Associations between Animal and Herd Management Factors and Urinary Tract Disease in Mink (Neovison Vison)

Abstract

Mink urinary tract disease (MUTD) causes fatal disease in post-weaning mink kits and mortality rates can vary substantially between farms. MUTD is a disease complex associated with urolithiasis and urinary tract infection. In an exploratory observational study, the occurrence of MUTD and associations with potential animal and management factors were investigated on 20 Danish mink farms. A total of 321.781 mink kits were included in the study. Out of 2.676 mink kits died during the month of July a total of 851 were diagnosed with MUTD. Urolithiasis was diagnosed in 46% of the kits. The majority (98%) of uroliths samples from mink kits diagnosed with MUTD were identified as struvite stones. Staphylococcus delphini group A was isolated from 60% of pure cultures and 21% of mixed cultures obtained from bladder swabs from kits with MUTD. By use of univariate linear regression (continuous variables) and ANOVA (categorical variables) farm management factors were investigated for association with MUTD.Average daily feed intake in week 17 (late gestation), average kit weight on day 28 post partum, and the color type black had a significant positive correlation with increased mortality associated with MUTD. Average daily feed intake in week 24 (late lactation), kit weight gain, and the number of daily feedings in June (late lactation) had a significantly negative correlation with increased mortality associated with MUTD. Use of short kits nets and cleaning of cage manure were also significantly associated with MUTD. Feeding management and cage hygiene during the weaning period and kit growth have been identified as potentially important factors for fatal MUTD in mink kits and are proposed as focus areas for future studies of this important production disease in mink.