Mustelids Research Articles

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.

Short Communication: Proportion faunal assemblages of carnivorous mammals in geoecological districts of Mordovia, Russia

Abstract. Andreychev A. 2021. Short Communication: Proportion faunal assemblages of carnivorous mammals in geoecological districts of Mordovia, Russia. Biodiversitas 22: 4625-4632. In the forest-steppe area, carnivorous mammals are represented by species of different faunistic assemblages. This circumstance makes the study region a priority since the species of which faunistic assemblages prevail is of interest. Fifteen carnivorous species have been identified in the territory of Mordovia. Among them, the family Mustelidae predominates in terms of the number of species. The species are found in all geoecological districts, but their distribution is uneven. The most notable species in the region are located in coniferous and broad-leaved forests (40%) and species widely distributed in several natural areas (40%). 13% of the total number of noted species belong to the taiga fauna types. The steppe type of fauna is represented by only 7% of the total number of recorded species. For each geoecological region, the fauna features are given, and a list of rare and exciting species is given. The forest-steppe zone to which Mordovia belongs is compared by the fauna of carnivorous mammals with other regions from three typical faunal assemblages.

Порівняльний аналіз раціону представників родин Mustelidae та Canidae

The article analyzes 151 food samples of carnivoran mammals of two families. It was found that the diet includes 49 food items in the studied species of the family Canidae and 42 items in species of the family Mustelidae, of both plant and animal origin. It was revealed that plant food is an important component of the diet of predators, since the frequency of registration of these objects is 46.4%. Most often, it is the remains of cereals and plant seeds. Rodents are the main food for both families (19% in Canidae, 21% in Mustelidae). A seasonal change in diet for both families was noted. Members of the family Mustelidae consume plants more often in summer and winter, while in in spring and autumn mammals prevail in their diet when the share of juicy fruits is the lowest. Rodents are consumed throughout the year, but their largest share was noted in spring, when this family is characterized by the greatest variety of food (Shannon's index is 2.0). For members of the family Canidae, the most important component of the diet in winter is dry fruits. The number of rodents in their diet also increases in spring. The summer period is characterized by the consumption of invertebrates and the absence of animal carcasses in the diet. In autumn, the share of juicy fruits increases and during this period the diet of Canidae is the most diverse (1.9). The lowest variety of food in species of the two families was registered in summer. Competition between the studied families may increase in spring when the most important food for the representatives of both Canidae and Mustelidae is rodents. There are some sex-related trophic preferences in both families. In particular, males of the family Mustelidae consume rodents more often (68.7%), while females more often feed on plants (56.1%). As for the family Canidae, the analysis was carried out on the example of the red fox. It was found that females of this species prefer plant foods and there are no ungulates in their diet. Males consume fewer plants (41.4%) and often forage in cattle burial grounds and landfills. Accordingly, the diet of males is more diverse compared to that in females. The Shannon index is 3.3 and 2.5, respectively.

Impacts of forest fires on the number of hunting fauna populations in Irkutsk region

Using the statistical data for 2004-2018, the dynamics of forest fires and the number of hunting and fishing fauna in Irkutsk region and in one of its specially protected natural area - Olkhon district as part of the Baikal national Park were studied. Against the background of the positive dynamics of forest fire indicators, the dependence of the number of animals on their family, species and fires in adjacent areas and the region as a whole was established. The linear correlations confirmed the positive impact of fires on the population of deer (Cervidae), canids (Canidae), cats (Felidae), bears (Ursidae) and pheasants (Phasianidae), determined by the migration of animals from mountainous areas. The unstable and negative population dynamics was revealed for the Kunya family (Mustelidae).

Mink, SARS-CoV-2, and the Human-Animal Interface.

Mink are small carnivores of the Mustelidae family. The American mink is the most common and was imported to Europe, Asia, and Latin America for breeding, as its fur is very popular. Denmark, the Netherlands, and China are the biggest producers of mink. Mink farms with a high population density in very small areas and a low level of genetic heterogeneity are places conducive to contagion. The mink’s receptor for SARS-CoV-2 is very similar to that of humans. Experimental models have shown the susceptibility of the ferret, another mustelid, to become infected with SARS-CoV-2 and to transmit it to other ferrets. On April 23, 2020, for the first time, an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a mink farm was reported in the Netherlands. Since then, COVID-19 has reached numerous mink farms in the Netherlands, Denmark, United States, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, and Canada. Not only do mink become infected from each other, but also they are capable of infecting humans, including with virus variants that have mutated in mink. Human infection with variant mink viruses with spike mutations led to the culling in Denmark of all mink in the country. Several animals can be infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, anthropo-zoonotic outbreaks have only been reported in mink farms. The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 in mink farms raises questions regarding their potential role at the onset of the pandemic and the impact of mutants on viral fitness, contagiousness, pathogenicity, re-infections with different mutants, immunotherapy, and vaccine efficacy.

