title: Aleutian mink disease virus in furbearing mammals in Nova Scotia, Canada.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) is widespread among ranched and free-ranging American mink in Canada, but there is no information on its prevalence in other wild animal species. This paper describes the prevalence of AMDV of 12 furbearing species in Nova Scotia (NS), Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples were collected from carcasses of 462 wild animals of 12 furbearing species, trapped in 10 NS counties between November 2009 and February 2011. Viral DNA was tested by PCR using two primer pairs, and anti-viral antibodies were tested by counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) on spleen homogenates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive PCR or CIEP samples were detected in 56 of 60 (93.3%) American mink, 43 of 61 (70.5%) short-tailed weasels, 2 of 8 (25.0%) striped skunks, 2 of 11 (18.2%) North American river otters, 9 of 85 (10.6%) raccoons, and 2 of 20 (10.0%) bobcats. Samples from six fishers, 24 coyotes, 25 red foxes, 58 beavers, 45 red-squirrels and 59 muskrats were negative. Antibodies to AMDV were detected by CIEP in 16 of 56 (28.6%) mink and one of the 8 skunks (12.5%). Thirteen of the mink were positive for PCR and CIEP, but three mink and one skunk were CIEP positive and PCR negative. Positive CIEP or PCR animals were present in all nine counties from which mink or weasel samples were collected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of AMDV in so many species across the province has important epidemiological ramifications and could pose a serious health problem for the captive mink, as well as for susceptible wildlife. The mechanism of virus transmission between wildlife and captive mink and the effects of AMDV exposure on the viability of the susceptible species deserve further investigation.
authors: Department of Plant and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia B2N 5E3, Canada. ah.farid@dal.ca
authors: A Hossain
authors: AH
authors: Farid
mesh_terms: D000454:Aleutian Mink Disease Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D002335:Carnivora; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009674:Nova Scotia / Q000453:epidemiology; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012377:Rodentia
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral
references: Am J Vet Res. 1978 Jun;39(6):1011-5
references: 208431
references: J Clin Microbiol. 1978 Jan;7(1):18-22
references: 203601
references: J Virol. 1984 Apr;50(1):38-41
references: 6199516
references: Arch Gesamte Virusforsch. 1973;40(3):375-81
references: 4633583
references: J Wildl Dis. 2001 Jan;37(1):138-44
references: 11272488
references: J Rheumatol. 1974 Mar;1(1):74-92
references: 4376565
references: J Wildl Dis. 2004 Jul;40(3):394-402
references: 15465705
references: J Clin Microbiol. 1999 Dec;37(12):4145-9
references: 10565948
references: Intervirology. 1987;27(2):102-11
references: 2444554
references: J Virol Methods. 1985 Feb;10(2):145-51
references: 2984229
references: J Wildl Dis. 2012 Apr;48(2):497-502
references: 22493130
references: Can Vet J. 1978 May;19(5):133-5
references: 688168
references: J Immunol. 1975 Oct;115(4):1034-7
references: 51871
references: Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand B. 1985 Jun;93(3):195-200
references: 2994362
references: PLoS One. 2011;6(7):e21693
references: 21789177
references: Am J Vet Res. 1977 Oct;38(10):1619-24
references: 201189
references: J Virol. 1985 Sep;55(3):853-6
references: 2991603
references: J Virol. 1985 Sep;55(3):696-703
references: 3894686
references: Infect Immun. 1975 Jan;11(1):92-4
references: 803925
references: Vet Rec. 2001 Oct 20;149(16):485-8
references: 11700927
references: J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1986 Nov 1;189(9):1089-91
references: 3505935
references: Prev Vet Med. 2012 Oct 1;106(3-4):332-8
references: 22497690
references: J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2008 Mar 1;232(5):742-6
references: 18312184
references: Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2006;299:349-70
references: 16568906
references: J Virol. 1996 Feb;70(2):852-61
references: 8551624
references: Nucleic Acids Res. 1997 Nov 15;25(22):4692-3
references: 9358185
references: Can Vet J. 2010 Jan;51(1):75-7
references: 20357945
references: J Virol. 2001 Mar;75(6):2729-40
references: 11222696
references: Vet Rec. 1989 Aug 26;125(9):232-5
references: 2800292
references: Vet Pathol. 2007 Sep;44(5):687-90
references: 17846242