Isolation of Clostridium limosum from an outbreak of metritis in farmed mink.
BACKGROUND
An outbreak of sudden death of pregnant farmed mink in Finland occurred during the busiest whelping period in the spring of 2013. The affected farms were all located in western Finland in a rather narrow geographic area, Ostrobothnia. Dead mink from 22 farms were submitted for laboratory diagnostics to the Finnish Food Safety Authority (Evira). The carcasses were necropsied and tissue specimens were prepared for histology. Samples of internal organs and peritoneal fluid were cultured bacteriologically.


RESULTS
Major pathological findings included hemorrhagic vaginal discharge, severely inflamed uteri with luminal hemorrhagic exudate and dead fetuses. Dead fetuses were present in the peritoneal cavity and associated severe peritonitis occurring as sequela of uterine rupture were found in most minks. Histological findings included hemorrhages, neutrophil infiltrations, degenerative inflammatory cells, edema, fibrin and rod-shaped bacteria on all layers of the uterine wall. In most samples abundant and pure anaerobic bacterial growth of Clostridium limosum was found.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of C. limosum associated metritis in farmed mink. Disease was only observed in pregnant females and the uterus was the primary site of infection. The source of infection and the route of transmission remained unclear, but feed borne transmission was suspected.
Veterinary Bacteriology Research Unit, Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Mustialankatu 3, 00790, Helsinki, Finland. mia.bistrom@evira.fi.
Mia
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1727-6500
M
Biström
Finnish Fur Breeders Association, Outovedentie 129, 69600, Kaustinen, Finland.
Anna-Maria
AM
Moisander-Jylhä
Veterinary Bacteriology Research Unit, Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Neulaniementie 4, 70210, Kuopio, Finland.
Sirpa
S
Heinikainen
Veterinary Bacteriology Research Unit, Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Mustialankatu 3, 00790, Helsinki, Finland.
Kirsti
K
Pelkola
Production Animal and Wildlife Health Research Unit, Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Keskuskatu 23, 60100, Seinäjoki, Finland.
Mirja
M
Raunio-Saarnisto
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D003013:Clostridium / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D004716:Endometritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D008907:Mink; D011247:Pregnancy; D014599:Uterus / Q000382:microbiology*
Anaerobe infection; Clostridium limosum; Metritis; Mink