Assessment of Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) prevalence in feral American mink in Iceland : case study of a pending epizootiological concern in Europe
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Background. Recurring escapes or deliberate releases and subsequent infiltration or
establishment of feral populations by individuals from fur farms have been commonly
noted since the beginning of fur industry expansion. Once animals have invaded
ecosystems adjacent to source farms escapees can change the demography of the
feral populations through hybridization, outbreeding depression, competition and
spreading of various pathogens which can decimate wild populations. In our study, we
aimed to assess spread of Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) in the feral population
of American mink (Neovison vison) in Iceland. The additional objective was to elucidate
whether basic morpho-anatomical parameters (i.e., Fulton’s condition factor or spleen
to body weight ratio) might be used as a preliminary indicator of AMDV infection.
Methods. American mink (n = 164) were captured by professional hunters in 8 regions
of Iceland. The detection of AMDV in the spleen of male and female individuals was
based on PCR amplification of an NS1 gene fragment.
Results. We confirmed AMDV presence in 23.8% (n = 39) of collected samples with
no significant difference in infection rate between males and females. Additionally,
we revealed that the prevalence of virus in the feral population was higher closer to
fur farms. However, the countrywide prevalence and direction of AMDV distribution
needs to be further investigated. Comparison of condition indices in non-infected and
infected animals showed significant deterioration of body and spleen parameters in the
latter group. Therefore, the application of basic measurements of the American mink
may be used to evaluate the health status of individuals in terms of pathogen infection.
Conclusions. The study shed a new light on prevalence and distribution of AMDV in
the feral population of American mink in Iceland and the results might be successfully
applied to develop models to infer dynamics of various pathogens, even those latently
transmitted by disease-free animals.
establishment of feral populations by individuals from fur farms have been commonly
noted since the beginning of fur industry expansion. Once animals have invaded
ecosystems adjacent to source farms escapees can change the demography of the
feral populations through hybridization, outbreeding depression, competition and
spreading of various pathogens which can decimate wild populations. In our study, we
aimed to assess spread of Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) in the feral population
of American mink (Neovison vison) in Iceland. The additional objective was to elucidate
whether basic morpho-anatomical parameters (i.e., Fulton’s condition factor or spleen
to body weight ratio) might be used as a preliminary indicator of AMDV infection.
Methods. American mink (n = 164) were captured by professional hunters in 8 regions
of Iceland. The detection of AMDV in the spleen of male and female individuals was
based on PCR amplification of an NS1 gene fragment.
Results. We confirmed AMDV presence in 23.8% (n = 39) of collected samples with
no significant difference in infection rate between males and females. Additionally,
we revealed that the prevalence of virus in the feral population was higher closer to
fur farms. However, the countrywide prevalence and direction of AMDV distribution
needs to be further investigated. Comparison of condition indices in non-infected and
infected animals showed significant deterioration of body and spleen parameters in the
latter group. Therefore, the application of basic measurements of the American mink
may be used to evaluate the health status of individuals in terms of pathogen infection.
Conclusions. The study shed a new light on prevalence and distribution of AMDV in
the feral population of American mink in Iceland and the results might be successfully
applied to develop models to infer dynamics of various pathogens, even those latently
transmitted by disease-free animals.