Fur-bearing Animals Research Articles

Social Protest in Russian America

This article analyzes social protest in the Russian colonies in Alaska and Northern California. The main reasons for protests were the actions of the colonial administration or abuse by its representatives, along with dissatisfaction with the financial situation, rules, conditions, and remuneration for labor, as well as shortages of commodities and food for a considerable part of the population of the Russian colonies. Protest activity in Russian America was relatively insignificant, and its primary forms were complaints, minor economic sabotage, and desertion. Most protest acts took place during the 1790s–1800s, when the colonial system was formed, and exploitation of dependent natives and Russian promyshlenniki (hired hunters of fur-bearing animals) reached its peak. The representatives of the Russian-American Company who managed Alaska from 1799 on tried to block protest activity and not allow open displays of dissatisfaction, since the result could hinder trade, business, and finally, profits and its image in the eyes of the tsar’s authorities.

Preclinical evaluation of the veterinary drug “Amoxidev 15” for its use in surgical and obstetric practice

Suspension for injection “Amoxidev 15” is prescribed to fur-bearing animals (mink, fox), dogs and cats for the treatment of respiratory diseases (tonsillitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchopneumonia), digestive (gastritis, enteritis, enteritis). genitourinary systems (nephritis, urethritis, urocystitis, mastitis, metritis, agalactia), musculoskeletal system (arthritis, osteoarthritis, joint injuries, tendonitis, hoof lesions), skin and soft tissues (eczema, dermatitis) caused by sensitive drug by microorganisms, including colibacillosis, streptococcus, bronchopneumonia, etc. Toxicological evaluation of the veterinary drug “Amoxidev 15” under the conditions of acute and subacute toxicological experiments on a model of white rats. According to the results of an acute toxicological experiment with intragastric administration of the drug “Amoxidev 15” white rats DL50 could not be calculated because the death of laboratory animals was not detected within 14 days after administration. The maximum administered dose (in absolute weight of the drug) was 20000.0 mg/kg body weight, which allows to refer the drug to class VI toxicity of relatively harmless substances (DL50 > 15000 mg/kg body weight), and the degree of safety to class IV – low-hazard substances (DL50 > 5000 mg/kg). According to the results of an acute toxicological experiment with subcutaneous administration of the drug “Amoxidev 15” white rats DL50 could not be calculated because the death of laboratory animals was not detected within 14 days after administration, the maximum dose was 5000.0 mg/kg body weight, therefore, the drug “Amoxidev 15” when administered subcutaneously by toxicity can be classified as class VI substances relatively harmless (DL50 Subcut > 4500.0 mg/kg). When administered subcutaneously to white rats, the drug “Amoxidev 15” under conditions of subacute toxicological experiment in doses of 0.1–1.0 ml/kg does not cause hemo-, hepato- and nephrotoxic effects on the body of laboratory animals, although 3-day administration of the drug in a dose 1.0 ml/kg body weight caused an increase in the activity of hepatospecific enzymes ALT and AST by 12.5 and 11.1 % (P < 0.05), respectively, relative to the control, which was restored to the control level 7 days after cessation.

Хроническая фистула для изучения микробиома слепой кишки кролика

Abstract. The purpose of this work is to approve a device for studying the microbiome of the gastrointestinal tract of mammals. The study of the quantitative and qualitative composition of the digestive tract microbiota is one of the promising directions in metagenomics. Knowledge obtained about the organization of microbiocenosis genome, the determination of species composition and study of metabolic relationships between its representatives not only expand the understanding of its role in the process of evolution, speciation and breeding but also provide a scientifically substantiated basis for targeting changes in the microbiome to form a phenotype (optimization of feed bioconversion, increasing overall resistance, etc.). Scientific novelty. For the first time, the main characteristics of cellulolytic bacteria isolated from the chyme of the rabbit cecum were isolated, cultured and described through a chronic fistula. Methods. In order to carry out research aimed to study mammalian microbiome and its correction, the need arises to develop methods of obtaining microbiome samples from experimental animals. To obtain access to the chyme of the cecum in 7 rabbits for up to 3 months the chronic fistulas developed in Scientific Research Institute of Fur-Bearing Animal Breeding and Rabbit Breeding n. a. V. A. Afanas’ev were installed. No negative manifestations were observed in the animals after installation of the fistulas, no changes in appetite were detected, and complete healing of the skin wound was determined on the 9th day. Diagnostic laparotomies performed 3 months after fistula placement revealed no pathological processes in any of the studied animals. Results. Characteristics of cellulolytic bacteria of the rabbit cecum Butirivibrio fibrisolvens and Ruminococcus flavefaciens were studied. Data on their enzymatic effects on dietary components, fermentation products, digestion and formation of organic substances and chemical compounds are presented.

