Improving Trapping Efficiency for Control of American Mink (Neovison vison) in Patagonia

Two main challenges when controlling alien American mink (Neovison vison) in Patagonia are to maximize campaign efficacy and cost-effectiveness and to avoid trapping native species. We designed and tested new variants of collapsible wire box traps, compared the efficacy of a food-based bait and a scent lure and compared catch rates in different seasons of the year. We used the data to model the efficiency rate of the trapping and to determine the trapping effort required to remove 70–90% of the estimated discrete mink population. Between January 2018 and March 2021, we operated 59 trapping transects over 103 three-day trapping periods in southern Chile. Traps were first baited with canned fish, and afterwards with mink anal gland lure. We compared the efficacy of mink capture with that of our previous study. We trapped 196 mink (125 males, 71 females), with most captures in summer. The medium-sized GMV-18 trap caught more male mink, but the more compact GMV-13 caught fewer non-target rodents and no native mammals. The scent lure was more successful than the canned fish when the previous campaign’s data were included in the analysis. There was also a significant improvement in the proportion of female mink trapped and reduced labour compared with our previous campaign that used larger traps, fish bait and 400–500 m trap spacings. We caught relatively more females than males after the third night of trapping on a transect. Our data analysis supports the use of the GMV-13 variant of wire cage trap as the best trap size: it is effective on female mink, small, cheap and easy to transport. Combined with mink anal scent lure, it reduces the possibility of trapping native species compared with other traps tested in Chile. As the most efficient method for removing at least 70% of the estimated discrete mink population within the area covered by each trap transect in southern Chile tested to date, we recommend trapping campaigns using GMV-13 during summer, with a 200-m trap spacing, for up to 6 days before moving traps to a new site, with a combination of three days with a female scent gland lure, followed by three days with a male scent gland lure.

Spatial epidemiology and genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses in domestic and wild animals

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) showed susceptibility to diverse animal species. We conducted this study to understand the spatial epidemiology, genetic diversity, and statistically significant genetic similarity along with per-gene recombination events of SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses (SC2r-CoVs) in animals globally. We collected a number of different animal species infected with SARS-CoV-2 and its related viruses. Then, we retrieved genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 and SC2r-CoVs from GISAID and NCBI GenBank for genomic and mutational analysis. Although the evolutionary origin of SARS-CoV-2 remains elusive, the diverse SC2r-CoV have been detected in multiple Rhinolophus bat species and in Malayan pangolin. To date, human-to-animal spillover events have been reported in cat, dog, tiger, lion, gorilla, leopard, ferret, puma, cougar, otter, and mink in 25 countries. Phylogeny and genetic recombination events of SC2r-CoVs showed higher similarity to the bat coronavirus RaTG13 and BANAL-103 for most of the genes and to some Malayan pangolin coronavirus (CoV) strains for the N protein from bats and pangolin showed close resemblance to SARS-CoV-2. The clustering of animal and human strains from the same geographical area has proved human-to-animal transmission of the virus. The Alpha, Delta and Mu-variant of SARS-CoV-2 was detected in dog, gorilla, lion, tiger, otter, and cat in the USA, India, Czech Republic, Belgium, and France with momentous genetic similarity with human SARS-CoV-2 sequences. The mink variant mutation (spike_Y453F) was detected in both humans and domestic cats. Moreover, the dog was affected mostly by clade O (66.7%), whereas cat and American mink were affected by clade GR (31.6 and 49.7%, respectively). The α-variant was detected as 2.6% in cat, 4.8% in dog, 14.3% in tiger, 66.7% in gorilla, and 77.3% in lion. The highest mutations observed in mink where the substitution of D614G in spike (95.2%) and P323L in NSP12 (95.2%) protein. In dog, cat, gorilla, lion, and tiger, Y505H and Y453F were the common mutations followed by Y145del, Y144del, and V70I in S protein. We recommend vaccine provision for pet and zoo animals to reduce the chance of transmission in animals. Besides, continuous epidemiological and genomic surveillance of coronaviruses in animal host is crucial to find out the immediate ancestor of SARS-CoV-2 and to prevent future CoVs threats to humans.

