Aleutian mink disease virus in furbearing mammals in Nova Scotia, Canada

Abstract

Background: Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) is widespread among ranched and free-ranging American mink in Canada, but there is no information on its prevalence in other wild animal species. This paper describes the prevalence of AMDV of 12 furbearing species in Nova Scotia (NS), Canada. Methods: Samples were collected from carcasses of 462 wild animals of 12 furbearing species, trapped in 10 NS counties between November 2009 and February 2011. Viral DNA was tested by PCR using two primer pairs, and anti-viral antibodies were tested by counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) on spleen homogenates. Results: Positive PCR or CIEP samples were detected in 56 of 60 (93.3%) American mink, 43 of 61 (70.5%) short-tailed weasels, 2 of 8 (25.0%) striped skunks, 2 of 11 (18.2%) North American river otters, 9 of 85 (10.6%) raccoons, and 2 of 20 (10.0%) bobcats. Samples from six fishers, 24 coyotes, 25 red foxes, 58 beavers, 45 red-squirrels and 59 muskrats were negative. Antibodies to AMDV were detected by CIEP in 16 of 56 (28.6%) mink and one of the 8 skunks (12.5%). Thirteen of the mink were positive for PCR and CIEP, but three mink and one skunk were CIEP positive and PCR negative. Positive CIEP or PCR animals were present in all nine counties from which mink or weasel samples were collected. Conclusions:The presence of AMDV in so many species across the province has important epidemiological ramifications and could pose a serious health problem for the captive mink, as well as for susceptible wildlife. The mechanism of virus transmission between wildlife and captive mink and the effects of AMDV exposure on the viability of the susceptible species deserve further investigation.

Testing for Aleutian Mink Disease Virus in the River Otter (Lontra canadensis) in Sympatry with Infected American Mink (Neovison vison)

“…The disease occurs in wild and domesticated mink (Bloom et al 1994;Nituch et al 2011Nituch et al , 2012, and has been reported in many jurisdictions where domestic mink are raised; it is apparent that the commercial trade of domestic mink contributes to the spread of the virus (Bloom et al 1994;Nituch et al 2012). Aleutian mink disease virus can be highly prevalent in wild mink populations (Nituch et al 2011;Farid 2013) and mink farms can be point sources of disease (Nituch et al 2011), but the extent to which wild and domestic mink transmit AMDV, and other wildlife act as reservoirs, is unknown (Nituch et al 2012;Farid 2013). …”

“…Wildlife other than American mink can become infected with or exposed to AMDV, including striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), ermine (Mustela erminea), European mink (Mustela lutreola), raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), and raccoon (Procyon lotor) (Alexandersen et al 1985;Mañ as et al 2001;Pennick et al 2007;Farid 2013). Given demonstrated global problems with mink farm biosecurity (Bonesi and Palazon 2007;Bowman et al 2007), there is potential for mink farms to be sources of cross-species spillover of AMDV (Nituch et al 2011(Nituch et al , 2012.…”

“…Given demonstrated global problems with mink farm biosecurity (Bonesi and Palazon 2007;Bowman et al 2007), there is potential for mink farms to be sources of cross-species spillover of AMDV (Nituch et al 2011(Nituch et al , 2012. Wildlife other than mink may also be sources of disease on farms (Farid 2013). Thus, evaluating the prevalence and distribution of AMDV in a range of species is important to understand and manage this disease.…”

“…Given the degree of sympatry, niche overlap, and phylogenetic similarity of these two species, and thus the potential for spillover of AMDV from mink, we hypothesized that AMDV would be prevalent in the otter. There have been occasional observations of AMDV or AMDV-like symptoms in European otters (Lutra lutra; Wells et al 1989;Mañ as et al 2001), but only two surveys for AMDV in North American river otters (Gaydos et al 2007;Farid 2013), with inconclusive results. Gaydos et al (2007) used an antibody test and found no evidence of disease exposure, whereas Farid (2013) used PCR for viral DNA, and found two of 11 individuals (18%) positive for AMDV.…”

“…There have been occasional observations of AMDV or AMDV-like symptoms in European otters (Lutra lutra; Wells et al 1989;Mañ as et al 2001), but only two surveys for AMDV in North American river otters (Gaydos et al 2007;Farid 2013), with inconclusive results. Gaydos et al (2007) used an antibody test and found no evidence of disease exposure, whereas Farid (2013) used PCR for viral DNA, and found two of 11 individuals (18%) positive for AMDV. Experimental inoculation of one river otter with AMDV failed to elicit an immune response (Kenyon et al 1978), and it remains unclear whether otters could be important reservoirs of AMDV.…”