Comparative evaluation of methods for studying the degree of assimilation of feed by animals

Relevance. The activity of the digestive organs is largely determined by the feeding regime, in particular, the frequency, timeliness, and the order of feeding the feed. The digestibility of nutrients is influenced by the preparation of feed for feeding, which facilitates mechanical processing in the digestive tract and the action of digestive enzymes. Against the background of a decrease in the natural resistance of the animal body, an important aspect is the use of mineral supplements and the enrichment of diets with biologically active substances that increase the nutritional value and the degree of assimilation of feed by animals. The aim of the work was a comparative assessment of methods for studying the degree of assimilation of feed by animals.Methods. To determine the degree of food assimilation, 2 drops of isotonic (0.9%) sodium chloride solution and a small amount of intestinal contents were applied to a glass slide, a thin smear was prepared, dried in air for 30 min, and large particles were removed. The preparations were fixed for 15 min with 96% ethyl alcohol, then 3–5 drops of a 1.0% aqueous solution of methylene blue, Lugol, Sudan III were applied. Along with the indicated conventional methods, we tested a method for preparing preparations using fixation in vapors of a 25.0% solution of glutaraldehyde for 30–40 minutes, in vapors of a 1.0% aqueous solution of osmium tetroxide.Results. The kinetics of the formation of intestinal microbiocenoses is characterized by a decrease in the number of lactobacilli and an increase in the number of pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria. In a comparative assessment of the preparation methods, the advantage of microscopic research methods is the possibility of a detailed study of the contents, the degree of assimilation of feed components in the gastrointestinal tract, and a visual assessment of the state of the intestinal microflora. The advantage of the method for preparing preparations with the use of vapor fixation of a 25.0% solution of glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide is the possibility of visualizing the formation of monospecific and polyspecies biofilms by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The preparations were sufficiently contrasting, there were no artifacts, bacteria and fungi stained brown, which made it possible to count even pinpoint colonies using a magnifying glass or an optical microscope. The easily digestible feed results in a low fecal yield and a stable consistency. The use of functional food “Pristine Gold Vet” in the nutrition of dogs and fur-bearing animals made it possible to increase the absorption of nutrients by 18,1% and 15,3%.

Seroprevalence and Molecular Epidemiology of Aleutian Disease in Various Countries during 1972-2021: A Review and Meta-Analysis.

Simple SummaryAleutian disease is caused by the Aleutian mink disease virus and is one of the most serious infectious diseases that affect the family Mustelidae, including the American mink, wild European mink, weasels, badgers and other animal species, such as skunks, raccoons, dogs, cats and mice, as well as humans. Effective treatments and vaccines against Aleutian disease have not been developed to date. Prophylactic programs that focus on the identification and elimination of infected mink are one of the methods of controlling the negative outcomes of Aleutian disease. This article analyses the seroprevalence of Aleutian mink disease virus infections in American and European mink and other species around the world, and reviews recent knowledge relating to the molecular epidemiology of the Aleutian mink disease virus.Aleutian disease (AD) poses a serious threat to both free-ranging and farmed mink around the world. The disease is caused by the Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV), which also poses a health risk for other members of the family Mustelidae, including wild mink, weasels, badgers and other animal species. This article analyses the seroprevalence of AMDV infections in mink and other species around the world, and reviews recent knowledge relating to the molecular epidemiology of the AMDV. Depending on the applied diagnostic technique and the country, the prevalence of anti-AMDV antibodies or AMDV DNA was established at 21.60–100.00% in farmed American mink, 0.00–93.30% in free-ranging American mink and 0.00–25.00% in European mink. Anti-AMDV antibodies or AMDV DNA were also detected in other free-living fur-bearing animals in Europe and Canada, where their prevalence was determined at 0.00–32.00% and 0.00–70.50%, respectively. This may indicate a potential threat to various animal species. AMDV strains are not clustered into genotypes based on the geographic origin, year of isolation or pathogenicity. The isolates that were identified on mink farms around the world originated from North America because American mink were introduced to Europe and Asia for breeding purposes and to restock natural populations.