Molt of the American mink, depending on the genotype and nature of the behavior

The object of research was the American mink, a predator, a semi-aquatic representative of the mustelidae family. The study was carried out on an adult population of males and females of the 22nd generation of different behavioral types and genotypes at the Experimental Fur Farm of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The total number of studied animals was 547 ones of the Standard dark brown (+/+), Hedlund-white (h/h) and black crystal (CR/ +) genotypes. All animals were kept in the same conditions and received food edlibitum (lat. – full) on a unified ratio once a day in the afternoon. The research results were processed using a standard biometric method. The comparison was carried out according to the Student’s test. The aim of this work was to study the course of molting of the American mink depending on the genotype, behavioral character and gender of animals. At the end of August, a visual assessment of the course of molt along the tail was carried out. Points were assigned individually to each animal (from 0 to 5 points). During the study of the molting process of the American mink, it was found that in male aggressors of the black crystal and headlund genotypes, molting proceeded much more intensively than in animals of the standard genotype (by 1.9 and 1.3 points), and in females of the aggressive type of behavior of the standard genotype it was faster than in females of genotypes headlund and black crystal (by 1.8 and 1.6 points). When comparing gender data in animals of different genotypes and behavioral reactions, the best molt course was found in male aggressors of the Hedlund and Black Crystal genotypes in comparison with females of the same genotypes (by 0.6 and 0.5 points, respectively). Due to domestication and selection, changes occur in the economically useful traits of animals. Research in this area makes it possible to study these processes and apply them in practice. Ignoring the biological characteristics of minks creates a threat to the emergence and development of serious abnormalities in metabolism, which can lead to a decrease in productivity and even death.

The Role of Mustelids in the Transmission of Sarcocystis spp. Using Cattle as Intermediate Hosts.

Simple SummaryMembers of the genus Sarcocystis are worldwide distributed protozoan parasites. Sarcocystis infections cause great losses in economically important animals. There is a lack of studies on Sarcocystis in naturally infected wild predators, especially of the family Mustelidae which represent a presumably important group of definitive hosts of these parasites. The objective of the present study was to examine the small intestine samples of various mustelid species from Lithuania serving as a possible source of Sarcocystis spp. using cattle as intermediate hosts. Overall, 84 samples collected from five mustelid species were analyzed. Oocysts/sporocysts of Sarcocystis spp. were detected in 75 animals (89.3%). Using molecular methods four Sarcocystis spp., S. bovifelis, S. cruzi, S. hirsuta and S. hominis were identified, with the first two being the most prevalent. These results indicate that mustelids are involved in the transmission of Sarcocystis spp. using cattle as intermediate hosts. The determined high prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. rates cause concerns about food safety issues. To control the spread of infection, further studies on the way carcasses of cattle or beef waste become accessible to mustelids are needed.There is a lack of research on the role of mustelids in the transmission of various Sarcocystis spp. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that widespread mustelids in Lithuania could be involved in the transmission of Sarcocystis spp. using cattle as intermediate hosts. In 2016–2020, intestinal samples of 84 mustelids were examined. Sarcocystis spp. were identified by species-specific PCR targeting the cox1 gene and subsequent sequencing. Under a light microscope, oocysts/sporocysts of Sarcocystis spp. were observed in 40 samples (47.6%), while using molecular methods, they were detected in 75 animals (89.3%). Four Sarcocystis spp. were identified in the intestinal samples of American mink (Neovison vison), Beech marten (Martes foina), European pine marten (Martes martes), European badger (Meles meles) and European polecat (Mustela putorius). The prevalence of predominant Sarcocystis spp., S. bovifelis (89.3%) and S. cruzi (73.8%) was significantly higher than that of S. hirsuta (3.6%) and S. hominis (1.2%). In an individual sample, most frequently two Sarcocystis spp. were identified (69.0%), then a single species (15.5%) and three species (4.8%). The present study provides strong evidence that mustelids serve as definitive hosts for Sarcocystis spp. using cattle as intermediate hosts.

