8. Parvovirus diseases of the mink.

Question 1

Mink Parvovirus enteritis?

Answer 1

Mink parvovirus enteritis

Parvoviridae, Parvovirinae, Protoparvovirus, Mink enteritis virus

• Similar to dog & cat
• Canada 1947, Schofield
• Europe since 1950s
• Fever, no special symptoms, diarrhoea
• High mortality (up to 80% in young susceptible animals)
• Incubation 5-7 days
• Outcome depends on age and immunity
• Pathogenesis and clinical signs as for dog and cat parvovirus infection
• Vaccine:
• inactivated from 2 months of age (Botulism and Pseudomonas)

Question 2

Aleutian mink disease?

Answer 2

• Aleutian mink disease ʹ plasmacytosis
• Parvoviridae, Parvovirinae , Amdoparvovirus, Aleutian mink disease (AMDV)
• Mink, Mustelidae, ferret is also susceptible
• Known since 1956, nowadays already present worldwide
• Mink of the aleutian genotype is more susceptible (defect in antigen presentation)
• Young mink: interstitial pneumonia
• Older (mainly Aleutian): hypergammaglobulinaemia, glomerulonephritis

Question 3

Aleutian mink disease Pathogenesis?

Answer 3

Pathogenesis:

• Viral intake: PO ->
• Viral replication: lymphoid tissues around throat ->
• Viremia (1st-2nd days) -> Organs with rapid cell division
• spleen, liver, immune system, crosses placenta ->
• Shedding of the virus from the 3rd-4th days (7-10 days)
• Carried & shed by persistently infected minks (urine, faeces)
• No virus neutralising Ab -> immune-complexes ->Type III hypersensitivity

Question 4

Aleutian mink disease Clinical signs?

Answer 4

Clinical signs

• Chronic appearance
• Incubation period 4-6 weeks
• Bleeding from nose and mouth
• Anorexia, bloody faeces, nervous signs
• Signs maintained for weeks
• Lethality͗ Beleive there’s a connection btw colour and APC(antigen presenting cell)
• Aleutian - 50%
• Other colours - 5%

Question 5

Aleutian mink disease Pathology?

Answer 5

Pathology

• Increased plasma cell count
• Swollen liver, spleen, lymph nodes, lymphoid foci
• Mucosal membranes: bleeding, erosions
• Glomerulonephritis, Arteritis

Question 6

Diagnosis and prevention of aleutian mink disease?

Answer 6

Diagnosis

• Symptoms, pathology, histology
• Detection of virus: PCR, isolation
• Antibodies: gammaglobulin, specific antibodies
• Immune complexes

Prevention:

• no vaccine/no treatment,
• general epidemiological preventative methods: why dont we have vaccine because the vaccine may cause more Immunoglobulins so will produce more and more which isn’t necessary