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Barsøe S, Ullman K, Leijon M, Hedlund KO, Klingström J, Krarup LI, Andresen L, Quaade ML, Hammer AS. RT-qPCR assay for detection of mink astrovirus in outbreaks of diarrhea on Danish mink farms. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252022. [PMID: 34038467 PMCID: PMC8153481 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Diarrhea in mink kits is a major cause of disease and mortality in the mink production. The etiology remains unknown in most outbreaks due to a lack of diagnostic assays. In the current study we present an RT-qPCR method to detect mink astrovirus in fecal samples from mink kits with diarrhea. All sampled animals were classified based on age and patoanatomical evaluation as having pre-weaning diarrhea, diarrhea in the growth period or as having no macroscopic signs of diarrhea. Fecal samples were analyzed for MiAstV with RT-qPCR, next generation sequencing and electron microscopy in parallel. Mink astrovirus was detected with RT-qPCR in 92 out of 203 samples. This detection was confirmed by next generation sequencing in a high proportion of samples (22/27), and by visualization of astrovirus particles with EM in some of the samples. Mink astrovirus was highly prevalent (68%) among kits in the outbreaks of pre-weaning diarrhea, in particular outbreaks from May, while less prevalent in outbreaks in June. Mink astrovirus was detected in outbreaks of diarrhea in the growth period, though in a much lesser extent than in the pre-weaning period. The role of mink astrovirus in the diarrhea disease complex of mink remain to be investigated, and for that purpose this sensitive and robust RT-qPCR can be a valuable tool in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Barsøe
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Karin Ullman
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mikael Leijon
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Jonas Klingström
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Louise Iuel Krarup
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Lars Andresen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Michelle Lauge Quaade
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Anne Sofie Hammer
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
- * E-mail:
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Birch JM, Leijon M, Nielsen SS, Struve T, Jensen HE. Visualization of intestinal infections with astro- and sapovirus in mink ( Neovison vison) kits by in situ hybridization. FEMS MICROBES 2021; 2:xtab005. [PMID: 37334236 PMCID: PMC10117860 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtab005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Clarification of the infection microbiology remains a challenge in the pre-weaning diarrhea (PWD) syndrome in farmed mink (Neovison vison). Duodenal, jejunal and colon sections from 36 mink kits with PWD were systematically examined by chromogen in situ hybridization targeting two incriminated viruses: mink astrovirus and mink sapovirus. Using the RNAscope® 2.5 HD Duplex Assay, astrovirus and sapovirus were visualized and simultaneously demonstrated in the gut tissue. Both viruses infect enterocytes in the small intestine with a specific localization pattern; astrovirus affects the two apical thirds of the villi, whereas sapovirus generally affects the basal parts of the villi. Furthermore, we demonstrated that astrovirus in mink does not target the goblet cells. This is the first time astro- and calicivirus have been visualized in mink kit gut tissue, and these findings might be important in clarification of the impact of these viruses in the PWD syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Melsted Birch
- Section for Pathobiological Sciences, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
- Kopenhagen Fur, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Mikael Leijon
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute, 751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Søren Saxmose Nielsen
- Section for Animal Welfare and Disease Control, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | | | - Henrik Elvang Jensen
- Section for Pathobiological Sciences, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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Birch JM, Agger JF, Leijon M, Ullman K, Struve T, Jensen HE. Comparing the treatment effect of narrow spectrum antimicrobial, probiotic and fluid with amoxicillin in mink kits (Neovison vison) with pre-weaning diarrhea. Res Vet Sci 2019; 125:121-129. [PMID: 31207535 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2019.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Pre-weaning diarrhea in mink kits (PWD), also known as "sticky kits" is a multifactorial syndrome of considerable concern in the mink production. Evidence based treatment protocols are not available, and treatment is therefore empirical and often based on the use of antimicrobials. The purpose of the study was to test the effect of 3 alternative treatments to a standard antibiotic treatment, to characterize the study groups microbiologically, and finally to compare the intestinal microbiota of the different treatment groups at the age of 42 days. In total, 226 one to three week old mink kits with PWD from 36 litters were treated with either 1) Lactobacillus reuteri, 2) benzylpenicillin, 3) Ringer lactate or 4) amoxicillin (controls). Effects of the treatments were measured as weight gain from day 0 to day 15 and mortality. Multivariable linear mixed model regression showed no significant difference in weight gain between probiotic-, penicillin or fluid-treated mink kits and the amoxicillin treated controls. There was also no significant difference in mortality risk between the treatment groups. Bacterial culture and next generation sequencing of the viral contents showed that the study groups were uniform with a high frequency of Staphylococcus intermedius group (SIG) bacteria, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus hirae, Mamastrovirus and Sapovirus which were representative for mink kits with PWD. 16S sequencing results of the bacterial microbiota, when the kits were 42 days old were dominated by clostridia in all groups and showed no clear differences in the bacterial composition between the different treatment groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Melsted Birch
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
| | - Jens Frederik Agger
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Mikael Leijon
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Ullman
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tina Struve
- Kopenhagen Fur Diagnostics, Kopenhagen Fur, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Henrik Elvang Jensen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
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Birch JM, Frandsen HL, Struve T, Agger JF, Jensen HE. Transfer of amoxicillin to suckling mink (Neovison vison) kits via the milk from dams treated orally or intra-muscularly. Res Vet Sci 2018; 123:47-50. [PMID: 30586651 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2018.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of mink kits with pre-weaning diarrhea (PWD) can be time-consuming and expensive for the farmer, and the efficacy of the treatment procedure may be questioned. Evidence-based treatment protocols for application on affected animals at farms with outbreaks of PWD are lacking. In Denmark, the dams are sometimes treated with amoxicillin, however, it is unknown if it is passed on to the mink kits via the milk. The aim of the present study was to investigate if amoxicillin is transferred via the milk to the kits after oral (PO) and intramuscular (IM) treatment, respectively, of the dam. Moreover, we estimated the concentrations of amoxicillin continuously in serum from the kits up to 8 h after administration. The concentration of amoxicillin was not affected by the route of administration (P = .64) and serum reached the highest level after 8 h (34 ng/mL, CI95% = [24.3-47.7]). The serum concentrations of amoxicillin in the mink kits achieved within 8 h were judged too low to exert antimicrobial impact on relevant bacterial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Melsted Birch
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Ridebanevej 3, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
| | - Henrik Lauritz Frandsen
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 202, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Tina Struve
- Kopenhagen Fur, Langagervej 60, DK-2400 Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Jens Frederik Agger
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 8, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Henrik Elvang Jensen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Ridebanevej 3, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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Birch JM, Agger JF, Aalbæk B, Struve T, Hammer AS, Jensen HE. Dam characteristics associated with pre-weaning diarrhea in mink (Neovison vison). Acta Vet Scand 2018; 60:73. [PMID: 30419935 PMCID: PMC6233364 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-018-0427-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pre-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in mink, also known as "sticky kits", is a frequently occurring syndrome in suckling mink kits on commercial mink farms. Outbreaks of PWD result in weakened kits, increased mortality and reduced growth and welfare as well as considerable economic losses for the farmers. The syndrome is regarded as multifactorial with a complex etiology, and studies have focused on associations with environment, management and dam characteristics. The present study was conducted from May to June 2015 and included 70 dams with mink litters with and without PWD. The aims were to examine associations between PWD and mastitis (bacterial infection and histological signs of inflammation or other lesions in the mammary gland), and to examine associations between PWD and other dam-related characteristics (age, litter size, body mass index, and weight and number of active mammary glands of the dam). RESULTS Using multivariable mixed logistic regression analyses with farm id as a random intercept, we found that the odds for PWD in the litter were significantly higher in 1 year old dams versus > 1 year old (OR = 13.3, CI 2.0-90.2, P = 0.01), higher if litter size observed after birth was > 5 kits versus ≤ 5 kits (OR = 16.5, CI 2.2-123.7, P = 0.01), higher if the number of active mammary glands per kit was ≤ 1.5 versus > 1.5 glands per kit (OR = 6.5, CI 1.2-36.0), P = 0.03), and higher in farms with high prevalence of PWD versus low prevalence (OR = 16.8, CI 2.9-97.6, P = 0.002). There were no significant associations between PWD and bacterial infection, histological signs of inflammation or other lesions of the mammary gland, body mass index or weight of mammary gland per kit. CONCLUSION Pre-weaning diarrhea had a statistically significant association with age of the dam, litter size and the number of active mammary glands per kit. However, PWD was not associated with mastitis, body mass index and weight of mammary gland tissue per kit.