First mitochondrial genome of the marbled polecat Vormela peregusna (Carnivora, Mustelidae)

The marbled polecat, Vormela peregusna, is one of the least studied species in the Mustelidae family, especially with regard to phylogeography and genetic diversity. In this study, we determined the mitochondrial genome sequence of V. peregusna and investigated its position within the Mustelidae phylogeny. The generated mitogenome is 15,982 bp in length; it consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a control region.

Manejo de filhotes de furão-pequeno (Galictis cuja)

The lesser grison (Galictis cuja) is a mammal that belongs to the Mustelidae family and is found in a number of countries in South America. This article describes the nutritional and biometric data and clinical parameters for four G. cuja pups cared for at the Núcleo de Reabilitação da Fauna Silvestre e Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres (Nurfs/Cetas) [Nucleus for the Rehabilitation of Wild Fauna and Wild Animal Evaluation Centre] of Universidade Federal de Pelotas, RS, Brazil. The pups were assessed clinically and subject to nutritional and biometric monitoring in order to learn more about the species and its development rate, given the lack of information available in the literature. All the pups demonstrated gradual body growth from arrival until the moment of release, and the nutritional management regime was shown to be appropriate for raising G. cuja in captivity.

SARS-CoV-2 and the human-animal interface: outbreaks on mink farms

SARS-CoV-2 and the human-animal interface: outbreaks on mink farms

Isolation and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Canine Distemper Virus from a Naturally Infected Dog in China

Background: Canine distemper virus (CDV) can infect a variety of predators, such as Canidae, Mustelidae and Procyonidae family and cause high morbidity and mortality. Genetic/antigenic heterogeneity has been observed among various CDV strains, notably in the haemagglutinin (H) gene. Based on sequence analysis of the H gene, wild-type CDV strains can be divided into distinct genotypes. Methods: We used Vero/SLAM cells to isolate CDV strains from clinically naturally infected dog tissues. Here, the H gene sequence of the isolated strain was analyzed for the restriction enzyme polymorphism with RT-PCR-RFLP method and the method could be used to distinguish CDV vaccine strains from wild-type strains. Furthermore, the genetic and antigenic variation of the H gene was also analyzed.Result: Our results indicated that Vero cells expressing canine SLAM allow the efficient isolation of CDV wild-type strains. The isolated CDV was named Shandong strain. Phylogenetic analysis identified that Shandong strain was CDV wild-type strain, the Asian genotype I. Analysis of the potential glycosylation site of the H gene and determination of the neutralization titer PD50 showed that there were immunogenic differences between the Shandong strain and the vaccine strains.

The diencephalon of two carnivore species: The feliform banded mongoose and the caniform domestic ferret.

This study provides an analysis of the cytoarchitecture, myeloarchitecture, and chemoarchitecture of the diencephalon (dorsal thalamus, ventral thalamus, and epithalamus) of the banded mongoose (Mungos mungo) and domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo). Using architectural and immunohistochemical stains, we observe that the nuclear organization of the diencephalon is very similar in the two species, and similar to that reported in other carnivores, such as the domestic cat and dog. The same complement of putatively homologous nuclei were identified in both species, with only one variance, that being the presence of the perireticular nucleus in the domestic ferret, that was not observed in the banded mongoose. The chemoarchitecture was also mostly consistent between species, although there were a number of minor variations across a range of nuclei in the density of structures expressing the calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin, calbindin, and calretinin. Thus, despite almost 53 million years since these two species of carnivores shared a common ancestor, strong phylogenetic constraints appear to limit the potential for adaptive evolutionary plasticity within the carnivore order. Apart from the presence of the perireticular nucleus, the most notable difference between the species studied was the physical inversion of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, as well as the lateral posterior and pulvinar nuclei in the domestic ferret compared to the banded mongoose and other carnivores, although this inversion appears to be a feature of the Mustelidae family. While no functional sequelae are suggested, this inversion is likely to result from the altricial birth of Mustelidae species.