Molecular Identification and Antibacterial Activity Analysis of Blue Fox (Vulpes lagopus) β-Defensins 108 and 122.

Simple SummaryThe blue fox (Vulpes lagopus) is an important fur animal in China; its reproductive performance is directly related to the economic benefits of breeding. β-Defensins can protect the male reproductive system from bacterial invasion, maintain the stability of reproductive tract microenvironment and improve semen quality in mammals. Few studies have proposed to investigate the antibacterial effect of Vulpes lagopus beta-defensin (vBDs). In this study, we analyzed the antibacterial activity of recombinant vBD108 and vBD122 protein in vitro by an antibacterial activity analysis experiment. Our preliminary results demonstrate that the two vBDs have good antibacterial activity. The blue fox β-defensins may be used as an extender component of the semen diluent to protect semen from bacterial infection.The blue fox (Vulpes lagopus), a fur-bearing animal, is an important component of the breeding industry in China. Semen quality is a key factor for the reproductive process and the breeding effectiveness of the farmed blue fox. However, bacterial contamination in semen samples utilized in artificial fertilization is very common. The β-defensins, a class of important antimicrobial peptides in mammals, could protect the reproductive system of male animals from bacterial invasion, maintain the stability of the genital tract microenvironment and improve semen quality. In this study, molecular cloning and bioinformatics analysis were conducted to analyze the protein structure and function of blue fox β-defensin 108 (Vulpes lagopus beta-defensin 108, vBD108) and 122 (Vulpes lagopus beta-defensin 122, vBD122). To evaluate the bacteriostatic effect of recombinant vBDs (Vulpes lagopus beta-defensins) protein, varying concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, 200 µg/mL) were taken to evaluate the effects on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus at different times (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 h). The results showed that vBD108 and vBD122 existed in different forms in protein structure and had antibacterial activity. Both proteins, at 50 µg/mL, had efficacious bacteriostatic activity. This study shows that recombinant vBD108 and vBD122 proteins have good antibacterial activity in vitro. This implies a potential role in improving semen quality and hygienic measures in the process of artificial insemination as an extender of semen dilution with antibacterial activity.

Development of technology of highly accessible compound feeds with vacuum spraying of liquid components

The technology of production of compound feeds for agricultural (pigs) and unproductive (dogs, cats) animals, as well as for fur-bearing animals (minks, arctic foxes, sables) and valuable fish (sturgeon, trout, etc.), in which the replacement of expensive components of animal origin (fish meal, meat and bone meal, blood meal, offal), for extruded vegetable high-protein components (soy, sunflower or rapeseed meal, lupine, peas, soy) is carried out. The use of vacuum spraying of thermolabile liquid components (amino acids, protein-vitamin-mineral additives, vitamins, fats) on the surface of extruded pellets will allow you to obtain highly digestible feed. The kinetic regularities of the studied processes of humidification and steaming, extrusion, drying/cooling and draining are determined, and their rational modes are revealed. The technological scheme of the line for the production of highly digestible compound feeds has been developed, which includes the following equipment: hopper; extruder; dryer-cooler; liquid component injection plant, draining machine; conveyor and finished product hopper. According to the technical characteristics (overall dimensions, weight, occupied area, drive power, uniformity of application of fat on the surface of granules), the manufactured coating machine and the liquid component injection unit exceed the best world analogues. The technology of vacuum mixing with the introduction of liquid components will ensure their uniform distribution over the entire volume, reduce the duration of mixing, which will increase the productivity of the vacuum mixer and reduce energy consumption. The developed technology and promising types of technological equipment (mixer, extruder, vacuum sprayer, dryer-cooler) will make it possible to obtain highly digestible feed of a new generation with a protein content of 60 %, fat content of 40 %, with the introduction of growth stimulants, biologically active additives. An increase in the protein and fat complex will increase the digestibility of compound feeds by 10-12 %, increase weight gain by 10-12 % and reduce feed conversion by 15 %.