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Birch JM, Ullman K, Struve T, Agger JF, Hammer AS, Leijon M, Jensen HE. Investigation of the viral and bacterial microbiota in intestinal samples from mink (Neovison vison) with pre-weaning diarrhea syndrome using next generation sequencing. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205890. [PMID: 30335814 PMCID: PMC6193705 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Pre-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in mink kits is a common multifactorial syndrome on commercial mink farms. Several potential pathogens such as astroviruses, caliciviruses, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus delphini have been studied, but the etiology of the syndrome seems complex. In pooled samples from 38 diarrheic and 42 non-diarrheic litters, each comprising of intestinal contents from 2-3 mink kits from the same litter, the bacterial populations were studied using Illumina Next Generation Sequencing technology and targeted 16S amplicon sequencing. In addition, we used deep sequencing to determine and compare the viral intestinal content in 31 healthy non-diarrheic and 30 diarrheic pooled samples (2-3 mink kits from the same litter per pool). The results showed high variations in composition of the bacterial species between the pools. Enterococci, staphylococci and streptococci dominated in both diarrheic and non-diarrheic pools. However, enterococci accounted for 70% of the reads in the diarrheic group compared to 50% in the non-diarrheic group and this increase was at the expense of staphylococci and streptococci which together accounted for 45% and 17% of the reads in the non-diarrheic and diarrheic group, respectively. Moreover, in the diarrheic pools there were more reads assigned to Clostridia, Escherichia-Shigella and Enterobacter compared to the non-diarrheic pools. The taxonomically categorized sequences from the virome showed that the most prevalent viruses in all pools were caliciviruses and mamastroviruses (almost exclusively type 10). However, the numbers of reads assigned to caliciviruses were almost 3 times higher in the diarrheic pools compared the non-diarrheic pools and Sapporo-like caliciviruses were more abundant than the Norwalk-like caliciviruses. The results from this study have contributed to the insight into the changes in the intestinal microbiota associated with the PWD syndrome of mink.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Melsted Birch
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Karin Ullman
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tina Struve
- Kopenhagen Fur Diagnostics, Kopenhagen Fur, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Jens Frederik Agger
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Anne Sofie Hammer
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Mikael Leijon
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Henrik Elvang Jensen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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Mathiesen R, Birch JM, Chriél M, Jensen HE, Agger JF, Heegaard PMH, Struve T. Mink (Neovison vison) kits with pre-weaning diarrhea have elevated serum amyloid A levels and intestinal pathomorphological similarities with New Neonatal Porcine Diarrhea Syndrome. Acta Vet Scand 2018; 60:48. [PMID: 30111375 PMCID: PMC6094914 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-018-0403-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pre-weaning diarrhea (PWD) is a syndrome affecting farm-raised neonatal mink kits. Apart from diarrhea it causes greasy skin exudation, dehydration, and distressed behavior and can ultimately lead to death. No specific causative agents have been identified and the syndrome is regarded as multifactorial. The aim of the present study was to investigate a possible inflammatory state in mink kits with PWD, as indicated by raised serum concentrations of the acute phase protein serum amyloid A (SAA) and by changes in intestinal pathomorphology and intestinal contents of bacteria. Samples collected from 20 diarrheic mink kits with PWD and 20 age-matched non-diarrheic control mink kits from two commercial Danish farms during the pre-weaning period (April–May) in 2016 were analyzed. Results Concentrations of SAA in serum samples from mink kits with PWD were significantly higher (up to 1000-fold) compared to non-diarrheic control mink kits. Significant features of enterocytic vacuolization, atrophy and fusion of villi in jejunum and mucosal atrophy of the colon of kits with PWD were found. Moreover, attachment of coccoid bacteria to enterocytes was more often found in kits suffering from PWD, while intra-cytoplasmic eosinophil bodies were more frequently observed in control kits. Cellular infiltrations with mononuclear and neutrophil leukocytes were not associated with disease status. Bacteria from the Staphylococcus intermedius group, such as Staphylococcus delphini, were more frequently cultivated from control mink kits, whereas Enterococcus spp. dominated in mink kits with PWD. Escherichia coli was cultivated from both control and mink kits with PWD, but with a higher frequency from mink kits with PWD. Conclusion A significant increase in circulating concentrations of SAA was found in PWD affected mink kits from 6 to 23 days old compared to controls. The histopathological changes in PWD mink kits suggest that the type of diarrhea is secretory. Attachment of coccoid bacteria, therefore, might be responsible for an enterotoxic effect causing a loss of balance in movements of ions and water leading to the vacuolization and swelling of the enterocytes. The slight to moderate infiltrations of neutrophils irrespectively of diarrheic status and the attachment of coccoid bacteria to enterocytes are comparable to observations found in piglets suffering from New Neonatal Porcine Diarrhea Syndrome. Mechanisms behind the correlation between increased SAA levels and the observed pathological intestinal features remain obscure.
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Compo N, Pearl DL, Tapscott B, Storer A, Hammermueller J, Brash M, Turner PV. On-farm biosecurity practices and causes of preweaning mortality in Canadian commercial mink kits. Acta Vet Scand 2017; 59:57. [PMID: 28886754 PMCID: PMC5591539 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-017-0326-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mink are an important animal commodity group in Canada and excessive kit mortality represents a significant loss to production. National biosecurity standards have been developed for Canadian mink farms, but it is unclear how well these standards have been implemented as there are no studies correlating management practices of mink producers with causes of death in mink kits. To that end, we surveyed Ontario mink producers on their biosecurity and management practices and conducted almost 5660 post mortem examinations on found-dead, preweaned kits to characterize mink farm biosecurity practices and causes of death in preweaned kits. Results We found that very few biosecurity and management practices were uniformly used by producers, despite good awareness of appropriate practices. Use of personal protective equipment was implemented by fewer than 50% of respondents, while control of mink shed access, disinfection of feed containers after use, and use of a rodent control program were the only practices implemented by greater than 70% of respondents. Only 18% of producers reported regular use of antimicrobials in feed or water, although 91% stated they used antimicrobials for treatment of bacterial diseases on a regular basis. On post mortem examination, no gross abnormalities were noted in 71% of the kits, 45% were thought to be stillborn or aborted, 27% had some form of abnormal fluid distribution in the body, and 2% had a congenital malformation. A subset of 69 gastrointestinal tract samples was submitted for bacterial culture, of which 45 samples yielded sufficient growth. Most interesting was the identification of Salmonella enterica serovar Heidelberg in 11% of samples. Conclusions The results of this study will provide a benchmark for Canadian mink producers and their veterinarians, defining the areas to which greater attention should be given to ensure more rigorous biosecurity practices are in place. Ultimately, these improvements in practices may contribute to increased mink production and animal well-being. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13028-017-0326-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Birch JM, Agger JF, Dahlin C, Jensen VF, Hammer AS, Struve T, Jensen HE. Risk factors associated with diarrhea in Danish commercial mink (Neovison vison) during the pre-weaning period. Acta Vet Scand 2017; 59:43. [PMID: 28662678 PMCID: PMC5492706 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-017-0312-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pre-weaning diarrhea in mink, also known as "sticky kits", is a syndrome and outbreaks occur every year on commercial mink farms in all mink producing countries. Morbidity and mortality can be considerable on a farm with huge economic consequences for the farmer as well as compromised welfare for the mink kits. Although efforts have been taken to identify etiologic agents involved in outbreaks, the syndrome is still regarded as multifactorial and recurring problems on the same farms draw attention to management and environmental risk factors. In the pre-weaning period from May to June 2015, a case control study was