scholarly journals First Description of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Two Feral American Mink (Neovison vison) Caught in the Wild

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1422
Author(s):  
Jordi Aguiló-Gisbert ◽  
Miguel Padilla-Blanco ◽  
Victor Lizana ◽  
Elisa Maiques ◽  
Marta Muñoz-Baquero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
American Mink ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Neovison Vison ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Mesenteric Lymph Nodes ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Wild Mink

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causal agent of COVID-19, is considered a pathogen of animal origin that is mainly transmitted from human to human. Several animal species can be naturally or experimentally infected by SARS-CoV-2, with compelling evidence that mink is highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Human-to-mink infection cases have been reported and there are also suggestions that mink-to-human infection occurs. Mink infections have been reported to date only on fur farms, except for one infected free- ranging wild mink near a Utah (USA) fur farm, which suggests a transmission pathway from farms to wild mink. We now report the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in 2 of 13 feral dark brown American mink (Neovison vison) trapped in the Valencian Community (Eastern Spain), during an invasive species trapping campaign. They were trapped in riverbeds in sparsely inhabited rural areas known to harbor self-sustained feral mink populations. The closest fur farm is about 20 km away. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected by two-step RT-PCR in these animals’ mesenteric lymph nodes and was confirmed by sequencing a 397-nucleotide amplified region of the S gene, yielding identical sequences in both animals. A molecular phylogenetic analysis was run on this sequence, which was found to correspond to the consensus SARS-CoV-2 sequence from Wuhan. Our findings appear to represent the first example of SARS-CoV-2 acquired in the wild by feral mink in self-sustained populations.

scholarly journals First Description of Natural SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Two Wild American Minks (Neovison vison)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordi Aguiló-Gisbert ◽  
Miguel Padilla-Blanco ◽  
Victor Lizana ◽  
Elisa Maiques ◽  
Marta Muñoz Baquero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Gene ◽  
American Mink ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Neovison Vison ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Mesenteric Lymph Nodes ◽  
Mesenteric Lymph ◽  
The Usa ◽  
In The Wild

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of COVID-19 , is considered a pathogen with animal origin, mainly transmitted human to human. It has been experimentally and naturally demonstrated that several animals can be infected by SARS-CoV-2. There are strong evidences that minks are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, since several cases of human to mink infection have been reported, and it has been suggested mink to human infection exists, which so far it is the most reliable example of a zoonotic event of COVID-19 . However, all these cases reported are form mink farms, with the exception of one case in the USA in which the virus was detected in a mink located in the wild, but it was demonstrated that the animal was infected on a fur farm. In the present work, we have detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in two wild American minks (Neovison vison) in Valencian Community (Eastern Spain) during invasive species trapping campaigns. The animals were trapped from areas known for harbouring self-sustained populations, far away from the nearest fur farm. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in mesenteric lymph nodes samples by RT-PCR. A partial region of the Spike protein gene was amplified and sequence obtaining a 397 nt size sequence. Phylogenetic analysis shown that both sequences were identical to the consensus variant SARS CoV-2 sequence (from Wuhan). This research describes the first infection report of a true wild American mink not related to infected fur farms or direct contact with humans, which is believed to be the first example of wild animals in which SARS-CoV-2 has been detected.

scholarly journals Hybridization of domestic mink with wild American mink (Neovison vison) in eastern Canada

2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (6) ◽  
pp. 443-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Bowman ◽  
Kaela Beauclerc ◽  
A. Hossain Farid ◽  
Heather Fenton ◽  
Cornelya F.C. Klütsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Allelic Richness ◽  
American Mink ◽  
Neovison Vison ◽  
Genetic Integrity ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
History Of ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Wild Mink

Farmed American mink (Neovison vison (Schreber, 1777)) pose a risk to biodiversity owing to escape and release from farms. Feral mink may affect native species in locations where American mink are not endemic, such as Europe. In contrast, escaping domestic mink may hybridize with wild mink in North America, leading to introgression of domestic traits via hybrid-mediated gene flow. We tested this idea in eastern Canada, which has a history of mink farming. We sampled known domestic and free-ranging mink, and profiled 508 individuals at 15 microsatellite loci. We found that 33% of free-ranging mink were either escaped domestic individuals, domestic–wild hybrids, or were introgressed to domestic or wild parental groups. The greatest prevalence of free-ranging domestic, hybrid, or introgressed mink (59%) occurred in Nova Scotia, which also had the most mink farms. Historic (1980s or earlier) mink sampled from museums had higher allelic richness and private allelic richness than contemporary wild mink. Domestic mink are artificially selected for traits desired by farmers, and as such, introgression with wild mink may lead to a loss of local adaptation. Our findings demonstrate that continued escape and release of mink could pose risks to the maintenance of genetic integrity in wild mink.

