Diversity and Transmission of Aleutian Mink Disease Virus in Feral and Farmed American Mink and Native Mustelids

Abstract Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV), which causes Aleutian disease (AD), is widely spread both in farmed mink and wild mustelids. However, only limited data is available on the role of wild animals in AMDV transmission and spread. Our aim was to shed light on AMDV transmission among wild mustelids and estimate the effect of intense farming practices on the virus circulation by studying AMDV prevalence and genetic diversity among wild mustelids in Poland. We compared AMDV seroprevalence and proportion of PCR positive individuals in American mink, polecats, otters, stone martens, and pine martens, and used phylogenetic analysis of NS1 region to study transmission. In addition, we used metagenomic approach to sequence complete AMDV genomes from tissue samples. In eastern Poland, AMDV seroprevalence in wild mustelids varied from 22% in otters to 62% and 64% in stone martens and feral mink, respectively. All studied antibody positive mink were also PCR positive, whereas only 10, 15, and 18% of antibody positive polecats, pine martens, and stone martens, respectively, were PCR positive, suggesting lower virus persistence among these animal species as compared to feral mink. In phylogenetic analysis, most sequences from feral mink formed region-specific clusters that have most likely emerged through multiple introductions of AMDV to feral mink population over decades. However, virus spread between regions was also observed. Virus sequences derived from farmed and wild animals formed separate sub-clusters in the phylogenetic tree and no signs of recent virus transmission between farmed and wild animals was observed despite frequent inflow of farmed mink escapees to wild populations. These results provide new information about the role of different mustelid species in AMDV transmission and about virus circulation among the wild mustelids. In addition, we pinpoint gaps-of-knowledge, where more studies are needed to achieve a comprehensive picture of AMDV transmission.

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Molecular epidemiological analysis of wild animal rabies isolates from India

Veterinary World ◽

10.14202/vetworld.2019.352-357 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 352-357 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Gundallhalli Bayyappa Manjunatha Reddy ◽

Rajendra Singh ◽

Karam Pal Singh ◽

Anil Kumar Sharma ◽

Sobharani Vineetha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Fluorescent Antibody ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Reservoir Host ◽

Wild Animals ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Epidemiological Analysis ◽

Nucleoprotein Gene ◽

Single Cluster

Aim: This study was conducted to know the genetic variability of rabies viruses (RVs) from wild animals in India. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 rabies suspected brain samples of wild animals from different states of India were included in the study. The samples were subjected for direct fluorescent antibody test (dFAT), reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and quantitative reverse transcriptase real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). The phylogenetic analysis of partial nucleoprotein gene sequences was performed. Results: Of 20 samples, 11, 10, and 12 cases were found positive by dFAT, RT-PCR, and RT-qPCR, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all Indian wild RVs isolates belonged to classical genotype 1 of Lyssavirus and were closely related to Arctic/Arctic-like single cluster indicating the possibility of a spillover of rabies among different species. Conclusion: The results indicated the circulation of similar RVs in sylvatic and urban cycles in India. However, understanding the role of wild animals as reservoir host needs to be studied in India.

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Dose response of black American mink to Aleutian mink disease virus

Immunity Inflammation and Disease ◽

10.1002/iid3.290 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 150-164 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. Hossain Farid ◽

Irshad Hussain

Keyword(s):

Disease Virus ◽

Dose Response ◽

American Mink ◽

Black American ◽

Aleutian Mink Disease Virus

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Testing for Aleutian Mink Disease Virus in the River Otter (Lontra canadensis) in Sympatry with Infected American Mink (Neovison vison)

Journal of Wildlife Diseases ◽

10.7589/2013-10-286 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 50 (3) ◽

pp. 689-693 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jeff Bowman ◽

Anne G. Kidd ◽

Larissa A. Nituch ◽

Carrie Sadowski ◽

Albrecht I. Schulte-Hostedde

Keyword(s):

Disease Virus ◽

American Mink ◽

Neovison Vison ◽

Lontra Canadensis ◽

River Otter ◽

Aleutian Mink Disease Virus

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Molecular Epidemiology of Rabies in Wild Canidae in Tunisia

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13122473 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 2473

Author(s):

Zied Bouslama ◽

Habib Kharmachi ◽

Nourhene Basdouri ◽

Jihen Ben Salem ◽

Samia Ben Maiez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Wild Animals ◽

Genetic Characteristics ◽

Bayesian Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Viral Sequencing ◽

Virus Isolates ◽

Virus Strains ◽

Natural Barrier

Rabies is a viral zoonosis that is transmissible to humans via domestic and wild animals. There are two epidemiological cycles for rabies, the urban and the sylvatic cycles. In an attempt to study the epidemiological role of wild canidae in rabies transmission, the present study aimed to analyze the genetic characteristics of virus isolates and confirm prior suggestions that rabies is maintained through a dog reservoir in Tunisia. Virus strains isolated from wild canidae were subject to viral sequencing, and Bayesian phylogenetic analysis was performed using Beast2 software. Essentially, the virus strains isolated from wild canidae belonged to the Africa-1 clade, which clearly diverges from fox-related strains. Our study also demonstrated that genetic characteristics of the virus isolates were not as distinct as could be expected if a wild reservoir had already existed. On the contrary, the geographic landscape is responsible for the genetic diversity of the virus. The landscape itself could have also acted as a natural barrier to the spread of the virus.

