The effect of color type on early wound healing in farmed mink (Neovison vison)

Abstract

BackgroundIndividual differences of mink, including color type, are speculated to affect the course of wound healing, thereby impacting wound assessment and management on the farms, as well as the assessment of wounds in forensic cases. In this study, we examined the effect of color type on early wound healing in farmed mink. Full thickness excisional wounds (2 × 2 cm) were made on the back in 18 mink of the color types Brown, Silverblue and Blue Iris. Gross and microscopic pathology of the wounds was evaluated 2 days post-wounding together with degree of wound size reduction, presence of bacteria and blood analyses.ResultsPathological examination on day 2 showed the greatest mean wound size reduction in Brown mink (11.0%) followed by Blue Iris (7.9%) and Silverblue (1.6%). Bacteria were cultured from all wounds, and predominantly Staphylococcus species were recovered in mixed or pure culture. Histopathology from day 2 wounds showed a scab overlying necrotic wound edges, which were separated from underlying vital tissue by a demarcation zone rich in polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Fibroblasts and plump endothelial cells were more numerous in the deeper tissues. Complete blood count parameters were within normal ranges in most cases, however, the mink showed mildly to markedly decreased hematocrit and six mink of the color types Silverblue and Blue Iris showed moderately elevated numbers of circulating segmented neutrophils on day 2. There was a marked increase in concentration of serum amyloid A from day 0 to day 2 in all color types.ConclusionsWe have described differences in early wound healing between mink of the color types Brown, Silverblue and Blue Iris by use of an experimental wound model in farmed mink. The most pronounced difference pertained to the degree of wound size reduction which was greatest in Brown mink, followed by Blue Iris and Silverblue, respectively.

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

“…By linear regression analysis, decreased feed energy intake per female in week 17 (23 rd to 29 th of April) (p = 0.031) and increased feed energy intake per female and litter in week 24 (11 th to 17 th of June) were significantly associated with a reduction in prevalence of MUTD (p = 0.049). No associations (p > 0.05) were found between feed energy consumed and prevalence of MUTD in any of the remaining weeks investigated (w. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. Results are displayed in table 2.…”

“…Urinary bladder swabs were sampled on the farm and stored at 5 °C until routine culture analysis (0.5 to four days). As previously described, samples were smeared on blood agar plates (blood agar base (Oxoid) supplied with 5% sterile bovine blood) and anaerobically incubated for 24 h at 37 °C and final microbial identification was achieved by MaldiTof-MS Vitek MS system (MALDI-TOF) [2,18]. Urolith mineral composition analysis was conducted at Minnesota Urolith Center by quantitative methods using polarizing light microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, or X-ray diffraction [19].…”

The Effect of Vitamin C on Blood Lymphocytes of American Mink (Neovison Vison): Variation with Sex and Genotype

“…As discussed by some authors [11,12], there is variation in genotype-related susceptibility to disease in mink. It is speculated that increased susceptibility in some genotypes (fur color type) of mink to infections may be one of the explanation for variation in mortality between farms.…”

Association between Fur Animal Necrotizing Pyoderma in breeding farm mink (Neovison vison) and reduced fertility

“…Anaerobic incubation was used in order to reduce swarming of Proteus. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF Vitek MS system) was used for identification of bacterial isolates as previously described [7].…”