Traumatic hyphema and iridocyclitis in the horse.

Traumatic iridocyclitis and hyphema in the horse usually follow blunt blows to the orbit and eye. The condition is characterized by miosis, ocular hypotony, ciliary flush, swelling of the iris, and hemorrhage with excessive fibrin in the anterior chamber which permits from 2 to 6 weeks. Vigorous treatment with mydriatics, topical and systemic corticosteroids is recommended. Possible complications include anterior and posterior synechiae, cataracts, and fibropupillary membranes.     

Bacterial diskospondylitis in juvenile mink from 2 Ontario mink farms

Nine juvenile mink with hind-limb paresis/paralysis from 2 Ontario farms were submitted for necropsy. Diagnostic tests revealed spinal compression and severe thoracic diskospondylitis with intralesional Gram-positive coccoid bacterial colonies. Streptococcus canis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis, and hemolytic Staphylococcus spp. were isolated from vertebral lesions.     

Mesenteric chylothrombosis in hyperlipidaemic mink

In the familial form of hyperlipoproteinaemia type I of mink (Mustela vison), mesenteric lipogranulomas are common findings in longstanding cases. Patho-morphological studies of early stages indicated that these lipogranulomas arose from stagnant chyle. The composition of fatty acids of a newly formed mesenteric granuloma was determined, together with fatty acids in liver, plasma and the feed. The results supported the pathological observations, as the fat of the granuloma differed from that of the liver and plasma, and contained only small amounts of the endogenous arachidonic acid, while the exogenous eicosenoic acid was present in amounts comparable with the dietary fat.     

Nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis associated with Aleutian mink disease parvovirus infection in ranch mink.

Severe nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis associated with Aleutian mink disease parvovirus (ADV) infection was observed in adult ranch mink. Brain lesions included severe, locally extensive to coalescing lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalitis with accompanying gliosis, satellitosis, and mild extension of inflammation into the leptomeninges. ADV was identified in mesenteric lymph node, spleen, brain, and liver of affected mink by polymerase chain reaction techniques. Sequences of the ADV isolate (TH5) revealed 2 unique residues in the region of the viral genome that determines pathogenicity. These findings suggest that certain strains of ADV may preferentially cause disease in the nervous system. ADV infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neurologic disorders in mink.     

水貂的营养需要和饲养管理

水貂为一种小型的毛皮动物，属于哺乳纲、食肉目、鼬科、鼬属。其皮毛珍贵，以细密、平齐、富有弹性、耐磨轻柔而素有裘皮之王的美称，是世界裘皮市场的主要产品。近年来，我国水貂养殖日益兴盛，根据养殖协会统计，截止到2006年底，我国水貂存栏量达到1000万只。但我国水貂养殖还存在着毛皮质量差、毛皮等级差等问题。营养水平和饲养管理是解决这些问题的关键因素。     

Diversity and stability of Aleutian mink disease virus during bottleneck transitions resulting from eradication in domestic mink in Denmark

Aleutian mink disease (plasmacytosis) virus (AMDV) in domestic mink (Neovison vison) has been subject to eradication in Denmark since 1976. In 2001, approximately 5% of Danish mink farms were still infected and all were located in the northern part of the peninsula of Jutland. In the present study a total of 274 Danish isolates of AMDV collected during the two seasons of 2004 and 2005 were characterized by partial sequencing of the coding region of the non-structural (NS) proteins. Older AMDV isolates from Denmark, available, were also included. The Danish isolates represent a very homogenous cluster compared with Swedish, Finnish and Dutch isolates and seem to represent a minor fraction of the genetic diversity previously found in Denmark. Stability of nucleotide deviations reveals that the purifying selection of bottlenecks imposed on the AMDV population in Denmark by the stamping out policy for more than 6 years exceeds the rate of mutation driven diversity. Among the isolates from farms in northern Jutland two distinct types could be identified and within each of them a number of sub-types which were all useful in tracking spread of infections. Infection at a farm the preceding season was a predisposing risk parameter for disease outbreak at a farm, and strain identity substantiates the suggestion that inadequate disinfection is involved in the recurrence of outbreaks. In cases of new introductions to farms it is indicated that contact including transport between farms played a most significant role.     

Pathology of Aujeszky's disease in mink

Lesions in 21 mink which died of Aujeszky's disease included hemorrhages in lungs, heart, mediastinum, thymus, diaphragm, gastric wall, pancreas, and enteric wall. Microscopically, hyalin and fibrinoid degeneration and necrosis of vessel walls were present in cardiac muscle, brain, gastrointestinal wall and occasionally elsewhere in the body. Hemorrhages, exudation of plasma proteins and necrosis were associated with the angiopathy. Inflammation was minimal or absent. Other findings were congestion and extravasation of blood (lungs, liver), necrosis of lymphoid cells, and hemoglobinuric nephrosis. Aujeszky's disease virus was isolated from all but three animals. After experimental infection of three mink, similar though less pronounced lesions were found to those observed in the field cases.     

An outbreak of tularemia in mink

An outbreak of tularemia in farm raised mink is reported. Twenty-six of approximately 5000 mink succumbed within a 10 day period. Prodromal signs were minimal. Necropsy revealed necrotic nodules scattered in the parenchyma of the lungs, liver, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes. Francisella tularensis was isolated from spleens, livers and lungs.