Harnessing the strategy of metagenomics for exploring the intestinal microecology of sable (Martes zibellina), the national first-level protected animal

Sable (Martes zibellina), a member of family Mustelidae, order Carnivora, is primarily distributed in the cold northern zone of Eurasia. The purpose of this study was to explore the intestinal flora of the sable by metagenomic library-based techniques. Libraries were sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq 4000 instrument. The effective sequencing data of each sample was above 6000 M, and the ratio of clean reads to raw reads was over 98%. The total ORF length was approximately 603,031, equivalent to 347.36 Mbp. We investigated gene functions with the KEGG database and identified 7140 KEGG ortholog (KO) groups comprising 129,788 genes across all of the samples. We selected a subset of genes with the highest abundances to construct cluster heat maps. From the results of the KEGG metabolic pathway annotations, we acquired information on gene functions, as represented by the categories of metabolism, environmental information processing, genetic information processing, cellular processes and organismal systems. We then investigated gene function with the CAZy database and identified functional carbohydrate hydrolases corresponding to genes in the intestinal microorganisms of sable. This finding is consistent with the fact that the sable is adapted to cold environments and requires a large amount of energy to maintain its metabolic activity. We also investigated gene functions with the eggNOG database; the main functions of genes included gene duplication, recombination and repair, transport and metabolism of amino acids, and transport and metabolism of carbohydrates. In this study, we attempted to identify the complex structure of the microbial population of sable based on metagenomic sequencing methods, which use whole metagenomic data, and to map the obtained sequences to known genes or pathways in existing databases, such as CAZy, KEGG, and eggNOG. We then explored the genetic composition and functional diversity of the microbial community based on the mapped functional categories.

Distribution and characteristics of Beilong virus among wild rodents and shrews in China

Beilong virus (BeiV), a member of the newly recognized genus Jeilongvirus of family Paramyxoviridae, has been reported with limited geographic and host scopes, only in Hongkong, China and from two rat species. Here, by next-generation sequencing (NGS) on dominant wild small animal species in 4 provinces in China, we obtained a complete sequence of BeiV strain from Rattus norvegicus in Guangdong, neighboring HongKong, China. We then made an expanded epidemiological investigation in 11 provinces to obtain the geographic distribution and genetic features of this virus. Altogether 7168 samples from 2005 animals (1903 rodents, 100 shrews, 2 mustelidaes) that belonged to 33 species of Cricetidae, Muridae, Sciuridae and Dipodidae family of Rodentia, 3 species of Soricidae family of Soricomorpha, 2 species of Mustelidae family of Carnivora were examined by RT-PCR and sequencing. A positive rate of 3.7% (266/7168) was obtained that was detected from 22 animal species, including 5 species of Cricetidae family, 12 species of Muridae family, 2 species of Sciuridae family and 3 species of Soricidae family. Phylogenetic analyses based on 154 partial Large gene sequences grouped the current BeiV into two lineages, that were related to their geographic regions and animal hosts. Our study showed the wide distribution of BeiV in common species of wild rodents and shrews in China, highlighting the necessity of epidemiological study in wider regions.

On the occurrence of Honey Badger Mellivora capensis (Mammalia: Carnivora: Mustelidae) in the northern Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, India

The Honey Badger or Ratel is a monotypic species of the badger family Mustelidae ranging across Africa and Asia at low densities. There have been no records of their presence and distribution across the Eastern Ghats of India. The present note reports the first camera trap record of the Honey Badger Mellivora capensis Schreber, 1776 from the reserved forests of the northern Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Papillary architecture in the tayra tongue.

The tayra (Eira barbara) is a mammal belonging to the Mustelidae family that occurs in all Brazilian biomes. The present work aimed to describe the morphology of the tongue of these specimens highlighting their structures and particularities that will serve as a subsidy to elucidate the anatomy of the same and for comparative studies among other species of domestic and wild animals. Five adult male specimens of E.barbara were studied, which were fixed using 10% aqueous formaldehyde solution. The tongue was removed by opening the oral cavity and separating the maxillary/mandible bone complex. Being in possession of the material, photodocumentations and collection of the fragments were made for the proper preparation of histological slides and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The lingual papillae found in tayra were mechanical: filiform and conical; and gustative: fungiform and circumvallated. Histologically, the papillae are constituted by keratinized stratified epithelium and in the innermost region, it was composed of tissue connective dense unshaped followed by a layer of muscle bundles of skeletal striated. In the region of the root of the tongue of E.barbara, there were a set of small mixed salivary glands (serous and mucous) and the punctual presence of gustatory corpuscles at the level of epithelium. The morphological description of the E.barbara tongue revealed similarity to that described in literature for other domestic and wild mammals. However, the particularity of the absence of foliate papilla and the quantitative of four papillae circumvallate in the region of the root of the tongue of this species.