Optimization of the process of compound feed pelleting for fur animals

Currently, fur farming products are becoming more and more in demand. With the increase in the number of fur-bearing animals, it is necessary to produce compound feeds that provide high quality furs with minimal feed costs. Compound feed recipes with a fat content of 20% and higher were developed for fur animals. Feeding fodder in the form of granules produced by the technology, one of the stages of which is the process of granulating compound fodders with a high fat content with reasonable operating parameters of the granulator press, is expedient. Process studies using the method of statistical planning of a multivariate experiment were carried out to determine the optimal granulation parameters. The following factors influencing the process under consideration were chosen: the amount of added fat, the steam consumption, the gap between the roll and the press die. Specific energy consumption and crumbling served as criteria for assessing the influence of the selected parameters, which make it possible to assess adequately the efficiency of the process. The data obtained showed that the process of pelleting compound feed at optimal parameters makes it possible to obtain pellets, the quality of which meets the requirements of the standard. All the data obtained were within the calculated confidence intervals of the optimization parameters. The change in the quality indicators of the obtained granulated compound feed during storage was also investigated in the work. Changes in the quality of granulated compound feed during storage testified that the values of total acidity and acid number of fat increased significantly after two months of storage due to hydrolysis of fat in conditions of free oxygen access. The value of the peroxide number of fat, which reflects the depth of oxidative changes in the compound feed, increased sharply after two months of storage. The content of vitamins A and E during the storage of compound feed for 45 days in summer was 12.3% and 10.5% of the initial values, respectively. The recommended shelf life of granulated feed with a high fat content in winter-spring period is 60 days, in summer - 45 days.

РАЗРАБОТКА И ПРИМЕНЕНИЕ ПРЕПАРАТОВ ЖЕЛЕЗА, И ПРИНЦИПЫ ТЕРАПИИ ЖЕЛЕЗОДЕФИЦИТНОЙ АНЕМИИ В ЗВЕРОВОДСТВЕ

The key factor of non-infectious diseases of iron deficiency anemia, which slows down the growth and development of fur-bearing animals of various breeds, is a violation of iron metabolism in the body, which leads to a deterioration in the condition and quality of furs. This is due to the fact that iron is an essential element by which most of the processes and functions in the body are car-ried out. It has been shown that the use of preparations of ferrous and ferric iron leads to damage not only to the structural elements of the gastrointestinal tract, but also to other systems and organs, which is due to the fact that in the absence of oxygen in the tissues, the reduction of iron from the ferric form to the ferrous form with further transfer electrons from ferrous iron to hydrogen perox-ide causes the formation of a hydroxyl radical, which launches a program for self-destruction. It is proposed to solve the problem of the use of iron preparations for oral use in fur farming, as in-dustries where they are not used enough, to conduct research on the development and study of the effect of physiologically and pharmacologically active compounds based on a polymer (iron-hydroxide polymantose) on fur animals for the treatment and prevention of microelemetosis. It is being solved by the collective of the Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology of the Moscow State Academy of Medical Sciences and Biology. Scriabin together with the research and production company LLC Firm "A-BIO" on the basis of an analysis of literary and patent sources, production technologies, pharmacological characteristics of ongoing research to develop and study the effect of physiologically and pharmacologically active compounds based on polymer (iron-hydroxide polymantose) on fur animals in the treatment and prevention of iron deficiency anemia.

An effective analytical droplet digital PCR approach for identification and quantification of fur-bearing animal meat in raw and processed food

Available nuclear gene sequences for meat detection are still rare and little applicability in the investigation of new types of meat adulteration such as fox, mink and raccoon dog was performed. In the present work, we developed a reliable qualitative and quantitative detection method for fur-bearing animal meat based on droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Three sets of primers and probes targeted nuclear genes for fox, mink and raccoon dog were designed for ddPCR system; In addition, turkey was selected as internal reference to transform the copy numbers to the fraction of target species. Results indicated that the dynamic ranges of three fur-bearing animals were all from 1% to 90%; the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for three fur-bearing animals were same, with LOD 0.1% (w/w) and LOQ 1% (w/w). Moreover, we confirmed that different additives had no effect on quantification accuracy in the ddPCR assay.

