EndemicSkunk amdoparvovirusin free‐ranging striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in California

Abstract

The genus Amdoparvovirus includes the newly discovered skunk amdoparvovirus and the well‐characterized Aleutian disease virus which causes significant health impacts in farmed mink worldwide. In 2010–2013, an outbreak of fatal amdoparvovirus‐associated disease was documented in free‐ranging striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) from the San Francisco Bay Area of California. To characterize the geographic distribution, earliest occurrence and abundance of this virus, as well as possible impacts on sympatric mustelids of conservation concern, we tested blood samples from skunks throughout California and fishers (Pekania pennanti) from northern California for amdoparvovirus DNA. Amdoparvovirus DNA was detected in 64.8% of sampled skunks (140/216), and test‐positive skunks were distributed widely throughout the state, from as far north as Humboldt County and south to San Diego County. The first test‐positive skunks were detected from 2004, prior to the 2010–2013 outbreak. No significant spatial or temporal clustering of infection was detected. Although healthy and clinically ill animals tested positive for amdoparvovirus DNA, histopathologic evaluation of a subset from clinically ill skunks indicated that positive PCR results were associated with pneumonia as well as there being more than one inflammatory type lesion. None of 38 fishers were PCR‐positive. Given the widespread geographic distribution and lack of a clear epizootic centre, our results suggest the presence of an endemic skunk‐associated amdoparvovirus strain or species. However, if the virus is not host‐specific, skunks’ ubiquitous presence across rural and urban habitats may pose a risk to susceptible domestic and wild species including mustelids of conservation concern such as fishers and Pacific martens (Martes caurina).

Association between case signalment and disease diagnosis in urinary bladder disease in Australian cats and dogs

“…Logistic regression is a statistical method used to explain the relationship between data categories and outcomes. 11 Logistic regression has been applied occasionally in veterinary pathology 5,13 but such methodology is not comparable to our study. In addition, information on Australian dogs and cats will provide a useful comparison to studies from other countries and will enhance awareness by Australian veterinarians and pet owners of potential risk factors for bladder wall diseases.…”

Small but mighty: old and new parvoviruses of veterinary significance

“…Naturally-occurring AD-like disease was first described in two companion striped skunks with biochemical and histologic changes considered typical of AD in mink and ferrets [ 90 ]. Several studies have identified the virus or viral DNA in apparently healthy free-ranging striped skunks in both Canada and the US [ 69 , 89 , 91 – 96 ]. In recent studies, 43/50 (86%) and 140/216 (64.8%) of free-ranging skunks in British Columbia and California, respectively, tested positive for amdoparvovirus DNA[ 91 , 96 ].…”

Predicting Diagnosis of Australian Canine and Feline Urinary Bladder Disease Based on Histologic Features

“…Statistical models have potential to predict disease risk in both the human and veterinary medical fields by providing an objective probability of the disease occurring given the combination of variables [ 18 ] In the veterinary field, statistical models have been used in genetics [ 19 ], ultrasonography [ 20 , 21 ], surgery and surgical prognosis development [ 22 , 23 ] as well as predicting disease outbreaks [ 24 ]. However, the use of statistical models in veterinary histopathology has been limited [ 25 ]. The aims of this study were to evaluate the microscopic changes of urinary bladder diseases in a retrospective collection of canine and feline urinary bladder tissue and to quantify the association, if any, between the microscopic changes and disease diagnosis.…”