Development of indices to estimate fat reserves in the wild American mink (Neovison vison)

2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 245-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Mari Mustonen ◽  
Minna Ahonpää ◽  
Juha Asikainen ◽  
Heikki Hyvärinen ◽  
Marja-Leena Lamidi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
American Mink ◽  
Neovison Vison ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
In The Wild

Timing of reproduction in wild mink: the influence of spawning Pacific salmon

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 376-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ben-David
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Pacific Salmon ◽  
American Mink ◽  
Day Length ◽  
Timing Of Breeding ◽  
Southeast Alaska ◽  
Timing Of Reproduction ◽  
Seasonally Breeding ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Wild Mink

In many species of seasonally breeding mammals, reproduction occurs later at higher latitudes. Records of timing of reproduction in free-ranging American mink (Mustela vison) in North America and Europe suggest a similar trend. Observations on mink in southeast Alaska, however, revealed a deviation from this pattern, suggesting that factors other than latitude and associated day length may affect timing of breeding for this species in this area. I investigated timing of reproduction and body condition of wild, free-ranging mink on Chichagof Island, southeast Alaska, and hypothesized that seasonal food availability, especially abundant carcasses of spawning Pacific salmon (Onchorhynchus sp.), would determine timing of breeding in this population of mink. Blood progesterone levels, body condition, and testicle lengths were recorded for 24 adult mink, livetrapped from mid-March to late July in 1992 and 1993. Results suggest that these free-ranging mink mate during the later part of April to early May, and parturition occurs in late June to early July. Although male mink seemed to respond to photoperiodism in initiating reproduction, timing of reproduction in female mink was shifted so that lactation coincided with the availability of carcasses of Pacific salmon.

scholarly journals Serology and protein electrophoresis for evidence of exposure to 12 mink pathogens in free-ranging American mink (Neovison vison) in Argentina

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Eduardo Martino ◽  
Luis Ernesto Samartino ◽  
Néstor Oscar Stanchi ◽  
Nilda Esther Radman ◽  
Eduardo Joaquín Parrado
Keyword(s):  
American Mink ◽  
Protein Electrophoresis ◽  
Neovison Vison ◽  
Free Ranging

scholarly journals Assessment of genetic variability in captive and wild American mink (Mustela vison) using microsatellite markers

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Belliveau ◽  
A. Farid ◽  
M. O'Connell ◽  
J. M. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variability ◽  
American Mink ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Expected Heterozygosity ◽  
Positive Assortative Mating ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Related Individuals ◽  
Fur Quality ◽  
Wild Mink

The genetic variability of 212 black mink from four ranches, and 20 each from wild mink trapped in Eastern Canada, pastel and brown (wild-type) was assessed using seven microsatellite loci. The average number of alleles per locus and expected heterozygosity (HE) in the entire sample were 6.57 and 0.63, respectively. The estimates of HE were comparable among the black mink herds (0.53 to 0.61), and between black and the wild mink (0.50), indicating a considerable level of genetic variability within black mink, despite high levels of uniformity that have been achieved in fur quality traits as a result of many years of intense selection. Brown mink had the highest HE among populations (0.65), which could be the cause or the effect of their higher vigor and reproductive performance compared with the black mink. All the populations showed a higher level of homozygosity than expected from the Hardy-Weinberg (H–W) proportions at several loci (positive FIS), perhaps as a result of linebreeding and positive assortative mating commonly used in the mink industry. Excess of homozygosity in the wild mink may indicate breeding between related individuals occupying adjacent territories, and a limited movement of mink in the wild. The black mink herds were closely related to each other, as were the pastel and brown. Gene flow from common sources to all the herds and infusion of the Jetblack allele into all the ranches were likely the causes of relatedness of the black mink herds. The black mink herds were more closely related to the wild mink than to the colored mink. This panel of microsatellites correctly classified black and nonblack mink into their respective groups with 91 to 97% accuracy. Between 70 and 88% of the black mink were correctly assigned into their herd of origin. Key words: Mink, genetic variability, genetic distance, microsatellites

scholarly journals Morphological differences of hindlimb levers between wild and farmed American mink (Neovison vison) and implications for reintroduction of mustelids

