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The study aimed to evaluate the comparative anatomy of the liver and intrahepatic branching of the portal vein of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) and the American mink (Neovison vison). Due to their highly valuable fur, minks have expanded their range to many parts of Europe and become available for many biomedical studies. In this study, ten adult minks and five otters were used. The intrahepatic branching of the portal vein was studied by the combined injection and dissection technique. The macroscopic anatomy of the liver revealed that both species have six-lobed livers, although differences in shape, size and some additional fissures were documented. The portal vein, upon entering the liver, divides into the right and left branches. The branching pattern in otters had an additional branch at this level with a caudate process branch. The right branch of the portal vein ramified in the right lateral lobe and the caudate process in the mink livers, while the right branch in the otter livers only distributed functional blood to the right lateral lobe. The larger left portal branch, with its transverse and umbilical parts, ramified in the left liver portion, along with the quadrate, right medial lobe and papillary process.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T19:45:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2022-01-01 Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Natural Environment Research Council Formulating effective management plans for addressing the impacts of invasive non-native species (INNS) requires the definition of clear priorities and tangible targets, and the recognition of the plurality of societal values assigned to these species. These tasks require a multi-disciplinary approach and the involvement of stakeholders. Here, we describe procedures to integrate multiple sources of information to formulate management priorities, targets, and high-level actions for the management of INNS. We follow five good-practice criteria: justified, evidence-informed, actionable, quantifiable, and flexible. We used expert knowledge methods to compile 17 lists of ecological, social, and economic impacts of lodgepole pines (Pinus contorta) and American mink (Neovison vison) in Chile and Argentina, the privet (Ligustrum lucidum) in Argentina, the yellow-jacket wasp (Vespula germanica) in Chile, and grasses (Urochloa brizantha and Urochloa decumbens) in Brazil. INNS plants caused a greater number of impacts than INNS animals, although more socio-economic impacts were listed for INNS animals than for plants. These impacts were ranked according to their magnitude and level of confidence on the information used for the ranking to prioritise impacts and assign them one of four high-level actions—do nothing, monitor, research, and immediate active management. We showed that it is possible to formulate management priorities, targets, and high-level actions for a variety of INNS and with variable levels of available information. This is vital in a world where the problems caused by INNS continue to increase, and there is a parallel growth in the implementation of management plans to deal with them. School of Biological Sciences University of Aberdeen Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC) FCEyN-Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata-CONICET CC 1260 Instituto de Geología de Costas y del Cuaternario (IGCyC) FCEyN-Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata-CIC Funes 3350 Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER UNT CONICET) and Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e IMl UNT Residencia Universitaria de Horco Molle, Yerba Buena Business School University of Aberdeen Business School University of Stellenbosch, PO Box 610 Laboratorio de Estudios del Antropoceno (LEA) Facultad de Ciencias Forestales Universidad de Concepción Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)-Dirección Regional Patagonia Norte de la Administración de Parques Nacionales, O’Connor 1188, 8400-San Carlos de Bariloche Laboratorio de Invasiones Biológicas (LIB) Facultad de Ciencias Forestales Universidad de Concepción Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero Gobierno de Chile Lab of Vegetation Ecology Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Av. 24A Centro de Humedales Río Cruces (CEHUM) Universidad Austral de Chile Grupo de Ecología de Invasiones INIBIOMA CONICET Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250 Department of Biology and Biochemistry University of Houston Programa Patagonia Departamento de Conservación de Aves Argentinas/Asociación Ornitológica del Plata Departamento de Análisis de Sistemas Complejos Fundación Bariloche CONICET, Av. Bustillo 9400 EDGE of Existence-Zoological Society of London Lab of Vegetation Ecology Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Av. 24A Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas: -2019-74-APN-DIR#CONICET FAPESP: 2018/14995-8 Natural Environment Research Council: NE/S011641/1

The distribution of the American mink in the wild, originating either from accidental escapes or intentional releases from fur farms, was mapped for the first time in Greece, based on opportunistic data collected from 2010 to 2020. Greece is a key actor in Europe’s fur industry, with most mink farms operating in the northwest. Massive intentional releases by activists took place in the late 2000s, while accidental escapes regularly occur. Most mink were recorded in the Region of Western Macedonia, in NW Greece, within and around the core areas of fur farms, where feral populations became established. Animals were also found further south in the Regions of Thessaly (central Greece) and Central Macedonia (northern Greece). Half of mink records were close to protected areas and almost two-thirds near to watercourses. Many animals were away from the water and on high altitudes, with theoretically less favourable conditions for their survival. We also examine possible directions of further mink range expansion in Greece and neighbouring countries through the river network. Mink invasion progress in Greece is little known, thus, the subject is in urgent need of study, as mink is the alien mammal with the highest impact on the European native fauna.

A well-studied predator–prey relationship between American mink (Neovison vison (Schreber, 1777); formerly known as Mustela vison Schreber, 1777) and muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus (Linnaeus, 1766)) in Canada has advanced our understanding of population cycles including the influence of density dependence and lagged responses of predators to prey abundances. However, it is unclear if patterns observed in Canada extend across the southern half of their native range. We used data from the United States to create a 41-year time series of mink and muskrat harvest reports (1970–2011) for 36 states. After controlling for pelt-price effects, we used second-order autoregressive and Lomb–Scargle spectral density models to identify the presence and periodicity of muskrat population cycles. Additionally, we tested for evidence of delayed or direct density dependence and for predator-driven population dynamics. Our results suggest muskrat populations may cycle in parts of the United States; however, results varied by modeling approaches with Lomb–Scargle analyses providing more precise parameter estimates. Observed cycle lengths were longer than expected with weak amplitudes and we urge caution when interpreting these results. We did not detect evidence of a predator–prey relationship driven by a lagged numerical response of American mink. American mink and muskrat fur returns were largely correlated across the region suggesting extraneous factors likely synchronize both populations.

Salt marsh is a unique and biologically productive ecosystem characterized by relatively few endemic terrestrial vertebrates. Salt marsh continues to decline worldwide and the persistence of species restricted to salt marsh may depend on understanding characteristics associated with their use of these ecosystems. Atlantic salt marsh mink (Neovison vison lutensis) were historically found throughout Northeastern Florida (USA) but their numbers and distribution may have declined following coastal development beginning in the 1800s. Information on their current distribution and ecology in Florida is unknown but they are suspected of being restricted to salt marsh. Between 2013 and 2015, we conducted camera surveys for mink in 42.1 km2 units in salt marsh to determine their occupancy, extent of occurrence, and drivers of habitat use. We measured 20 site-specific environmental covariates to model occupancy and detectability. Mink were detected in a 226 km2 area within 14 km of the Atlantic coast between two of the region’s major rivers. We found positive associations in our top overall occupancy model between mink and blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) biomass and between detectability and low marsh dominated by cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). Our detection data provides further support that mink may be endemic to coastal salt marsh in Florida and that they currently occupy approximately half the northern portion of their historical distribution. We suggest that the long-term persistence of Atlantic salt marsh mink in Florida may depend on the presence of healthy and functional low marsh where aquatic food resources, particularly blue crab, are locally abundant.