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Assessment of Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) prevalence in feral American mink in Iceland. Case study of a pending epizootiological concern in Europe

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.12060 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e12060

Author(s):

Remigiusz Panicz ◽

Piotr Eljasik ◽

Jakub Skorupski ◽

Przemysław Śmietana ◽

Róbert A. Stefánsson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Virus ◽

American Mink ◽

Weight Ratio ◽

Pcr Amplification ◽

Significant Deterioration ◽

Aleutian Mink Disease Virus ◽

Feral Populations ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Feral Population ◽

Condition Indices

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.

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PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODY TO ALEUTIAN MINK DISEASE VIRUS IN EUROPEAN MINK (MUSTELA LUTREOLA) AND AMERICAN MINK (NEOVISON VISON) IN SPAIN

Journal of Wildlife Diseases ◽

10.7589/2015-04-082 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 22-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sisco Mañas ◽

Asunción Gómez ◽

Victoria Asensio ◽

Santiago Palazón ◽

Madis Podra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Virus ◽

American Mink ◽

Neovison Vison ◽

Mustela Lutreola ◽

European Mink ◽

Aleutian Mink Disease Virus

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Effects of dietary kelp (Ascophylum nodosum) supplementation on survival rate and reproductive performance of mink challenged with Aleutian mink disease virus

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1139/cjas-2019-0221 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 100 (3) ◽

pp. 547-556 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. Hossain Farid ◽

Nancy J. Smith ◽

Margot B. White

Keyword(s):

Survival Rate ◽

Disease Virus ◽

Rectal Temperature ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

American Mink ◽

Post Inoculation ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Aleutian Mink Disease Virus ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Annual Mortality

Infection with Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) has negative effects on reproductive performance and survival rate of American mink (Neovison vison). The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of kelp (Ascophylum nodosum) supplementation on survival, growth rate, and reproductive performance of mink challenged with AMDV. AMDV-free female black mink (n = 75) were intranasally inoculated with a local AMDV strain. Mink were fed a commercial pellet supplemented with 1.5% or 0.75% kelp or were kept as controls (received no kelp) for 451 d. Body weight and rectal temperature were recorded on days 0, 31, 56, 99, 155, 366, and 451 post inoculation (PI). Annual mortality rates were 13.6%, 20.0%, and 31.8% for mink fed 1.5%, 0.75%, or 0.0% kelp, respectively (P = 0.29). Mink which were fed 1.5% kelp had a significantly (P < 0.01) greater daily weight loss during breeding and post-breeding periods (days 155–366 PI), and outperformed (P < 0.01) the other groups in regard to litter sizes at birth and weaning. Differences among treatments were not significant for the number of females mated, or whelped of those exposed to males, kit survival from birth to weaning, or rectal temperature. It was concluded that 1.5% kelp supplementation had beneficial effects on survival rate of adult mink and litter size.

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Hepatitis C: sexual or intrafamilial transmission? Epidemiological and phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis C virus in 24 infected couples

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical ◽

10.1590/s0037-86822009000300001 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 42 (3) ◽

pp. 239-244 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Norma de Paula Cavalheiro ◽

Abel De La Rosa ◽

Slava Elagin ◽

Fátima Mitiko Tengan ◽

Evaldo Stanislau Affonso de Araújo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Hepatitis C Virus ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

Virus Transmission ◽

Virus Genome ◽

Personal Hygiene ◽

Intrafamilial Transmission ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

High Degree

The role of sexual or intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C is controversial. A phylogenetic analysis was performed on the non-structural region 5B of the hepatitis C virus (NS5B-HCV). High percentages of homology (mean of 98.3%) were shown between the couples. Twenty (83.3%) of the 24 men but only two of the women (8.3%) reported having had sexually transmitted diseases during their lives. The risk factors for HCV acquisition were blood transfusion (10 couples), use of illegal injected drugs (17), use of inhalants (15), acupuncture (5) and tattoos (5). The shared use of personal hygiene items included toothbrushes between six couples (25%), razor blades between 16 (66.7%), nail clippers between 21 (87.5%) and manicure pliers between 14 (58.3%). The high degree of similarity of the hepatitis C virus genome supports the hypothesis of hepatitis C virus transmission between these couples. The shared use of personal hygiene items suggests the possibility of intrafamilial transmission of infection.

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Impact of viral features, host jumps and phylogeography on the rapid evolution of Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV)

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-96025-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Giovanni Franzo ◽

Matteo Legnardi ◽

Laura Grassi ◽

Giorgia Dotto ◽

Michele Drigo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Virus ◽

Rapid Evolution ◽

Global Scale ◽

Control Measures ◽

Viral Population ◽

Effective Control ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Aleutian Mink Disease Virus ◽

Different Populations

AbstractAleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) is one the most relevant pathogens of domestic mink, where it can cause significant economic losses, and wild species, which are considered a threat to mink farms. Despite their relevance, many aspects of the origin, evolution, and geographic and host spreading patterns of AMDV have never been investigated on a global scale using a comprehensive biostatistical approach. The present study, benefitting from a large dataset of sequences collected worldwide and several phylodynamic-based approaches, demonstrates the ancient origin of AMDV and its broad, unconstrained circulation from the initial intercontinental spread to the massive among-country circulation, especially within Europe, combined with local persistence and evolution. Clear expansion of the viral population size occurred over time until more effective control measures started to be applied. The role of frequent changes in epidemiological niches, including different hosts, in driving the high nucleotide and amino acid evolutionary rates was also explored by comparing the strengths of selective pressures acting on different populations. The obtained results suggest that the viral passage among locations and between wild and domesticated animals poses a double threat to farm profitability and animal welfare and health, which is particularly relevant for endangered species. Therefore, further efforts must be made to limit viral circulation and to refine our knowledge of factors enhancing AMDV spread, particularly at the wild-domestic interface.

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