Unusual, High Genetic Diversity of Aleutian Mink Disease Virus

Olofsson, Anders; Mittelholzer, Christian; Berndtsson, Louise Treiberg; Lind, Lars; Mejerland, T.; Belák, Sándór

doi:10.1128/jcm.37.12.4145-4149.1999

Cited by 34 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…As in previous analyses, no clustering of AMDV isolates according to pathogenicity was detected, indicating that highly pathogenic strains may appear spontaneously from different genetic origins (Knuuttila et al. 2009; Olofsson et al. 1999), although the sequencing of larger segments of the virus may elucidate sites more critical for virulence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 47%

“…We amplified nucleotide fragments of the hypervariable regions of both the AMDV NS1 and VP2 genes from the isolated DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using previously described primers (Oie et al. 1996; Olofsson et al. 1999).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The AMDV genome is highly variable, and previous analyses of the virus in Europe suggest that strains can be divided into three main lineages, which do not appear to be based on virulence, geographic origin, or year of isolation (Knuuttila et al. 2009; Olofsson et al. 1999; Schuierer et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Molecular epidemiology of Aleutian disease virus in free‐ranging domestic, hybrid, and wild mink

Nituch

Bowman

Wilson

et al. 2012

Evolutionary Applications

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Aleutian mink disease (AMD) is a prominent infectious disease in mink farms. The AMD virus (AMDV) has been well characterized in Europe where American mink (Neovison vison) are an introduced species; however, in North America, where American mink are native and the disease is thought to have originated, the virus’ molecular epidemiology is unknown. As such, we characterized viral isolates from Ontario free‐ranging mink of domestic, hybrid, and wild origin at two proteins: NS1, a nonstructural protein, and VP2, a capsid protein. AMDV DNA was detected in 25% of free‐ranging mink (45 of 183), indicating prevalent active infection. Median‐joining networks showed that Ontario AMDV isolates formed two subgroups in the NS1 region and three in the VP2 region, which were somewhat separate from, but closely related to, AMDVs circulating in domestic mink worldwide. Molecular analyses showed evidence of AMDV crossing from domestic to wild mink. Our results suggest that AMDV isolate grouping is linked to both wild endogenous reservoirs and the long‐term global trade in domestic mink, and that AMD spills back and forth between domestic and wild mink. As such, biosecurity on mink farms is warranted to prevent transmission of the disease between mink farms and the wild.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 47%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Molecular epidemiology of Aleutian disease virus in free‐ranging domestic, hybrid, and wild mink

Nituch

Bowman

Wilson

et al. 2012

Evolutionary Applications

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“…Identical ADV strains detected in both farmed mink and vicinal raccoons in Utah experimentally caused disease in mink but not raccoons (Oie et al., ). Molecular studies on ADV isolated from farmed mink demonstrated three subgroups with high genetic diversity of strains and differing degrees of pathogenicity in each subgroup (Olofsson et al., ). Multistrain infections on mink farms were common, presenting a further challenge to correlation of disease severity with a specific viral strain (Olofsson et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Molecular studies on ADV isolated from farmed mink demonstrated three subgroups with high genetic diversity of strains and differing degrees of pathogenicity in each subgroup (Olofsson et al., ). Multistrain infections on mink farms were common, presenting a further challenge to correlation of disease severity with a specific viral strain (Olofsson et al., ). Further molecular characterization is needed to determine whether pathogenic and non‐pathogenic genotypes of ADV exist within the BC skunk reservoir.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond Rabies: Are Free-Ranging Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in British Columbia Reservoirs of Emerging Infection?

Britton

Redford

Bidulka

et al. 2015

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Wild animal reservoirs are an important source of emerging and zoonotic infection. Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are a reservoir of skunk strain rabies virus in Canada, with the exception of some areas including the province of British Columbia (BC). Beyond rabies, the reservoir status of skunks for emerging and zoonotic pathogens in BC is unknown. From March 2011 to February 2015, 50 free-ranging skunks were necropsied and tested for 4 pathogens: influenza A, Aleutian disease virus (ADV), Leptospira spp. and Salmonella spp. Two skunks (4%) with respiratory disease caused by influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 were detected during the human flu season suggesting that skunks may represent a target population for reverse zoonosis of this strain of influenza A virus. High prevalence of ADV infection was detected (43/50, 86%). Two of the infected skunks exhibited Aleutian disease (AD) suggesting that skunks act as both a reservoir and a target population for the virus. Most studies of ADV have focused on the potential for infection of free-ranging species living near mink farms. Our study suggests that urban skunks may be a primary host for the virus independent of domestic mink. Whether skunks act as a reservoir of ADV infection for other peridomestic species will depend on host specificity of the viral strains. Leptospira interrogans was detected in 18% (9/49) of the skunks. Identification of the serovar(s) detected is needed to determine any public health risk of leptospirosis following exposure to infected skunks. Salmonella spp. was isolated from three of 43 skunks (7%), specifically S. Typhimurium, S. Muenchen and S. Enteritidis. These serotypes cause disease in humans, but the low prevalence of infection suggests there is a low risk for zoonotic transmission.

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