus (FLUAV) and Aleutian disease virus (ADV). Hypergammaglobulinemia, the ADV main clinical feature, was determined by conventional electrophoresis.Results: Seventy-one percent of the 87 sera had antibodies against one or more pathogens. ADV accounted for the highest seroprevalence (29%), followed by T. gondii (26%), L. interrogans (14%), M. bovis (12%), B. abortus (9%), N. caninum (3%), CPV (3%) and CDV (2%). Seroprevalence was influenced by location but not sex or age. Additionally, 16% of the seropositive samples for ADV had gammaglobulin levels >40.0 g/L. Antibody titers for CDV and CPV were low and difficult to interpret as almost all these cases had borderline concentrations.Conclusion: A cautious interpretation of the results is urged as the epidemiological role of the wild mink is largely unexplored for most of these agents. Nevertheless, the information may be clinically relevant..
Highlights
The American mink (Neovison vison) was deliberately introduced as a valuable fur-bearing mammal for commercial production in South America in 1930, it subsequently escaped or had been released from farms (Martino & Villar 1991; Sepulveda et al 2011)
B. abortus, canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine parvovirus (CPV) have been identified in area 1 only
Significant information about known diseases within wildlife populations has been provided from serologic surveys (Philippa et al 2008; Harrington et al 2012)
Summary
The American mink (Neovison vison) was deliberately introduced as a valuable fur-bearing mammal for commercial production in South America in 1930, it subsequently escaped or had been released from farms (Martino & Villar 1991; Sepulveda et al 2011). It is considered a pest in the region and classed as Least Concern by the IUCN (Reid & Helgen 2008; Barros et al 2014). Animals and methods: Serology was done in 87 wild minks by reference techniques against Toxoplasma gondii, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Neospora caninum, Brucella abortus, Mycobacterium bovis, Leptospira interrogans, canine distemper virus (CDV), canine adenovirus (CAV), canine parvovirus (CPV), rabies virus (RV), Influenza A virus (FLUAV) and Aleutian disease virus (ADV).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