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Sun ◽  
Xiaoli Zhou ◽  
Yanchun Xu ◽  
Yan Hua ◽  
Thomas D. Dahmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Captive Breeding ◽  
American Mink ◽  
Neovison Vison ◽  
Knee Joints ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Muscular System ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Enriched Environments ◽  
Morphological Differences ◽  
Captive Rearing

AbstractReintroduction is an important strategy to restore or re-establish wild populations of endangered species. Pre-release training is a necessary step to ensure post-reintroduction survival. However, studies reported contradicting outcomes after pre-release training of juveniles and adults. This study used farmed and feral American mink (Neovison vison) to analyze the influence of captive breeding on the morphology, structure and efficiency of the two major hindlimb levers, the femur and tibia pivoted by hip and knee joints that are essential for locomotion. Results showed that captive breeding did not alter the sexual dimorphism of the two levers that are related to survival in the wild. Captive-bred mink showed slightly altered morphology of the femur and fundamental structure of the hindlimb levers that improved efficiency, but this resulted in reduction of performance related to foraging in both terrestrial and aquatic environments, especially for females. These findings suggest that reintroduction of mustelid as exampled by the mink here should focus on juveniles because the skeletal alterations associated with captive rearing were recorded only among adults and are irreversible in adulthood. In contrast, captive-reared juveniles showed no skeletal alterations and would be expected to recovery from any atrophy of the muscular system caused by captive rearing for shorter durations. Our results support the application of pre-release training of juveniles in enriched environments as a method for alleviating structural alteration of appendages and enhancing locomotion to increase survival probability in complex habitats.

scholarly journals Wild American mink ( Neovison vison ) may pose a COVID‐19 threat

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 266-267
Author(s):  
Lauren A Harrington ◽  
María Díez‐León ◽  
Asunción Gómez ◽  
Andrew Harrington ◽  
David W Macdonald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
American Mink ◽  
Neovison Vison

scholarly journals Emergence of Epidemic Multidrug-Resistant Enterococcus faecium from Animal and Commensal Strains

mBio ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
François Lebreton ◽  
Willem van Schaik ◽  
Abigail Manson McGuire ◽  
Paul Godfrey ◽  
Allison Griggs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enterococcus Faecium ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Mobile Element ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hospital Acquired Infection ◽  
Hospital Acquired

ABSTRACTEnterococcus faecium, natively a gut commensal organism, emerged as a leading cause of multidrug-resistant hospital-acquired infection in the 1980s. As the living record of its adaptation to changes in habitat, we sequenced the genomes of 51 strains, isolated from various ecological environments, to understand howE. faeciumemerged as a leading hospital pathogen. Because of the scale and diversity of the sampled strains, we were able to resolve the lineage responsible for epidemic, multidrug-resistant human infection from other strains and to measure the evolutionary distances between groups. We found that the epidemic hospital-adapted lineage is rapidly evolving and emerged approximately 75 years ago, concomitant with the introduction of antibiotics, from a population that included the majority of animal strains, and not from human commensal lines. We further found that the lineage that included most strains of animal origin diverged from the main human commensal line approximately 3,000 years ago, a time that corresponds to increasing urbanization of humans, development of hygienic practices, and domestication of animals, which we speculate contributed to their ecological separation. Each bifurcation was accompanied by the acquisition of new metabolic capabilities and colonization traits on mobile elements and the loss of function and genome remodeling associated with mobile element insertion and movement. As a result, diversity within the species, in terms of sequence divergence as well as gene content, spans a range usually associated with speciation.IMPORTANCEEnterococci, in particular vancomycin-resistantEnterococcus faecium, recently emerged as a leading cause of hospital-acquired infection worldwide. In this study, we examined genome sequence data to understand the bacterial adaptations that accompanied this transformation from microbes that existed for eons as members of host microbiota. We observed changes in the genomes that paralleled changes in human behavior. An initial bifurcation within the species appears to have occurred at a time that corresponds to the urbanization of humans and domestication of animals, and a more recent bifurcation parallels the introduction of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture. In response to the opportunity to fill niches associated with changes in human activity, a rapidly evolving lineage emerged, a lineage responsible for the vast majority of multidrug-resistantE. faeciuminfections.

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