carried out on 30 Danish mink farms. Data concerning management, biosecurity, hygiene, feed consumption, antibacterial prescription and production efficiency were analyzed. RESULTS The proportion of 1-year old females, farm size (total number of females), energy supply per female in the late gestation period, and dogs accessing the farm area were significantly associated with being a case farm. Case farms were prescribed almost twice the amount of antibacterials per gestational unit (female and litter) as in control farms. Farmers on case farms spent significantly more time nursing and treating the animals and experienced more females with mastitis compared to farmers on control farms. No significant differences in cleaning practices or hygienic measures between case and control farms were found and there were no differences in drinking water quality, bedding material, composition neither of color types nor in management regarding litter equalization. CONCLUSIONS Results from this study showed an association between the occurrence of pre-weaning diarrhea on mink farms and parity profile, farm size and feeding intensity in the gestational period. The access of dogs to the farm area was a significant risk factor, but needs further clarification.
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Sledge DG, Danieu PK, Bolin CA, Bolin SR, Lim A, Anderson BC, Kiupel M. Outbreak of Neonatal Diarrhea in Farmed Mink Kits (Mustella vison) Associated With Enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus delphini. Vet Pathol 2010; 47:751-7. [DOI: 10.1177/0300985810364514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
An outbreak of diarrhea on a large commercial mink farm affected 5,000 of 36,000 neonatal mink kits, with 2,000 dying within a 2-week period. Affected kits were severely dehydrated, and their furcoats and paws were covered with yellow- to green-tinged mucoid feces. On necropsy, the small intestines of examined animals were markedly distended by serous to mucoid fluid. Microscopically, there was prominent colonization of the intestinal villar epithelium by gram-positive bacterial cocci in the absence of inflammation and morphologic changes in villous enterocytes. The colonizing bacteria were phenotypically identified as belonging to the Staphylococcus intermedius group of bacteria. This was confirmed by nucleic acid sequence analysis of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Further nucleic acid sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons from the superoxide dismutase gene and the heat shock protein 60 gene differentiated the isolate as Staphylococcus delphini. Production of staphylococcal enterotoxins A and E was demonstrated with a commercial ELISA-based immunoassay. Sequencing of PCR amplicons confirmed the presence of the enterotoxin E gene, but PCR amplification of the enterotoxin A, B, C, or D genes was not successful. Although direct causation was not confirmed in this study, the authors postulate that the observed hypersecretory diarrhea in these mink kits was the result of colonization of the small intestine by S delphini and subsequent production of enterotoxin.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. G. Sledge
- Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, USA
| | - P. K. Danieu
- Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, USA
| | - C. A. Bolin
- Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, USA
| | - S. R. Bolin
- Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, USA
| | - A. Lim
- Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, USA
| | - B. C. Anderson
- Caine Veterinary Teaching Center, University of Idaho, Caldwell, ID, USA
| | - M. Kiupel
- Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, USA
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McDonald RA, Birtles RJ, McCracken C, Day MJ. Histological and serological evidence of disease among invasive, non-native stoats Mustela erminea. Vet J 2007; 175:403-8. [PMID: 17434325 PMCID: PMC7110800 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2006] [Revised: 01/09/2007] [Accepted: 01/31/2007] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Invasive, non-native species are a major threat to global biodiversity. Stoats were introduced from Britain to New Zealand in the 1880s and have since caused grave conservation problems. A histopathological and serological survey of disease and infection in stoats from New Zealand was undertaken to identify agents that might be used or modified to control this population. Of 60 stoats examined, 63% exhibited inflammation of the lung, mostly occurring as local or diffuse interstitial pneumonia, 30% showed signs of inflammatory liver disease and 14% were positive for antibodies reactive with feline calicivirus. In Britain only 11% of 44 stoats exhibited symptoms of pulmonary inflammatory disease, suggesting higher rates of infection or compromise of the pulmonary immune system among invasive stoats, possibly related to genetic founder effects or environmental variation. These findings could be exploited in biological control programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robbie A McDonald
