title: Application of real-time PCR to detect Aleutian Mink Disease Virus on environmental farm sources.
abstract: The Aleutian Mink Virus (AMDV) causes the Aleutian Mink Disease (AMD) or Mink Plasmacytosis, a disease responsible of high economic losses for industry worldwide. Despite there is evidence of the environmental persistence of the virus, there is not literature on the detection of this virus in environmental samples in farms and this fact would have great importance in the control programs of the disease. In order to detect contamination caused by AMDV on farms, several environmental samples were taken and examined using qPCR. 93.9% of samples taken from farms confirmed to be infected tested positive. The virus was also detected on a farm which, despite having no previous positive results, was sharing personnel with an infected farm. All samples taken from AMD-free farms tested negative, including a farm where an eradication procedure by stamping out had been performed during the preceding months. Higher contamination levels were observed in samples from those surfaces in direct contact with animals. These results are the first demonstration of environmental contamination in farms, hitherto suggested by epidemiological evidences, caused by AMDV on surfaces, furniture and equipments inside mink farms. qPCR is an useful tool for evaluating the spread of AMDV into the environment, and it may have important applications within the disease control programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology (INVESAGA Group), Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology (INVESAGA Group), Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain. Electronic address: jmdchh@gmail.com.
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Díaz-Cao
authors.affiliation: Galician Association of Mink Breeders (AGAVI), A Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernández-Antonio
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology (INVESAGA Group), Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Panadero
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology (INVESAGA Group), Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology (INVESAGA Group), Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Ceferino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology (INVESAGA Group), Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Patrocinio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morrondo
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology (INVESAGA Group), Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Díez-Baños
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology (INVESAGA Group), Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernández
mesh_terms: D000453:Aleutian Mink Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D000454:Aleutian Mink Disease Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008907:Mink; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Aleutian Mink Disease Virus; Environmental surveillance; Real-time PCR