Urolithiasis and cystitis associated with Staphylococcus delphini group A and mortality in post-weaning mink kits (Neovison vison)

Abstract

Mortality of mink kits represents a significant loss to production. However, causes of post-weaning mortality in mink kits in modern Danish mink production systems are still relatively poorly documented. We performed a cross-sectional mortality study on eight Danish mink farms including 1893 post mortem examinations of mink kits found dead or euthanized. We assessed the prevalence of cystitis and urolithiasis leading to mortality. Gross pathological findings as well as animal characteristics were recorded and associations with post mortem microbiology (using culture and MaldiTof-MS Vitek MS system) were investigated.Cystitis and/or urolithiasis were associated with death in 33 % (n = 476) and 37 % (n = 166) of the examined mink kits in 2015 and 2017. On farm level, the prevalence of cystitis and/or urolithiasis leading to mortality varied from 0.25 % to 1.27 % with a low overall mortality of 0.9–4.5 %. The bacterial agent most frequently isolated in post mortem bladder swabs from mink with a post mortem diagnosis of urolithiasis and cystitis was Staphylococcus delphini group A (51/283) with a significant (p < 0.0001, CI = [19.5;4745.7]) association to gross pathological findings in the urinary tract. Staphylococcus delphini group A was cultured from 70 % of the skin swabs obtained from apparently healthy mink euthanized at pelting (n = 222). In conclusion urinary tract disease (cystitis and urolithiasis) was the most prevalent post mortem diagnosis during the growth period and was associated with Staphylococcus delphini group A.