INTRODUCTION OF MAMMALS IN YAKUTIA: ANALYSIS OF EFFECTIVENESS, PROSPECTS AND NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES

Attempts of intentional introduction of mammals into the territory of Yakutia are analyzed. Within the period between 1930 and 2020 a total of 8 foreign and one native species were introduced. Two foreign species (the muskrat and American mink) naturalized successfully, as well as the sable, a reintroduced species. Naturalization of the musk-ox, which was introduced in 1996, is progressing successfully, and with proper protective measures its abundance can be expected to increase and range to cover the entire tundra zone of Yakutia. Attempts to introduce the Eurasian beaver, raccoon dog, steppe polecat, and domestic yak have failed. Efforts on the introduction of the wood bison continue, but its reproduction rate and specifics of its winter behavior and feeding habits point to certain problems in its adaptation to new climatic conditions. Intentional introduction of foreign species is a potential danger for the ecosystems of the North, especially attempts at reconstruction of paleoufauna by introducing the species typical for paleolandscapes, and not the contemporary fauna of the region. Efforts aimed at "increasing the biodiversity" without a comprehensive biological analysis can lead to disturbance of the balance of the northern ecosystems.

Seroprevalence and Molecular Epidemiology of Aleutian Disease in Various Countries during 1972–2021: A Review and Meta-Analysis

Aleutian disease (AD) poses a serious threat to both free-ranging and farmed mink around the world. The disease is caused by the Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV), which also poses a health risk for other members of the family Mustelidae, including wild mink, weasels, badgers and other animal species. This article analyses the seroprevalence of AMDV infections in mink and other species around the world, and reviews recent knowledge relating to the molecular epidemiology of the AMDV. Depending on the applied diagnostic technique and the country, the prevalence of anti-AMDV antibodies or AMDV DNA was established at 21.60–100.00% in farmed American mink, 0.00–93.30% in free-ranging American mink and 0.00–25.00% in European mink. Anti-AMDV antibodies or AMDV DNA were also detected in other free-living fur-bearing animals in Europe and Canada, where their prevalence was determined at 0.00–32.00% and 0.00–70.50%, respectively. This may indicate a potential threat to various animal species. AMDV strains are not clustered into genotypes based on the geographic origin, year of isolation or pathogenicity. The isolates that were identified on mink farms around the world originated from North America because American mink were introduced to Europe and Asia for breeding purposes and to restock natural populations.

A Microbial Tale of Farming, Invasion and Conservation: On the Gut Bacteria of European and American Mink in Western Europe

One of the threats that the critically endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola) faces throughout its relict range, including the occidental population, is the impact of the American mink (Mustela vison) invasion in its natural habitat. We aimed to explore the differences in microbiota and genetic diversity between European and American mink to test phylosymbiosis theory. We investigated the gut microbiota composition of European and American mink in a controlled environment (captive breeding compounds and fur farms respectively) to account for the impact of the environment on gut bacterial composition. We compared them to the gut microbiota of both mink species in the natural environment across multiple habitats. Our exploratory results showed differences between free-ranging and captive individuals, with more extreme changes in American mink compared to European mink. However, feral American mink from a long-established population exhibited gut bacterial composition closer to the free-ranging native species compared to more recently established feral populations. This result could be explained by dietary shifts in the area sampled based on prey availability through different landscape, but also to a lesser extent due to greater genetic differentiation. This exploratory work contributes to the scarce literature currently available on the dynamics between gut microbiota and mammal invasion.

Anatomy and histology of the thymus of American mink genotypes Standard, Sapphire, Lavander in the early postnatal period of ontogenesis

