Serum Analytes of American Mink (Neovison Vison) Challenged with Aleutian Mink Disease Virus.

Black American mink (), which had been selected for tolerance to Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) for more than 20 years (TG100) or were from herds that have been free of AMDV (TG0), along with their progeny and crosses with 50% and 75% tolerance ancestry, were inoculated with a local isolate of AMDV. Blood samples were collected from 493 mink between 120 and 1211 days post-inoculation, and concentrations of 14 serum analytes were measured. Distributions of all analytes significantly deviated from normality, and data were analyzed after Box-Cox power transformation.

Long-term antibody production and viremia in American mink (Neovison vison) challenged with Aleutian mink disease virus.

Background: Selecting American mink (Neovison vison) for tolerance to Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) has gained popularity in recent years, but data on the outcomes of this activity are scant. The objectives of this study were to determine the long-term changes in viremia, seroconversion and survival in infected mink. Mink were inoculated intranasally with a local isolate of Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) over 4 years (n = 1742).

Detection of selection signatures for response to Aleutian mink disease virus infection in American mink.

Aleutian disease (AD) is the most significant health issue for farmed American mink. The objective of this study was to identify the genomic regions subjected to selection for response to infection with Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) in American mink using genotyping by sequencing (GBS) data. A total of 225 black mink were inoculated with AMDV and genotyped using a GBS assay based on the sequencing of ApeKI-digested libraries.

Dietary supplementation of Ascophylum nodosum improved kidney function of mink challenged with Aleutian mink disease virus.

Background: Feed additives which can ease the negative effects of infection by the Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) are of interest to mink farmers. The effects of kelp meal (Ascophylum nodosum) supplementation on immune response, virus replication and blood parameters of mink inoculated with AMDV were assessed. AMDV-free black mink (n = 75) were intranasally inoculated with a local strain of AMDV and fed a commercial pellet supplemented with kelp meal at the rates of 1.

Linkage Disequilibrium, Effective Population Size and Genomic Inbreeding Rates in American Mink Using Genotyping-by-Sequencing Data.

Knowledge of linkage disequilibrium (LD) patterns is necessary to determine the minimum density of markers required for genomic studies and to infer historical changes as well as inbreeding events in the populations. In this study, we used genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) approach to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across American mink genome and further to estimate LD, effective population size (), and inbreeding rates based on excess of homozygosity (F) and runs of homozygosity (ROH). A GBS assay was constructed based on the sequencing of KI-digested libraries from 285 American mink using Illumina HiSeq Sequencer.

Dose response of black American mink to Aleutian mink disease virus.

Introduction: Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) causes a serious health problem for mink globally. The disease has no cure nor an effective vaccine and selection for tolerance using antibody titer is adopted by many mink farmers. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of various doses of a local AMDV isolate on the response of black American mink to infection with AMDV.

Prevalence, distribution, and diversity of cryptic piroplasm infections in raccoons from selected areas of the United States and Canada.

The order Piroplasmida contains a diverse group of intracellular parasites, many of which can cause significant disease in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Two piroplasm species have been reported from raccoons (), ( sensu stricto clade) and a species related to (called -like sp.).

A comparison between intraperitoneal injection and intranasal and oral inoculation of mink with Aleutian mink disease virus.

Intranasal, with (INS) and without (IN) sedation, and oral inoculation were compared with intraperitoneal (IP) injection for establishing infection with a local isolate of Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) in 35 American mink. Blood samples were collected on 0, 21, 36 and 56 day post-inoculation (dpi). Antiviral-antibodies and viral DNA in plasma and tissues were measured by counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) and PCR, respectively.

Reduced severity of histopathological lesions in mink selected for tolerance to Aleutian mink disease virus infection.

The objective of this study was to measure the effect of selection for tolerance on the severity of the Aleutian disease (AD) lesions in mink. Sensitivity and specificity of antibody detection in the blood by counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) relative to the presence of Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) in the spleen by PCR in naturally infected farmed mink were also estimated. Carcasses of 680 sero-positive (CIEP-P) black mink from 28 farms in Nova Scotia, Canada, and from 132 sero-negative (CIEP-N) mink from 14 of these farms were collected at pelting time.

Detection of Aleutian mink disease virus DNA and antiviral antibodies in American mink (Neovison vison) 10 days postinoculation.

Early detection of infection by the Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV; Carnivore amdoparvovirus 1) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) has important ramifications in virus eradication programs. A spleen homogenate containing a local isolate of AMDV was injected intraperitoneally into black (n = 44) and sapphire (n = 12) American mink (Neovison vison). Animals were euthanized 10 days postinoculation and anti-AMDV antibodies and AMDV DNA were tested in plasma and 7 organs by CIEP and PCR, respectively.

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

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.

Novel single nucleotide polymorphism identification in interleukin-6 gene of Pakistani sheep.

The present study aimed to identify single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in coding and non-coding regions of interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene of Pakistani sheep. The IL-6 gene of 205 animals from nine sheep breeds were sequenced for screening of SNP. Characterizing the IL-6 gene revealed thirteen SNP sites within the intronic region of IL-6 gene.

A survey of Aleutian mink disease virus infection of feral American mink in Nova Scotia.

Spleen samples from 14 mink that were trapped in 4 counties of Nova Scotia were tested for the presence of the Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) by polymerase chain reaction. Viral DNA was not detected in samples from Kings County (n = 2), but was detected in all the mink sampled from Colchester (n = 2) and Halifax (n = 6) counties, and 3 of 4 mink from Yarmouth County. The high level of AMDV-infected mink in Colchester and Halifax counties may pose a serious threat to the captive mink and wild animal populations.

Molecular characterization of the Himalayan mink.

A rare color variant of the American mink (Neovison vison), discovered on a ranch in Nova Scotia and referred to as the "marbled" variety, carries a distinctive pigment distribution pattern resembling that found in some other species, e.g., the Siamese cat and the Himalayan mouse.

Simultaneous detection of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms in the ovine prion protein gene.

Amino acid polymorphisms in the prion protein gene (PrP) affect the susceptibility of sheep to scrapie, a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). In particular, amino acid substitutions at codons 136, 154 and 171 of the ovine PrP gene are associated with different degrees of susceptibility to the classical form of scrapie, caused by 'typical' scrapie strains. Existing genotyping tests for scrapie susceptibility normally interrogate only the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) most relevant to 'typical' strains.