- Quercus, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
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Englund L, Chriél M, Dietz HH, Hedlund KO. Astrovirus epidemiologically linked to pre-weaning diarrhoea in mink. Vet Microbiol 2002; 85:1-11. [PMID: 11792486 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1135(01)00472-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Diarrhoea and excessive secretion from the cervical apocrine glands in young, suckling mink kits is a well-known, but poorly defined, syndrome often referred to as "sticky", "greasy", or "wet" kits. We have performed a case-control study, at farm level as well as at mink kit level, in Denmark and Sweden to investigate whether enteric virus infections may be a risk factor in the development of pre-weaning diarrhoea. Tissue samples from the enteric tract of 180 sacrificed mink kits were analysed histologically. Faecal contents were examined by electron microscopy (EM). Astrovirus was detected in abundance and found to be a significant risk factor both at farm level (OR=21.60, p<0.001) and at mink kit level (OR=7.95, p<0.001). Other factors, i.e. low body weight, coccoid bacteria adherent to the enteric villi, and presence of calicivirus were also shown to increase the risk of pre-weaning diarrhoea, although with less impact than astrovirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Englund
- Department of Small Animals, National Veterinary Institute, SE-751 89 Uppsala, Sweden.
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McDonald RA, Lariviere S. Diseases and pathogens ofMustelaspp, with special reference to the biological control of introduced stoatMustela ermineapopulations in New Zealand. J R Soc N Z 2001. [DOI: 10.1080/03014223.2001.9517671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Clausen TN, Dietz HH. Mastitis in the lactating mink female (Mustela vison S.) and the development of "greasy kits". Acta Vet Scand 2001. [PMID: 11126574 DOI: 10.1186/bf03549633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
"Greasy kits" is the result of a multifactorial disease complex with few known definitive aetiological factors. Mastitis has been hypothesized as a triggering factor although classical clinical signs of mastitis (rubor, tumor, dolor, calor) are rarely seen in lactating Danish mink females. In this study we sacrificed 2 groups of lactating mink females with a total of 78 mammary glands at day 19-30 after giving birth. The first group had raised normal mink kits while the other group had suffered severe attacks of greasy kits. We found no clinical or histopathological evidence of mastitis but isolated streptococci and staphylococci from 2 mammary glands in females raising greasy kits. These glands showed no clinical or histological signs of inflammation attributable to bacteria and we conclude that mastitis is not necessary for the generation of greasy kits.
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Clausen TN, Dietz HH. Mastitis in the lactating mink female (Mustela vison S.) and the development of "greasy kits". Acta Vet Scand 2000; 41:243-7. [PMID: 11126574 PMCID: PMC7996420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
"Greasy kits" is the result of a multifactorial disease complex with few known definitive aetiological factors. Mastitis has been hypothesized as a triggering factor although classical clinical signs of mastitis (rubor, tumor, dolor, calor) are rarely seen in lactating Danish mink females. In this study we sacrificed 2 groups of lactating mink females with a total of 78 mammary glands at day 19-30 after giving birth. The first group had raised normal mink kits while the other group had suffered severe attacks of greasy kits. We found no clinical or histopathological evidence of mastitis but isolated streptococci and staphylococci from 2 mammary glands in females raising greasy kits. These glands showed no clinical or histological signs of inflammation attributable to bacteria and we conclude that mastitis is not necessary for the generation of greasy kits.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. N. Clausen
- Danish Fur Breeders Research Centre, Holstebro, Denmark
| | - H. H. Dietz
- Department of Poultry, Fish and Fur bearing Animals, Danish Veterinary Laboratory, Hangøvej 2, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
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