Eimeria melogale n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in the Javan ferret-badger (Melogale orientalis)

The Javan ferret-badger Melogale orientalis (Carnivora: Mustelidae: Helictidinae) is a small carnivore endemic to Indonesia. In the family Mustelidae, 10 Eimeria, 12 Cystoisopora, one Isospora, and one Hammondia species are known, but no eimeriid coccidia has been yet described in the subfamily Helictinidae (ferret badgers). Coproscopic examination of Javan ferret-badgers imported into the Czech Republic revealed the presence of coccidian oocysts. Sporulated oocysts differ from other Eimeria known in the family Mustelidae by their small size (12.4–16.1 × 10.4–13.4 μm) and ovoidal shape. Morphological data and phylogenetic analyses of 18S rRNA and COI genes indicated a new species of Eimeria found in faecal samples of Javan ferret badgers. The species is described as E. melogale n. sp.

Forest fires and their environmental problems on the territory of Irkutsk Region

The dynamics of forest fires in the Irkutsk region and its districts was studied. Over the past 30 years, there has been a tendency to increase the area of forest fires covered by fire. Areas with high forest burning were identified. Dynamics of the content of Benzo(a)pyrene in the atmosphere of cities and indicators of fires in the region and its districts are compared. It is established that the content of Benzo(a)pyrene in the air in many cities linearly depends on the area of forest fires. Dynamics of forest fires and the number of hunting fauna in the Irkutsk region districts were studied. With the help of linear correlations, the positive impact of fires on the population of the family of deer (Cervidae), canids (Canidae), cats (Felidae), bears (Ursidae) and pheasants (Phasianidae), due to one of such factors as the migration of animals from the burning nearby areas, was confirmed. Unstable and negative population dynamics was revealed for the populations of the Kunya family (Mustelidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence and phylogenetic analysis of yellow weasel (Mustela sibirica)

In this study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the Mustela sibirica. The complete mitogenome of M. sibirica is 16,529 bp in length and consist of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a D-loop region. The overall base composition of the mitochondrial DNA is 32.88%A, 13.84%G, 27.32%T, and 25.96%C. The phylogenetic tree of the family Mustelidae constructed by using mitogenome sequences from 10 mustelid species of the family Mustelidae. These results provide necessary information for molecular phylogeny and evolutionary analysis of the M. sibirica.

THE CURRENT SITUATION ANALYSIS AT THE PARASITE FAUNA OF SEMI-AQUATIC CARNIVORES OF THE WEASEL FAMILY IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Most members of the Mustelidae family living in the Central Non-Black Earth Region of Russia are the objects of sport and commercial hunting. Some of them are bred in fur farms (mink, polecat) and kept at home as decorative animals. The close contact of a person with various members of the family of mustelids, which increase with the development of urbanization processes, makes significant role of mustelids as sources of dangerous invasions for humans and animals (trichinosis, echinococcosis, etc.). We examined 48 ferrets, 107 American minks, 25 European minks, and 11 otters in order to determine the species composition of animal parasites, in the period 2000–2018. They were examined according to methods commonly used in parasitology about muscle tissue, internal organs, and thoracic and abdominal cavity. Animals for research were obtained from hunters from the Central region of the Russian Federation. Studies have shown that ferrets are invased with 8 species of parasites belonging to two classes: Trematoda (3 species) and Nematoda (5 species). The parasitic fauna of the minks was represented by 15 species of worms: Trematoda (2 species), Cestoda (1 species), Nematoda (12 species). The American mink is infested with 14 helminth species and the European mink with 11 species. Otters were infested with 2 classes of parasites: Trematoda (1 species) and Nematoda (1 species). We explain the high contamination of ferrets and minks of E. perfoliatus by the constant presence of animals at the reservoirs where the intermediate owners of helminths (fish) live. Also, a significant proportion in the diet of many species of weasels are tailless amphibians (frogs), which explains the infection of semi-aquatic animals with an unusual species of trematodes Alaria alata (larvae).