ВЕТЕРИНАРНО-САНИТАРНАЯ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА И ТЕЧЕНИЕ БОЛЕЗНИ ВЫРАЩИВАЕМОЙ РЫБЫ В РЫБОВОДНОМ ХОЗЯЙСТВЕ, НАХОДЯЩЕМСЯ НА КАРАНТИНЕ ПО АЭРОМОНОЗУ И ВОСПАЛЕНИЮ ПЛАВАТЕЛЬНОГО ПУЗЫРЯ

The article reviews the diseases of cyprinid fish in the farm quarantined for aeromonosis and inflammation of the swim bladder. The etiology and symptoms of the disease are considered, and the pathoanatomical changes in fish. Modern methods of control and treatment of each age category of reared objects are considered. Preventive therapeutic feeding of farmed fish, vaccination, summer drying of ponds are offered. A veterinary and sanitary assessment of the farmed fish is given. Sick fish, if it has not lost its marketable appearance and meets the nutritional qualities, are allowed to eat people without restrictions. Non-market fish is sent to feed farm animals, poultry, fur-bearing animals in a boiled form or processed into fish flour. It is recommended to pay more attention to ecological methods of combating fish diseases – the use of polyculture for the effective production of marketable products (marketable fish); to increase the non-specific resistance of fish with probiotics; to use immunological methods, such as vaccination.

Состояние пушно-мехового бизнеса в мире

The paper assesses the activities of the cellular fur farming industry in the world, while noting the role of Russia. The world cellular fur farming, since the beginning of the last century, has been steadily developing and has achieved some success, annually producing 40–45 million skins, this was the optimum that allowed, along with meeting the needs of the world's population in fur, to regulate pricing policy. At the beginning of the XXI century, this balance was disturbed, some countries, such as China, Denmark, began to increase livestock, which led to overproduction of products, from this the price of fur fell. In 2020, the pandemic made adjustments, the number of caged fur-bearing animals in almost all countries sharply decreased. Question: who will have time to occupy the vacant niche? The role of Russia in this period.

“Barrage Fire”: Pyrotechnics in the Traditional Economy of Western Siberia and the Transformation of the Environment

This article carries out a comprehensive study of the use of open fire in the traditional economy of Western Siberia between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. For this purpose, the author studies the use of fire in the Russian peasant economy and by the native population of the region. The region’s environment was affected by the use of open fire while the effect of the pyrogenically altered agro-industrial structure of the region. In the article, special attention is paid to the traditional and administrative regulation of the use of fire in economic activities. The ecological-historical method considers landscape and climate zoning in the study of local economic structures. The author uses historical and ethnographic methods, handling data from field ethnography and agricultural history. Documents from the Forest Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and State Property have the greatest potential for the subject explored. Open fire was widely used by Russian peasant farms. Fields and their boundaries were singed in order to destroy stubble and weeds. Last season’s grass was burnt in the spring on pastures and meadows. In the north of the region, Russians and indigenous peoples “renewed” the forest areas where they grew berries with the help of fire. The indigenous peoples of the taiga and tundra (Khanty, Mansi, Nenets) set the taiga on fire in order to attract fur-bearing animals and renew areas grown over with reindeer moss. In order to get rid of blood-sucking insects, both Russian cattle breeders and indigenous reindeer herders could not do without smudges. Russian peasants set forests on fire in order to create spacious insect-free pastures. All the aforementioned economic methods, as well as forest industries, often led to disastrous forest fires. They were especially destructive for the agro-industrial structure of northern floodwater cultivation, plunging the economy into a prolonged depression (impoverishment of hunting, fishing, and cedar production). Forest fires in the southern taiga and forest-steppe zones not only led to forest destruction but to soil degradation, marsh drainage, and the shallowing of rivers. The Russian and indigenous communities tried to regulate fire setting and singeing. However, the restrictions quite often existed on paper only. In the mid-nineteenth century, the administration started paying attention to the problem. As a result, singeing of meadows and fields was limited to a certain spring period. At the beginning of the twentieth century, because of mass migration, anthropogenic forest fires occurred more often and, consequently, resulted in a regional catastrophe. The pyrogenic changes in the environment had an adverse effect on the region’s agro-industrial structure. The administration tightened control of the use of open fire in order to achieve economic aims.