Data are presented on the thymus structure of American Mink of the Standard, Sapphire, Lavender colouring genotypes in the early postnatal period from birth to 180 days. The thymus is known to be a fully formed organ at birth. The anatomical structure of the thymus and its topography are not determined by genotype. At 45 days of age, the changes are manifested by an increase in the thymic lobule area and the brain matter therein, a decrease in the cortex area; the most intense growth of the thymus due to the rise in the number of lobules is noted. The thymus of mink at 45 to 90 days of age is characterised by an equalisation between the genotypes, increasing cortical area values to about the level of newborn mink with a corresponding increase in the cortical-brain index. The thymus of minks at the age of 90 to 180 days retains the typical morphological structure. Still, the signs of age involutive processes are seen – reduction of the lobule area, enlargement of the medulla, changes in the form of the organ (lobule fusion), increased signs of fat transformation thymus. Hassall’s corpuscles were found in the medulla in all periods of investigation. The number of Hassall’s bodies and their morphology depends on the functional activity of the thymus. In newborns, unicellular, young and juvenile forms predominate. In 45-day-old minks, young and immature forms predominate. In 90-day-old female and male Standard burros, young and quite often unicellular bodies are visualised, while mature and juvenile records are less common. In mink of the coloured genotypes, immature and youthful Hassall’s corpuscles are predominant. By 180 days, the number of mature and young corpuscles with signs of central cell destruction with detritus accumulation and cavity formation increases.

148 Multiple Dysregulated Novel Pathways and Genes in Aleutian Mink Disease Revealed by Selection Signatures and Gene Network Analyses Using Whole-genome Sequence Data

Aleutian disease (AD) is a chronic persistent infection in domestic mink caused by Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV). Female mink’s fertility and pelt quality depression are the main reasons for the AD’s negative economic impacts on the mink industry. A total number of 79 American mink from the Canadian Center for Fur Animal Research at Dalhousie University (Truro, NS, Canada) were classified based on the results of counter immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) tests into two groups of positive (n = 48) and negative (n = 31). Whole-genome sequences comprising 4,176 scaffolds and 8,039,737 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to trace the selection footprints for response to AMDV infection at the genome level. Window-based fixation index (Fst) and nucleotide diversity (θπ) statistics were estimated to compare positive and negative animals’ genomes. The overlapped top 1% genomic windows between two statistics were considered as potential regions underlying selection pressures. A total of 98 genomic regions harboring 33 candidate genes were detected as selective signals. Most of the identified genes were involved in the development and functions of immune system (PPP3CA, SMAP2, TNFRSF21, SKIL, and AKIRIN2), musculoskeletal system (COL9A2, PPP1R9A, ANK2, AKAP9, and STRIT1), nervous system (ASCL1, ZFP69B, SLC25A27, MCF2, and SLC7A14), reproductive system (CAMK2D, GJB7, SSMEM1, C6orf163), liver (PAH and DPYD), and lung (SLC35A1). Gene-expression network analysis showed the interactions among 27 identified genes. Moreover, pathway enrichment analysis of the constructed genes network revealed significant oxytocin (KEGG: hsa04921) and GnRH signaling (KEGG: hsa04912) pathways, which are likely to be impaired by AMDV leading to dams’ fecundity reduction. These results provided a perspective to the genetic architecture of response to AD in American mink and novel insight into the pathogenesis of AMDV.

PSIX-15 Assessment of machine learning algorithms for prediction of Aleutian disease in American mink

American mink (Neovison vison) is the major source of fur for the fur industries worldwide and Aleutian disease (AD) is causing severe financial losses to the mink industry. Different methods have been used to diagnose the AD in mink, but the combination of several methods can be the most appropriate approach for the selection of AD resilient mink. Iodine agglutination test (IAT) and counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) methods are commonly employed in test-and-remove strategy; meanwhile, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and packed-cell volume (PCV) methods are complementary. However, using multiple methods are expensive; and therefore, hindering the corrected use of AD tests in selection. This research presented the assessments of the AD classification based on machine learning algorithms. The Aleutian disease was tested on 1,830 individuals using these tests in an AD positive mink farm (Canadian Centre for Fur Animal Research, NS, Canada). The accuracy of classification for CIEP was evaluated based on the sex information, and IAT, ELISA and PCV test results implemented in seven machine learning classification algorithms (Random Forest, Artificial Neural Networks, C50Tree, Naive Bayes, Generalized Linear Models, Boost, and Linear Discriminant Analysis) using the Caret package in R. The accuracy of prediction varied among the methods. Overall, the Random Forest was the best-performing algorithm for the current dataset with an accuracy of 0.89 in the training data and 0.94 in the testing data. Our work demonstrated the utility and relative ease of using machine learning algorithms to assess the CIEP information, and consequently reducing the cost of AD tests. However, further works require the inclusion of production and reproduction information in the models and extension of phenotypic collection to increase the accuracy of current methods.