This work aims to establish a simplified genotype for American mink (Neovison vison), on the basis of a group of basic genes (Asip, Tyrp–1, Tyr, Myo–5a, and Mc–1r) and three modifying genes (fawn, Ednrb, and Kit). The analysis used pedigrees of 61 females of standard brown, palomino, and silverblue colour variations. The database covered 380 offspring in nine colour variations: brown, silverblue, palomino, brown cross, palomino cross, pearl, pastel, silverpastel, and white. The analysis led to a simplified genotype explaining the principles of inheritance of most common coat colour variations in Polish mink farms. Due to the limited number of animals and the limited number of colour variations used, the analysis could not test the inheritance of all colours found in mink. The genotype was constructed on the basis of the homologous genes responsible for coat colour found in most animal species.

Parasites may negatively affect hosts condition, especially when infection intensity is high. Species introduced to a new habitat are often less exposed to a parasite pressure but may accumulate parasites in time. American mink (Neovison vison) introduced to Europe, Asia, and South America is an example of such invasive species. We analysed nematode prevalence and digestive tract infection intensity in 796 feral American mink from Poland. The analyses were performed separately for stomach, duodenum, small intestine and large intestine. Parasite species identification was performed using molecular methods based on highly conserved nuclear 18S rRNA gene and supplemented with morphological analysis. In total, we collected 26,852 nematodes and 98.6% of them were isolated from mink stomachs. We found positive association between infection intensity in stomach and other parts of digestive tract. Nematode prevalence was estimated at 63.8% and average infection intensity per one American mink at 52.9 (range from 1 to 1118). If the stomach results were theoretically and intentionally omitted the prevalence was 5 times lower (12.7%) and infection intensity 14 times lower (3.7; range 1–50). We identified two nematode species in digestive tracts of American mink: Aonchotheca putorii and Molineus patens. The 18S rRNA gene sequence of Molineus patens has been reported for the first time. The results showed that Aonchotheca putorii is a dominating nematode in the invasive American mink and that it inhabits stomach intensively and preferably.

The study was aimed to evaluate a possible effect of body condition of female farmed mink (Neovison vison) at the moment of conception on their prospective reproduction and behavior. 601 Perl mink females at age 1 and 2 years were assigned to one of five groups according to their body condition. The following parameters were analyzed: gestation and diapause lengths, litter size, live-born litter size, number of weaned per litter, female barrenness, and the incidence of fur-chewing. The effect of body condition was more pronounced in yearling females, where the largest litters, the highest number of live-born per litter, and the highest weaning success were found in the group with the ideal body condition. In both age groups, the shortest pregnancies and diapause periods were observed in the thinnest females. Fur-chewing was most often noticed in either the thinnest or the most obese animals; females of these groups also exhibited the highest rates of barrenness. Consequently, the lowest incidence of fur-chewing, female barrenness were found in females with ideal body condition.

The aim of the study was to estimate the values of metric traits of selected mink heart veins of standard and mutation colour variants. The study was conducted on 342 hearts of seven-month-old males and 405 hearts of seven-month-old females. Mink colour, resulting from mutation or from crossbreeding mutational colour variants with each other. Metric traits of the coronary sinus, great cardiac vein, middle cardiac vein, posterior vein, and small cardiac vein were determined by photographic recording of the sub-epicardial picture of these vessels after filling them with a water-dilutable dye for acrylic paints together with a 30% food gelatin solution. In addition, the number of the veins forming the great cardiac vein and that of the posterior veins of the left ventricle were determined. Based on the measurement of the width and length of the mink hearts, the heart shape was determined. Differences were found between the traits of the mink heart vessels of standard and mutational colour variants, but they did not allow to formulate clearly the thesis about the effect of mutations on these traits.

American mink (Neovison vison) is a significant source of global fur production. Except for a few studies from Denmark and Canada reporting antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from clinic...

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has caused a pandemic in humans. Farmed mink (Neovison vison) are also susceptible. In Denmark, this virus has spread rapidly among farmed mink, resulting in some respiratory disease. Full-length virus genome sequencing revealed novel virus variants in mink. These variants subsequently appeared within the local human community.

American mink Neovison vison is a semi-aquatic mustelid that has been introduced throughout Europe. Several attempts to eradicate this invasive species have been carried out since its spread. In the Iberian Peninsula, an eradication program has started since 2001, as part of the national action plan for the conservation of European mink Mustela lutreola. Proper detection is crucial for management, both for monitoring variation in mink abundance and prevent the recolonization of cleared areas. Mink scats can be confounded with those of several same-sized mustelids, and with the spraints of Eurasian otter Lutra lutra, which also occur along watercourses. However, these difficulties can be overcome by non-invasive genetic methods. With the aim of providing a cost-effective and reliable technique for differentiating mink scats from those of the largest possible number of species with morphologically similar scats, we tested the effectiveness of an already available faecal mtDNA-based PCR–RFLP method for distinguishing mink- and otter faeces. We then applied the method for analysing scats collected and identified in the field by trained surveyors for monitoring the success of mink control operations. The PCR–RFLP method clearly differentiated mink scats from those of otters, as restriction enzymes produced well-defined different patterns. Eighty-five percent of 94 faecal samples could be assigned to a mustelid species. Only three out of seven putative mink samples were confirmed, suggesting that the accuracy of the visual identification of scats is questionable and genetic methods are needed for the reliable assessment of the success of eradication programs.

American mink (Neovison vison) is both a problematic invader and an economically valuable fur breed species in Belarus. The increasing scale of mink breeding for fur and the growing impact of this invasive species on the local ecosystems requires sound, novel strategies for managing both farm and wild populations. Containment of wild American mink populations under the effects of possible migration from the fur farms could be especially problematic. With that issue in mind, we have used microsatellite analysis todetermine the genetic polymorphism in two color breeds of farm-bred American mink in the populations of several Belorussian model fur farms, as well as the same characteristics for the feral populations on the territories adjacent to said fur farms. We confirm the presence of effective influx of mink into the wild from fur farms, determined through the means of analyzing microsatellite genotype data of feral and farm populations.

Pathogens are one of the factors driving wildlife population dynamics. The spread of pathogens in wildlife is currently highly related to the transmission of pathogens from farmed animals, which has increased with the constant development of farming. Here, we analysed the spatio‐temporal variation in the prevalence of Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) antibodies in feral American mink (Neovison vison) populations in Poland (1,153 individuals from nine sites) in relation to mink farming intensity. AMDV was detected in feral mink at all study sites and the prevalence ranged from 0.461 in the northern region to 0.826 in the western region. Mink males and adults were infected more often than females and subadults; the infection was also more frequent during the mink breeding season than during non‐breeding. The prevalence of AMDV changed non‐linearly in consecutive years and the peak of prevalence was every 3–4 years. The predicted AMDV prevalence was low at sites where the number of farmed mink was also low and increased linearly with the increase in the number of mink kept on farms. The predicted AMDV prevalence at sites with low mink farming intensity strongly varied between years, whereas at sites with high mink farming intensity, the predicted prevalence did not change significantly. AMDV infection affected the mink's body condition and caused an increase in the size of the spleen, liver and kidneys. This study shows that Aleutian mink disease strongly affects feral mink but the spatio‐temporal variation of its prevalence is complex and partly related to the transmission of the virus from farmed mink to feral populations. The study highlights the complexity of AMDV circulation in feral mink populations and implicates a potential spillover of the virus to native species.

The objective of this study was to determine the infection rate and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in minks, foxes, and raccoon dogs, farmed in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Northwest China. Fresh fecal specimens were collected from individual cages of farmed minks (n = 214), blue foxes (n = 35), and raccoon dogs (n = 39) and examined using nested PCR based on the Cryptosporidium spp. small subunit rRNA gene. Cryptosporidium spp. was detected in 35 cages (12.2%, 35/288), with a higher infection rate detected in raccoon dogs (20.5%) compared with minks (12.1%) and blue foxes (2.9%). Sequence analysis showed that Cryptosporidium canis was the only species identified in blue foxes and raccoon dogs, while in the 26 Cryptosporidium-positive mink specimens, Cryptosporidium mink genotype (n = 17), C. canis (n = 7), and Cryptosporidium parvum (n = 2) were identified. Further analysis based on the 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene determined that both C. parvum isolates belonged to the subtype IIdA15G1, while eight of the 17 Cryptosporidium mink genotype isolates were a novel subtype that we have named XeA5G1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of C. parvum subtype IIdA15G1 infection in minks. Since all the Cryptosporidium species/genotypes identified in minks, foxes, and raccoon dogs from Xinjiang have been previously found in humans, our results suggest that these fur animals may play a role in the transmission of zoonotic Cryptosporidium.

Coat colour is one of the most important qualitative traits of fur animals. Determining melanin pigments forming the basics of visible coat colour may contribute to a better understanding of the process of creating different coat colour variations in fur-bearing animals. This study aimed to (i) isolate pigment cells from the hair of American mink of 11 colour variations (standard brown, silverblue, palomino, black, wild type, sapphire, black cross, pearl, palomino cross, glow, and amber) using acid and alkali; and (ii) characterise the melanin pigments obtained. The purified pigment cells were observed under a light microscope and verified by spectrophotometry scanning and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The method allowed for obtaining pure melanin specimens. Using acid and alkali to extract eumelanosomes did not affect their shape and structure; it also allowed for obtaining pheomelanin from the hair. The results have proven that the hair colour of the American mink is based on all types of melanin, and that its variations differ in terms of how much eumelanin and pheomelanin the hair contains.

From a longitudinal survey conducted on 30 Danish mink farms in 2016, 11.0% of faecal samples (456/4140) were positive for Cystoisospora laidlawi oocysts by microscopy, with 60% (189/315) of mink being positive at least once during the study period. Morphological analysis of sporulated oocysts identified Cystoisospora oocysts measuring 34.3 × 29.5 μm with an oocyst length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.2. The morphological features of the oocysts were identical to Isospora laidlawi previously morphological identified in farmed mink from Denmark and elsewhere. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rDNA sequences (1221 bp) from three positive mink indicated that Cystoisospora from mink shared the highest genetic similarity to C. canis from a Canadian dog (99.6%). The phylogenetic analysis placed Cystoisospora from mink in a clade with other Cystoisospora isolates.

The release of domestic organisms to the wild threatens biodiversity because the introduction of domestic genes through interbreeding can negatively impact wild conspecifics via outbreeding depression. In North America, farmed American mink (Neovison vison) frequently escape captivity, yet the impact of these events on functional genetic diversity of wild mink populations is unclear. We characterized domestic and wild mink in Ontario at 17 trinucleotide microsatellites located in functional genes thought to be associated with traits affected by domestication. We found low functional genetic diversity in both mink types, as only four of 17 genes were variable, yet allele frequencies varied widely between captive and wild populations. To determine whether allele frequencies of wild populations were affected by geographic location, we performed redundancy analysis and spatial analysis of principal components on three polymorphic loci (AR, ATN1 and IGF‐1). We found evidence to suggest domestic release events are affecting the functional genetic diversity of wild mink, as sPCA showed clear distinctions between wild individuals near mink farms and those located in areas without mink farms. This is further substantiated through RDA, where spatial location was associated with genetic variation of AR, ATN1 and IGF1.

Commercial farming of endangered wildlife has potential to reduce poaching pressure on wild populations. However, poached products can be laundered as farmed products. A method for separating farmed from wild products is therefore essential for effective law enforcement. Meat (skeletal muscle) is a wildlife product whose origin cannot be correctly determined. This short communication reports an epigenetic approach to achieve the distinction using the methylation rate of the promoter of the α-actinin-3 (ACTN3) gene in gluteus maximus tissues of feral (n = 21) and farmed (n = 21) American mink, Neovison vison. Our results showed that the accuracy of assignment ranged from 59.5 to 76.2% on each of six CpG sites/site groups. Combination of the six CpG sites/site groups achieved 83.3% overall correct assignment, 90.5% for the farmed group and 76.2% for the wild group. These data suggest the methylation rate of promoters of selected genes could be an effective indicator to distinguish farmed meat from wild meat of wildlife species.

This paper examines the case for, and plausibility of, eradicating American mink Neovison vison from mainland Great Britain and its associated offshore islands. This invasive species causes extensive damage to native fauna throughout Europe, and the UK Government is obliged to eradicate it, if feasible, under the Bern Convention. Current mink control buys time, but is patchy and dependent on substantial funding in perpetuity. If enacted, eradication would be cheaper in the long term and much more effective in preserving native wildlife. The methodology of an eradication campaign is explored, together with risks, challenges, and a tentative timeline and cost. We judge that mink eradication is now logistically feasible, due to technological developments and experience gained from landscape‐scale control. Using live traps fitted with electronic sensors – ‘smart’ traps – as the primary means of catching mink would render the campaign efficient, humane and free of non‐target mortality and negative environmental impacts. The ecological benefits of mink eradication would be profound, including greatly improving prospects for water vole Arvicola amphibius populations. Reinvasion is highly unlikely. The greatest logistical challenge is probably removing mink from Scottish west coast islands. Eradication might take around a decade and be dependent on co‐ordination between many conservation, fishing, farming, and water‐related organisations, together with the consent of landowners. By adding alarms to existing mink traps, land and water managers can pave the way to eradication now. A mink‐free Great Britain would plausibly cost tens of millions of pounds, against which could be set the limitless future costs of mink control. Such a campaign would be by far the world's largest invasive predator eradication project by geographical area and would set a precedent for citizen‐led conservation action globally. Regional trials would be extremely valuable in determining the costs and practicality of a GB‐wide campaign.

Detection probability is an important input when studying and managing species. It reduces the miscalculations of the estimates of occupancy, population abundances and their trends inherent to the imperfect detection during sampling. However, detection probability may vary in relation to environmental and biological factors, such as the presence of other species of similar ecological niche. We used a two-species single-season occupancy model to analyse the detection probability of the native Eurasian otter Lutra lutra and the invasive American mink Neovison vison in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula and to test for potential differences in their detection when co-occurring and when not. Despite the known behavioural change of American mink towards a more terrestrial diet and a more diurnal activity pattern in the presence of Eurasian otter, their detectability did not vary when both species co-occurred versus when they did not. However, we observed seasonal differences in the probability of detection. Specifically, the probability of detection was higher in winter for both species. Furthermore, Eurasian otter was more often detected in sites with clay substrate, whereas American mink in sites with clay and rocks. These results indicate that the effectiveness of monitoring of Eurasian otter and American mink remains independent of the species co-occurrence. Yet, seasonal variations in the detection should be taken into account when monitoring.

Invasive non-native species can become reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens and cause their spread during colonization, increasing the risk of zoonoses transmission to both wild hosts and humans. American mink (Neovison vison) are considered an important invasive mammal species responsible for carrying endoparasites. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of feral American mink as a possible transmission vector of Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp. in wildlife. We analysed the frequency of American mink exposure to both parasites, the spatial distribution in Poland, and the variability over time on the basis of specific antibody presence using ELISA and Western blot. Alimentary tract analyses revealed that American mink do not serve as definitive hosts for these parasites. Altogether, 1100 American mink were examined. The average seropositivity for American mink was 14.2% for echinococcosis and 21.7% for toxocarosis; dual-seropositivity was detected in only 6.0%. Seroprevalence of both parasites differed between study sites and significantly increased over time in Toxocara spp. Thus, our study revealed that free-living American mink are exposed to parasites and likely to be involved in the maintenance of both Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp. in the wild as paratenic hosts.

The European mink (Mustela lutreola) is listed as a critically endangered species because of ongoing population reduction from habitat degradation and the effects of introduced species, such as American mink (Neovison vison). This small, fragmented population becomes vulnerable to many other threats, including diseases. Leishmaniosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania infantum found in the Mediterranean area, which affects many mammals, including wild small mammals. Furthermore, clinical disease caused by L. infantum has recently been described in other mustelids. To assess the exposure to Leishmania sp. infection in mink species in northern Spain, blood samples from 139 feral American mink and 42 native European mink from north Spain were evaluated for Leishmania sp. infection using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays against Leishmania spp. antibodies, with 52.4% of American mink and 45.3% of European mink being found seropositive. This finding raises questions regarding how the disease may affect these species and the potential repercussions for conservation efforts. Despite a high seroprevalence being observed in wild mink of both species in this study, association with clinical or pathologic signs of disease has yet to be elucidated.

The American mink, Neovison vison, is an invasive species in Chile. Its impact on native fauna and public health has not been studied in depth in the country. In this study, we searched for gastrointestinal parasites, including helminths and zoonotic Cryptosporidium sp., the presence of Trichinella sp. in muscle, and the renal carriage of pathogenic Leptospira sp. in minks caught on Navarino Island, "Magallanes y la Antartica Chilena" Region, and Maullin and Ancud, "Los Lagos" Region, Chile. A total of 58, 15, and 21 minks from Navarino Island, Maullin, and Ancud, respectively, were examined for Trichinella sp. (artificial digestion of muscle). A total of 36, 11, and 17 minks from Navarino Island, Maullin, and Ancud, respectively, were examined for pathogenic Leptospira species (molecular detection of LipL32 gen fragment in renal tissue) infection. Finally, 45, 11, and 17 minks from Navarino Island, Maullin, and Ancud, respectively, were analyzed to detect gastrointestinal parasites (by optical inspection of the digestive tract for helminths, and by both Ziehl-Neelsen stain and molecular detection of small subunit-ribosomal DNA for Cryptosporidium species). Trichinella larvae were not observed. Pathogenic Leptospira sp. was detected in 22 samples: 15 from Navarino Island, 3 from Maullin, and 4 from Ancud. Two nematodes, belonging to Ascaridinae (subfamily) and Pterygodermatites (Paucipectines) sp., were found in samples of two minks from Navarino Island. Oocysts and DNA of Cryptosporidium sp. were detected in three fecal samples from Navarino Island. Further studies could determine the zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium sp., as well as the potential impact of the zoonotic Leptospira sp. on the human population of the Navarino Island, Maullin, and Ancud districts. The enemy release theory could explain the low helminth species richness in the minks. In addition, we did not find evidence of parasite transmission from native fauna.

Reintroduction 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.

Genetic testing using STR sequences is a fundamental element of investigative and judicial activities in various types of cases involving animals, such as theft of animals or products derived from ...

Pre-weaning diarrhea in mink kits (PWD), also known as “sticky kits” is a multifactorial syndrome of considerable concern in the mink production. Evidence based treatment protocols are not available, and treatment is therefore empirical and often based on the use of antimicrobials. The purpose of the study was to test the effect of 3 alternative treatments to a standard antibiotic treatment, to characterize the study groups microbiologically, and finally to compare the intestinal microbiota of the different treatment groups at the age of 42 days. In total, 226 one to three week old mink kits with PWD from 36 litters were treated with either 1) Lactobacillus reuteri, 2) benzylpenicillin, 3) Ringer lactate or 4) amoxicillin (controls). Effects of the treatments were measured as weight gain from day 0 to day 15 and mortality. Multivariable linear mixed model regression showed no significant difference in weight gain between probiotic-, penicillin or fluid-treated mink kits and the amoxicillin treated controls. There was also no significant difference in mortality risk between the treatment groups. Bacterial culture and next generation sequencing of the viral contents showed that the study groups were uniform with a high frequency of Staphylococcus intermedius group (SIG) bacteria, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus hirae, Mamastrovirus and Sapovirus which were representative for mink kits with PWD. 16S sequencing results of the bacterial microbiota, when the kits were 42 days old were dominated by clostridia in all groups and showed no clear differences in the bacterial composition between the different treatment groups.

In this study we investigated the robustness of the WelFur welfare assessment system for farmed mink (Neovison vison) to date of assessment in the winter and growth assessment periods. The prevalence of occurrences of certain measurements was hypothesised to increase with date of assessment (too thin, fur-chewing and stereotypic behaviour in the winter period and injuries, diarrhoea and exploratory mink in the growth period). The welfare was assessed on eight Danish mink farms according to the WelFur-Mink protocol. Each farm was assessed once in the nursing period (to be able to calculate WelFur-Mink scores), four times in the growth period and three times in the winter period. WelFur scores were calculated based on the assessments in the three periods: one calculation for each assessment in the winter and growth periods. The odds of fur-chewing increased with date of assessment in the winter period, and the odds of injuries, diarrhoea and exploratory mink increased with date of assessment in the growth period. The odds of too thin mink in the winter period decreased, ie the change was in the opposite direction to what was expected. The effect of these changes on the aggregated WelFur scores on the higher levels was limited, but could potentially lead to changes in the overall welfare categorisation of farms if the principle scores were close to a threshold between two categories. A potential way to eliminate the effect of date of assessment could be to develop a correction factor for the measurements that can be expected to change within each assessment period.

The American mink Neovison vison has been introduced to Italy for fur farms in the 1950s. Since the 1970s, free-ranging individuals are present in north-eastern Italy, where an expanding population still occurs. In our work, we aimed at assessing the seasonal diet of invasive American mink introduced to north-eastern Italy. Thus, a total of 195 mink scats (N = 73, June 2007; N = 57, September 2007; N = 65, February 2008) were collected. Scats were washed and food remains isolated and classified through comparison with reference collections and atlases. Absolute and relative frequencies, as well as the estimated volume of each prey category were computed. The endemic Italian water vole Arvicola italicus represented the staple of the diet of the American mink in June (relative frequency: 20.4%, total volume in diet: 38.1%) and September (relative frequency: 22.7%, total volume in diet: 52.0%). Other small mammals, amphibians (Rana spp. and Pelophylax spp.) and the invasive red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii were mostly consumed in cold months, when water voles are not available. Differently from other study areas, wading birds and fish were rarely consumed, possibly because of their low local availability, if compared with small mammals. No law currently protects the endemic water vole, which may be furtherly threatened by the potential range expansion of invasive minks. Therefore, eradication of this alien carnivore should be recommended before local population decline of water vole become irreversible, and before minks reach populations of native riverine mustelids, i.e. the western polecat and the Eurasian otter.

Helminthological autopsies of Mustelids from various districts of Pskov, Тver and Smolensk region were carried out. To determine the prevalence rates of the infestation, an extensive invasion index was used. According to the results of helminthological autopsies, a list of detected helminthes is given. For the first time on the study area, 14 species of helminthes were recorded in studied Mustelids. Two of the found species of helminthes parasitize in Mustelids in larval form. The maximum variety of species is observed among the Nematoda class. The data on the number of detected helminth species in Mustelids in certain districts of the Tver, Pskov and Smolensk regions, as well as indicators of the frequency of helminthes were given. The maximum number of helminth species is recorded in Mustelids in the Novosokolnichesky district of the Pskov region. Extensiveness of invasion of all studied species of Mustelids, excluding otter, is 100%. According to the indicators of extensiveness of invasion in the studied Mustelids, Isthmiophora melis, Capillaria mucronata, Capillaria putorii, Filaroides martis are prevalent. The maximum number of species of parasitic worms is recorded in pine marten. The research results indicate the dominant influence of the trophic factor in the formation of the helminth fauna of martens that inhabit the study areas.

The southernmost archipelago of the Americas is dominated by invasive mammals that outnumber their native counterparts. Despite the relatively low ability of most invasive mammals to cross cold sea water channels, invaders are apparently colonizing new islands. Our objective was to provide an assessment of the expansion of invasive mammals within these sub-Antarctic ecosystems, determine whether human-mediated movement of invasive species is a plausible dispersal mechanism, and identify areas likely to be colonized in the near future. We report a decade of fieldwork (2006–2017) in 44 sites on 13 islands within the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve including opportunistic and systematic camera trapping, carnivore diet, questionnaires, small mammal trapping, and walks/transects. We found new records of invasive mammals on seven islands, particularly for American mink (Neovison vison) and American beaver (Castor canadensis). Interviews with fishermen showed that mink, dogs (Canis familiaris), and small rodents are likely passengers in vessels. Finally, species distribution models revealed that the putative invasive-free Cape Horn National Park (55°S) is suitable for several invasive species, suggesting a high risk of invasion if species are introduced. We conclude that it is urgent to implement barriers to dispersal to prevent further invasion. In the case of dogs and cats (Felis catus), the first step should be control actions that target pet owners. Finally, we highlight the need of systematic, long-term biodiversity monitoring and citizen science in the Cape Horn Archipelago and common conservation guidelines for the terrestrial sub-Antarctic ecosystems.

The aim of this review was to define the most important factors that affect the reproductive success of farmed mink. The biology of mink reproduction is unique when comparing it with other farmed fur animals. The article emphasizes the importance of optimal environmental conditions in prevention of reproductive disorders. The novel attempts to the mating schedule, optimal diet and body condition of dams, kits transfer between dams, these are only examples of advantageous procedures used in mink farming to increase the effectiveness of reproduction.

This paper reports the results of stationary studies on the ecology of the American mink (Neovison vison Schreb.) on three small rivers of the Sikhote-Alin region from 2003 to 2018. The population density in the field stations range from 0.4 to 2.2 individuals per 1 km of watercourse. Cyclic changes in the density of the mink population were found to occur with a period of about six years (rS = 0.68, P = 0.01). Hunting of low intensity did not affect the number and growth of the mink population. The correlation between floods and annual precipitation and dynamics of density was weak and unreliable. In the predator’s diet, three main forage groups (mammals, frogs, and fish) were singled out, the ratio of which varied in the basins of different rivers and according to the seasons of the year.

Study into the effect of vitamins A and E on total and differential leukocyte count, as well as morphometric parameters of lymphocytes in three carnivorous species—dark brown American mink (Neovison vison, Mustelidae), blue fox (Vulpes lagopus, Canidae), and silver fox (V. vulpes, Canidae)—was conducted. The highest white blood cells count (WBC count) and the largest surface area of lymphocytes and their nuclei in the peripheral blood were observed in mink, while the lowest indices were found in silver fox. Additional supplementation with vitamins A and E for 14 days had no effect on the WBC and differential leukocyte count, except for silver foxes receiving vitamin E, in which a decrease in relative eosinophils and monocytes content was observed. The action of vitamins was mainly manifested in changes in the lymphocytes’ morphometric parameters. The addition of vitamin A into the diet of mink and silver fox and vitamin E into only mink’s diet led to an increase in the surface area of lymphocytes and, in some cases, their nuclei, which was accompanied by a rise in the cytoplasm size in mink cells. In blue fox, on the contrary, both vitamins induced a decrease in the surface area of the lymphocytes and their nuclei. The observed changes may be associated with the immunomodulatory effects of vitamins A and E of the studied species of carnivorous mammals, while the found differences may be associated with features of the morphologic and functional organization of lymphocytes and the immune status.

SummarySince its rediscovery in 1998, two major threats have been mentioned for the enigmatic Austral RailRallus antarcticus: cattle management by burning grass and rushes and predation by American minkNeovison vison. Added to the lack of a protocol to monitor this secretive bird, ever-growing threats make it necessary to study its global situation in depth to take accurate and urgent management decisions. We firstly studied how threats to the Austral Rail currently impact their occupancy and relative density (RD) at a wetland scale and habitat features associated with its presence at survey site scale inside wetlands in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. We additionally developed a monitoring protocol to detect the rail effectively and promptly by studying responses to playback with two different vocalisations at different times of the day and season. Both threats evaluated were negatively related to occupancy and RD of the Austral Rail, especially mink presence appearing to have an additive effect. We propose American mink control as crucial for Austral Rail conservation, while it would also be necessary to conserve a portion of wetlands exempt from burning and cattle presence. At survey sites, its presence was positively related with c.1–1.5 m tall rushes, whilst rails avoided low- density rush areas that resulted after management of rushes with fire to create pasture. To detect rails, both vocalisations can be confidently used at any time of the day and season. The poor knowledge about species ecology, mismanagement of vegetation in wetlands, expansion of American mink in Patagonia, construction on two dams in the Santa Cruz river basin, added to the already modified humidity conditions due to global climate change, force us to suggest that the Austral Rail should be considered as globally ‘Endangered’ (EN), to ensure the consideration of the species in management decisions.

Currently, the importance of research into the behavior of farm animals is being highlighted. Monitoring animal temperament is a key aspect in improving their well-being. The aim of the study was to search for indicators facilitating classification of the emotional reactivity of mink (Neovison vison) using behavioral tests: glove and empathic tests. Both tests were applied to 760 mink in triplicate to assess their behavioral profile. Based on the obtained assessments, the animals subjected to the empathic test were classified into one of the four behavioral profiles: aggressive, curious, fearful, and neutral. The contact time of the mink with the new object in the empathic test clearly differentiates all four types of mink behavior. The significantly longest contact with the object was found for aggressive, and the shortest for neutral animals. The intensity and time of contact with the object may be an indicator of the behavioral profile of mink. Based on the results, it can be concluded that an additional predictor of the mink reactivity during behavioral tests should be taken into account, the intensity of contact with the object measured both by the intensity of direct contact and by the duration of this contact. The results shown in this study can be used as a selection indicator by including the temperament of farm mink in selection.

Invasive alien predators pose a threat to native fauna and the studies of their feeding habits are crucial to understanding their impact on prey populations. Diet of the American mink Neovison vison, an invasive species in Europe, is relatively well studied based on scat analysis, however, the use of other methods of diet analysis enables a better overview of this issue. We analyzed the isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen in the livers, which reflects the diet from about 30–40 days (scat analysis provides information on the diet over 1–2 days only) of the American mink from four national parks in Poland and in the muscles of three types of mink prey (root voles, common frogs, and roach) in order to estimate their contribution to the mink diet. Mink in Biebrza and Narew National Parks fed mainly on frogs and fish, in Drawa National Park on voles and fish, and in Warta Mouth National Park almost exclusively on fish—as shown by Bayesian mixing models calculated for three selected groups of prey. There was no isotopic evidence for differences between the diets of male and female mink. In all groups of prey, we found surprisingly high differences between individuals of the same species from different study sites in the isotopic composition of both δ13C (up to 3‰) and δ15N (up to 6‰). Based on a detailed literature review, we predict that the main reasons for these variations are differences in abiotic environment, food availability, and trophic position. We also indicate a lack of data on trophic discrimination in fish and amphibians, which makes it hard to assess the influence of differences in trophic position on isotopic variations. We suggest caution to authors who plan to study geographical variations in diet of animals using stable isotope analysis without acknowledging that taxonomically and ecologically similar prey can differ in isotopic composition between studied areas.

he local landscape Feofaniya is located on the outskirts of the Kyiv and represents communities of native oak wood with high density of ancient trees and hornbeam forest, steppe meadow, culture phytocenoses, cascade of ponds, stream. For the period 2012-2018 11 species of fish, 8 amphibians, 7 reptiles, 111 birds, 29 mammals were identified. Of these, 82.0 % of species are protected internationally, 8.9 % at the state level of the Ukraine, 12.6 % are regionally rare. In 81% of animal species, the reproductive site passes through the tract, and in half of them the whole life cycle. 19 % of the species composition of birds (Aves) are sedentary, 58 % arrive for nesting, 12 % for feeding, 9 % for wintering, 2 % for migratory (Regulus ignicapillus, Nucifraga caryocatactes). 82.8 % of mammals (Mammalia) are sedentary, 10.3 % are migratory (Pipistrellus nathusii, Pipistrellus pygmaeu, Nyctalus leisleri), 6.9 % with unexplained status (Neovison vison, Capreolus capreolus). The local landscape has 12 alien species. Carassius gibelio, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix released into ponds with the purpose of stocking. Trachemys seripta elegans bring vacationers to the ponds. Pseudorasbora parva, Perccottus glenii, Streptopelia decaocto, Dendrocopos syriacus, Phoenicurus ochruros, Serinus serinus, Ondatra zibet, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Neovison vison penetrated the local landscape independently from neighboring biotopes. Thanks to biotechnical measures aimed at improving the living conditions of animals (protection of natural nests and the creation of artificial ones), hanging feeders in the winter, hanging shelters for daytime and wintering bats. The negative impact on the biotopes of Feofaniya from the side of recreants is somewhat leveled at the expense of educational work with vacationers. The most relevant propaganda work is aimed at educating correct behavior in nature, explaining the need to protect all plant and animal species, their biotopes, and explaining the consequences of disturbing the balance of sustainable development of ecosystems.

The American mink (Neovison vison), native to North America, is a controversial invasive species in many European countries, including Poland. Mitochondrial DNA data (concatenated MT-CYTB and MT-COI sequences) were used to investigate the genetic diversity of native, introduced, and ranch populations of this species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two major clades including individuals from the ranch, feral, and wild populations. This supports the theory of occurrence of two mitochondrial lineages in the native range of American mink assigned to eastern and western part of North America. The genetic structure in the invasive range was probably the result of the diverse origins of the released specimens and the rapid expansion and encounters of the introduced populations. Spatial mixing of both North American lineages in Polish feral populations may lead to higher levels of genetic diversity in introduced populations, despite some evidence of a founder effect as one of the main factors influencing their diversity.

The breadth of animal hosts that are susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and may serve as reservoirs for continued viral transmission are not known entirely. In August 2020, an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 occurred in multiple mink farms in Utah and was associated with high mink mortality and rapid viral transmission between animals. The outbreak’s epidemiology, pathology, molecular characterization, and tissue distribution of virus within infected mink is provided. Infection of mink was likely by reverse zoonosis. Once established, infection spread rapidly between independently housed animals and farms, and caused severe respiratory disease and death. Clinical signs were most notably sudden death, anorexia, and increased respiratory effort. Gross pathology examination revealed severe pulmonary congestion and edema. Microscopically there was pulmonary edema with moderate vasculitis, perivasculitis, and fibrinous interstitial pneumonia. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of tissues collected at necropsy demonstrated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in multiple organs including nasal turbinates, lung, tracheobronchial lymph node, epithelial surfaces, and others. Whole genome sequencing from multiple mink was consistent with published SARS-CoV-2 genomes with few polymorphisms. The Utah mink SARS-CoV-2 strain fell into Clade GH, which is unique among mink and other animal strains sequenced to date and did not share other spike RBD mutations Y453F and F486L found in mink. Localization of viral RNA by in situ hybridization revealed a more localized infection, particularly of the upper respiratory tract. Mink in the outbreak reported herein had high levels of virus in the upper respiratory tract associated with mink-to-mink transmission in a confined housing environment and were particularly susceptible to disease and death due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.Author SummaryThe recent emergence and worldwide spread of the novel coronavirus has resulted in worldwide disease and economic hardship. The virus, known as SARS-CoV-2 is believed to have originated in bats and has spread worldwide through human-to-human virus transmission. It remains unclear which animal species, other than humans, may also be susceptible to viral infection and could naturally transmit the virus to susceptible hosts. In this study, we describe an outbreak of disease and death due to SARS-CoV-2 infection in farmed mink in Utah, United States. The investigation reveals that mink can spread the virus rapidly between animals and that the disease in mink is due to the viral infection and damage to tissues of the upper and lower respiratory system. The determination that mink are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 indicates the need for strict biosecurity measures on mink farms to remediate mink-to-mink and human-to-mink transmission for the protection of mink, as well as prevent potential transmission from mink to humans.

The breadth of animal hosts that are susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and may serve as reservoirs for continued viral transmission are not known entirely. In August 2020, an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 occurred on five mink farms in Utah and was associated with high mink mortality (35–55% of adult mink) and rapid viral transmission between animals. The premise and clinical disease information, pathology, molecular characterization, and tissue distribution of virus within infected mink during the early phase of the outbreak are provided. Infection spread rapidly between independently housed animals and farms, and caused severe respiratory disease and death. Disease indicators were most notably sudden death, anorexia, and increased respiratory effort. Gross pathology examination revealed severe pulmonary congestion and edema. Microscopically there was pulmonary edema with moderate vasculitis, perivasculitis, and fibrinous interstitial pneumonia. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of tissues collected at necropsy demonstrated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in multiple organs including nasal turbinates, lung, tracheobronchial lymph node, epithelial surfaces, and others. Localization of viral RNA by in situ hybridization revealed a more localized infection, particularly of the upper respiratory tract. Whole genome sequencing from multiple mink was consistent with published SARS-CoV-2 genomes with few polymorphisms. The Utah mink SARS-CoV-2 strains fell into Clade GH, which is unique among mink and other animal strains sequenced to date. While sharing the N501T mutation which is common in mink, the Utah strains did not share other spike RBD mutations Y453F and F486L found in nearly all mink from the United States. Mink in the outbreak reported herein had high levels of SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract associated with symptomatic respiratory disease and death., Author summary The recent emergence and spread of the novel coronavirus has resulted in worldwide disease and economic hardship. The virus, known as SARS-CoV-2 is believed to have originated in bats and has spread worldwide through human-to-human virus transmission. It remains unclear which animal species, other than humans, may also be susceptible to viral infection and could naturally transmit the virus to susceptible hosts. In this study, we describe the early phases of an outbreak of disease and death due to SARS-CoV-2 infection in farmed mink in Utah, United States. The investigation reveals that mink can spread the virus rapidly between animals and that the disease in mink is associated with viral infection and damage to tissues of the upper and lower respiratory system. The determination that mink are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 indicates the need for strict biosecurity measures on mink farms to remediate mink-to-mink and human-to-mink transmission for the protection of mink, as well as prevent potential transmission from mink to humans. It may be prudent for humans working with SARS-CoV-2 mink to wear appropriate PPE until more is understood.

Biological invasions have emerged as one of the main drivers of biodiversity change and decline, and numbers of alien species are rapidly rising. The European Union established a dedicated regulation to limit the impacts of invasive alien species (IAS), which is focused on a Union List of IAS of particular concern. However, no previous study has specifically addressed the ecology of invasive alien mammals included in the Union List.We performed a systematic review of published literature on these species. We retrieved 262 studies dealing with 16 species, and we complemented these with the most up-to-date information extracted from global databases on IAS.We show that most of the study species reached Europe as pets that escaped from captivity or were intentionally released. On average, 1.2 species’ new first records/year were documented in European countries in the period 1981-2020, and most species are still expanding their alien ranges colonising neighbouring territories. France, Germany, Italy, and The Netherlands are the most invaded nations, and the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), and the American mink (Neovison vison) are the most widespread species, having invaded at least 27 countries each. Invasive mammals of European Union concern are threatening native biodiversity and human well-being: worryingly, 81.3% of the study species are implicated in the epidemiological cycle of zoonotic pathogens.Containing the secondary spread to further countries is of paramount importance to avoid the establishment of new populations of invasive mammals and the related impacts on native communities, ecosystem services, and human health.Our results offer the most updated compendium on the ecology of invasive mammals of European Union concern, that can be used to assist environmental policies, identify and subsequently fill knowledge gaps, and inform stakeholders.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACTGraphical abstract: Invasive alien mammals of European Union concern.The figure illustrates how the introduction of a species in few new areas, followed by a lag phase of adaptation and sometimes enriched by further subsequent releases, can rapidly lead to the colonisation of large parts of a continent. On the top left, a heat map with species’ richness in countries of Europe. On the top right, a word cloud with the main keywords of our literature search and some of the study species’ names. On the bottom left, four out of 16 study species: in clockwise order, the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), the American mink (Neovison vison), and the raccoon (Procyon lotor). On the bottom right, the temporal distribution of the first records of the study species in the countries of Europe.

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.

Background Recurring escapes or deliberate releases and subsequent infiltration or establishment of feral populations by individuals from fur farms have been commonly noted since the beginning of fur industry expansion. Once animals have invaded ecosystems adjacent to source farms escapees can change the demography of the feral populations through hybridization, outbreeding depression, competition and spreading of various pathogens which can decimate wild populations. In our study, we aimed to assess spread of Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) in the feral population of American mink (Neovison vison) in Iceland. The additional objective was to elucidate whether basic morpho-anatomical parameters (i.e., Fulton’s condition factor or spleen to body weight ratio) might be used as a preliminary indicator of AMDV infection. Methods American mink (n = 164) were captured by professional hunters in 8 regions of Iceland. The detection of AMDV in the spleen of male and female individuals was based on PCR amplification of an NS1 gene fragment. Results We confirmed AMDV presence in 23.8% (n = 39) of collected samples with no significant difference in infection rate between males and females. Additionally, we revealed that the prevalence of virus in the feral population was higher closer to fur farms. However, the countrywide prevalence and direction of AMDV distribution needs to be further investigated. Comparison of condition indices in non-infected and infected animals showed significant deterioration of body and spleen parameters in the latter group. Therefore, the application of basic measurements of the American mink may be used to evaluate the health status of individuals in terms of pathogen infection. Conclusions The study shed a new light on prevalence and distribution of AMDV in the feral population of American mink in Iceland and the results might be successfully applied to develop models to infer dynamics of various pathogens, even those latently transmitted by disease-free animals.

This experiment investigated the effect of vitamin A supplementation on growth, serum biochemical parameters, jejunum morphology and the microbial community in male growing-furring mink. Thirty healthy male mink were randomly assigned to three treatment groups, with 10 mink per group. Each mink was housed in an individual cage. The mink in the three groups were fed diets supplemented with vitamin A acetate at dosages of 0 (CON), 20,000 (LVitA) and 1,280,000 IU/kg (HVitA) of basal diet. A 7-day pretest period preceded a formal test period of 45 days. The results show that 20,000 IU/kg vitamin A increased the ADG, serum T-AOC and GSH-Px activities, villus height and villus height/crypt depth ratio (p &lt, 0.05). The mRNA expression levels of IL-22, Occludin and ZO-1 in the jejunum of mink were significantly higher in the LVitA group than those in the CON and HVitA groups (p &lt, 0.05). Vitamin A supplementation increased the diversity of jejunum bacteria, decreased the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes and increased the relative abundance of Akkermansia, uncultured bacterium f Muribaculaceae, Allobaculum, Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group, Rummeliibacillus and Parasutterella. The comparison of potential functions also showed enrichment of glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, transport and catabolism pathways in the vitamin A supplementation groups compared with the CON group. In conclusion, these results indicate that dietary vitamin A supplementation could mediate host growth by improving intestinal development, immunity and the relative abundance of the intestinal microbiota.

Trichinellosis is a zoonosis with worldwide distribution. Several hosts have been recognized around the world; however, there is a lack of knowledge of the role of feral mammals in Chile in its transmission. Herein, we tested muscle samples from 555 individuals among American minks (Neovison vison Schreber, 1777. n = 100) and several myomorph rodent species (Muridae and Cricetidae. n = 455) from southern Chile by artificial digestion to detect Trichinella larvae and identified the larvae at the species level through molecular analyses. Rodents were captured in agricultural and wild protected areas of several administrative regions (hereafter: region), while minks were captured in agricultural areas of the Los Rios region. Trichinella spiralis larvae were detected in a synanthropic black rat (0.24%) of the Nuble region and in seven minks (7%) trapped in agricultural areas of the Los Rios region. The present results suggest that T. spiralis circulation is restricted to synanthropic rodents and minks living in agricultural areas where the parasite circulates among domesticated pigs. This study represents the first record of T. spiralis in a mustelid mammal in South America, increasing the number of feral species that could participate in the reservoir.

Evidence indicating a decline in Ondatra zibethicus (Muskrat) populations in the United States during the past 40 years has led to speculation regarding factors influencing Muskrat survival. In order to understand population dynamics and survival, it is important to first define the ecology of local populations. We investigated the dwelling structure use, movements, home range, and survival of radio-tagged Muskrats (n = 14) in an urban wetland complex in central Pennsylvania. We used locations collected from intensive radio-telemetry monitoring to determine number of lodging structures used, hourly movement, and size and percent area overlap of home ranges. Muskrats shared an average of 9 lodging structures, and on average, 68% of a Muskrat's home range overlapped home ranges of other Muskrats. We used 4 home-range estimators (kernel density estimator [KDE]href, KDEad hoc, KDEplug-in, and local convex hull estimator) to assess the ability of each estimator to represent Muskrat home ranges. The KDEplug-in that constrained the estimate of home range to habitat boundaries provided the most appropriate home-range size for Muskrats in a linear–non-linear habitat matrix. We also calculated overwinter survival estimates using known-fate models. Our top model indicated a positive effect of the average weekly precipitation on survival, with an overwinter survival estimate of 0.59 (SE = 0.16). The main cause of Muskrat mortality was predation by Neovison vison (American Mink; n = 6). The small sample size and uncertainty surrounding our model selection led to weak estimates of survival; however, our model suggests that snowfall may be an important factor in Muskrat survival. Our study provides novel data on Muskrat ecology in Pennsylvania as well as preliminary evidence for future investigations of factors affecting Muskrat survival during the winter months.