Spleen arterial vascularization in fur-bearing animals in cages

The spleen is an unpaired parenchymal organ located in the abdominal cavity, performing immunological, filtration and hematopoietic functions and, in connection with the listed functional features, plays an essential role in the organism. Authors obtained detailed information on the arterial vascularization of the spleen of fur-bearing animals of Carnivora, since the information available in the special literature on the morphological aspects of the blood supply of the named organ is fragmentary. A comprehensive study of the spleen was carried out, which made it possible to confirm the general morphological patterns, to reveal the characteristic specific and intraspecific features of the vascularization of the spleen in fur-bearing animals in cages. The new data obtained on the morphology of the vessels vascularizing the spleen are original and give a complete picture of the organ. Analyzing the material obtained from own research, and comparing it with information from special literature, allows to assert that the blood supply to the spleen in fur-bearing animals of cellular content (silver-black fox, blue fox, sable and American mink) is carried out through the splenic artery, which also gives off branches to the stomach, pancreas and great omentum. If in the methods of branching of the splenic artery in the studied animals we note a great similarity, then in the number of branches branching from it there are significant differences. As a result of the study, it was found that the spleen is vascularized by the splenic artery extending from the celiac artery.

Morphofunctional changes in sable organs and tissues in parvovirus enteritis

High resistance of the caged sable to infectious diseases was noted during the long-term practice of fur-bearing animals breeding. But in recent years, local epizootics in sables, manifested by enteritis, have increasingly begun to appear in fur farms. Parvovirus enteritis was established in the laboratory study of pathological material from sick animals by PCR and RHA. The causative agent of this disease is a virus belonging to the Parvoviridae family, the genome of which is represented by single-stranded DNA. The structure of the virion makes all parvoviruses very stable in the external environment. Carnivore parvoviruses penetrate almost all cells of the body, and reproduce only in the most mitotically active tissues, which is the constantly reproducing intestinal epithelium. Parvoviruses are characterized, on the one hand, by a high (up to 98.5%) degree of genome identity and, on the other hand, by pronounced antigenic variability and genomic polymorphism. This indicates the possibility of interspecific transmission and damage to side (random) hosts, which can serve as a reservoir for recombination and selection of strains with new antigenic properties and species tropism. Since 2017, employees of the Research Institute of Fur-Bearing and Rabbit Breeding named after V.A. Afanasyev, monitoring studies are carried out in various animal farms of the Russian Federation, where sable is bred and from pathological material from sables that have died with clinical signs of enteritis, the DNA of parvovirus is often isolated by PCR. Since the totality of the data obtained suggests the danger of the disease for the unique Russian sable with parvovirus enteritis, the study of morphological and functional changes in sables is an urgent task.

Vladimir Arsen’ev and Whales in Russia’s Revolutionary Far East

This article examines the contributions the famous Far Eastern writer Vladimir Arsen’ev made to the development of the Russian/Soviet whaling industry in the 1920s. During that time Arsen’ev worked as a “specialist for marine mammal hunting” for Dal’rybokhota. He studied the whales of the Russian Far East and helped craft the Far Eastern Republic’s policy toward its subjects who wanted to start whaling. As someone with a deep knowledge of imperial-era environmental destruction and conservation, Arsen’ev helped develop measures designed to protect the region’s Indigenous people and fur-bearing animals while strengthening Russian sovereignty. He also advocated the wholesale slaughter of killer whales and ultimately failed to restrain destructive commercial whaling. However, in addition to adding a new chapter to Arsen’ev’s biography, his ideas about whales and whaling help us better understand the Far East’s environment history and especially the way imperial-era ideas around conservation survived into the Soviet period.

ИЗМЕНЕНИЕ СТРУКТУРЫ ВОЛОСЯНОГО ПОКРОВА СЕРЕБРИСТО-ЧЁРНЫХ ЛИСИЦ ПРИ ТРИХОФИТИИ

The results of a comparative analysis of the content of sulfur and nitrogen in the hair, the morphological state of hair in healthy and sick with trichophytosis of young silver-black foxes are presented. It was revealed that when the disease of trichophytosis in fur-bearing animals, there is a violation of the exchange of sulfur and nitrogen in the body. Sulfur is actively involved in hair syn-thesis, during which it is oxidized and converted into the final product - sulfuric acid. In addition, in the liver filter, this element helps to neutralize toxic products resulting from metabolism (phenols, cresol, and others). The study of the wool of sick and healthy fur-bearing animals revealed a change in the physiological and morphological state of the hairline. Sick animals were found to have a di-sheveled hairline with a dull sheen and lesions in the form of rounded spots covered with scales, sharply delineated and extending beyond healthy skin. The hair was brittle, he fell easily. Based on mycological analysis, as well as clinical manifestations of the disease, it was concluded that the iso-lated pathogen belonged to the species Trichophyton mentagrophytes

Comparison of Growth Characteristics and Genomics of Two Canine Distemper Virus Strains Isolated From Minks in China.

