A survey on perinatal mortality in young mink.
The incidence of perinatal mortality in mink was investigated in commercial farms in Argentina. Of a total of 2122 kits, 548 of those that were born alive died within the first four weeks of life (25.8% mortality) and there were also 62 stillborn kits. Death resulted from a variety of causes of which septicaemia, starvation and hypothermia were the most common conditions. The highest mortality occurred within the first week of life (61.9%). The lesions found in young kits at post-mortem examination are described and related to contributory factors such as weight, litter size and age at death.
Martino
P E
PE
Institute of Pathology-CIC, Veterinary College, La Plata, Argentina.
Villar
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002423:Cause of Death; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000662:veterinary; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D008907:Mink; D011247:Pregnancy; D018805:Sepsis / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D013217:Starvation / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary