An Outbreak of Excessive Neonatal Mortality in Four Danish Mink Farms

Data collected from an outbreak of excessive mortality of mink kits in 4 Danish mink farms in 1982 were analysed. The mortality of the mink kits was found to be highest for the kits from Aleutian Disease (AD)-positive females, and the Scanblack mink was found to be the most frequently affected mink type. Furthermore the mortality was found to depend on the farm of origin and to be highest for the lastest born kits. The age of the females and their location in sheds were found not to influence the mortality of the kits. However, the mortality for the Pastel mink decreased with increasing distance from the Scanblack mink. The possibility that the excess mortality of the kits might be due to an AD-virus infection is discussed.