Canine distemper (CD), caused by the CDV variant strain with HI542N/Y549H, has become an epidemic in fur-bearing animals in China since 2012. To well understand the genomic and replicated characteristics of the CDV variants, we determined the viral growth kinetics and completed the genome sequences of two CDV strains, namely SDZC(17)M2 and LNDL(17)M4, isolated from CDV-infected minks from Shandong and Liaoning province in China, in 2017. SDZC(17)M2 showed higher viral titers and extensive syncytia in BHK-minkSLAM (BMS) cells than LNDL(17)M4. Although both two strains belong to the Asia-1 genotype and clustered an independent clade in the phylogenetic tree, SDZC(17)M2, harboring I542N/Y549H substitutions in the H protein, shared high identity (99.3–99.6% nt) with the other variant strains, whereas LNDL(17)M4, with the only Y549H substitution, shared a lower identity (97.7%–97.9% nt) with the other variant strains. Furthermore, a novel R223K substitution was identified in the conserved cleavage site (RRQRR → RRQKR) of the F protein in the SDZC(17)M2 strain. However, it which did not significantly affect the cell to cell fusion activity when combined with the CDV H/minkSLAM in BHK-21 cells. The key variations in the genome contributed to the virulence and the evolutionary trend need to be determined in the future.

Differences in melanin type and content among color variations in American mink (Neovison vison)

Coat colour is one of the most important qualitative traits of fur animals. Determining melanin pigments forming the basics of visible coat colour may contribute to a better understanding of the process of creating different coat colour variations in fur-bearing animals. This study aimed to (i) isolate pigment cells from the hair of American mink of 11 colour variations (standard brown, silverblue, palomino, black, wild type, sapphire, black cross, pearl, palomino cross, glow, and amber) using acid and alkali; and (ii) characterise the melanin pigments obtained. The purified pigment cells were observed under a light microscope and verified by spectrophotometry scanning and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The method allowed for obtaining pure melanin specimens. Using acid and alkali to extract eumelanosomes did not affect their shape and structure; it also allowed for obtaining pheomelanin from the hair. The results have proven that the hair colour of the American mink is based on all types of melanin, and that its variations differ in terms of how much eumelanin and pheomelanin the hair contains.

Serological evidence of the infection of H7 virus and the co-infection of H7 and H9 viruses in farmed fur–bearing animals in eastern China

Avian influenza virus (AIV) usually infects wild birds and domestic poultry; however, this virus could be transmitted to mammals and humans. The previous studies reported that the farmed mink could be infected with the H5 AIV and H9 AIV, indicating that the farmed fur-bearing animals may be susceptible to AIV. Here, we report the serological evidence of infection of H7 AIV and co-infection of H7 and H9 AIV in healthy framed fur-bearing animals. We collected serum specimens from healthy farmed fur-bearing animals (farmed mink and farmed fox) and make an investigation of serological surveillance of clade 2.3.2 H5 AIV, clade 7.2 H5 AIV, clade 2.3.4.4 H5 AIV, H7 AIV, and H9 AIV. We did not find the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies against clade 2.3.2 H5 AIV, clade 7.2 H5 AIV, or clade 2.3.4.4 H5 AIV in the serum specimens of farmed fur-bearing animals. However, we found that both farmed mink and farmed fox possess HI antibodies against H7 AIV or H9 AIV; furthermore, we found that some serum specimens possess both anti-H7 AIV antibodies and anti-H9 AIV HI antibodies, suggesting that one farmed fur-bearing animal can be infected with two different subtype AIVs and may play an important role in the reassortment course of the novel avian influenza viruses. Taken together, our data suggested that the enhanced surveillance of AIV in farmed fur-bearing animals and humans or animals in close contact with them is needed.