ALEUTIAN MINK DISEASE VIRUS IN STRIPED SKUNKS (MEPHITIS MEPHITIS): EVIDENCE FOR CROSS-SPECIES SPILLOVER

Abstract

Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) causes a parvovirus infection, initially characterized in American mink (Neovison vison), that may have harmful effects on wild populations of susceptible animals. In North America, where American mink are native, the origin, host range, and prevalence of AMDV in wild species is not clear. We studied striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) and raccoons (Procyon lotor) to determine whether species sympatric with mink are potential reservoirs in the transmission of AMDV to wild mink and mink farms. Antibodies to AMDV were detected in 41% of skunk serum samples (143/347) and AMDV nucleic acids were detected in 32% (14/40) of skunk spleen samples by PCR, indicating that AMDV exposure and infection were frequent in skunks. We detected no AMDV antibodies in 144 raccoon blood samples. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a newly identified AMDV haplogroup consisting of isolates from Ontario skunks and a free-ranging domestic mink from Ontario. Our findings of frequent AMDV infection in skunks, close genetic similarity between skunk and mink AMDV isolates, and evidence of AMDV transmission from skunks to mink support the hypothesis that skunks may be acting as alternative hosts and reservoirs of AMDV to wild mink through cross-species virus spillover.

High molecular polymorphism of the hypervariable region in the VP2 gene of Aleutian mink disease virus

“…High pathogenicity may result in high mortality of hosts, which then cannot infect other individuals. This hypothesis is confirmed both by high seroprevalence in populations of wild minks (Farid et al, 2010(Farid et al, , 2012Farid, 2013) and breeding minks (Sang et al, 2012;Wang et al, 2014) and by detection of AMDV antibodies in carnivores such as martens, polecats (Fournier-Chambrillon et al, 2004) and raccoons, which can be alternative hosts and reservoirs of AMDV (Nituch et al, 2015).…”

Full genetic characterization and epidemiology of a novel amdoparvovirus in striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis )

“…Specifically, these were identified in Ontario (Eastern Canada) and California (Southwestern USA) and corresponded to one Californian and 15 Canadian striped skunks. 11, 13 Interestingly, evidence of SKAV infections was also found in one likely escaped domestic mink 32 and another mink of unknown origin 6 in Ontario. However, all of these viruses were not completely characterized in the previous studies and were therefore not recognized as a separate species and were labeled as AMDV.…”

“…2, 7, 8 Furthermore, infected animals do not always develop clinical signs and healthy carriers might have a significant role in the diffusion and distribution of viruses in the wild and to farms by acting as reservoir hosts. 9, 10, 11 As disease severity seems to be influenced by both host and viral genetic factors, 2 the study of amdoparvoviral infections in several different hosts is essential to achieve a full understanding of the transmission dynamics and pathogenicity potential of these viruses.…”

“…10, 15 Despite their potentially fundamental role in amdoparvoviral epidemiology, only a few studies have looked at the genetic makeup of AMDV-like viruses in these animals 11, 13 and, therefore, their genetic diversity and molecular features are largely unknown. In this study we fully molecularly characterized amdoparvoviruses detected in mainly asymptomatic striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) from in and around Vancouver, BC, Canada, and we studied their molecular epidemiology and distribution in North America.…”

Comparative molecular analysis of strains of the Aleutian Disease Virus isolated from farmed and wild mink

“…Research indicates frequent AMDV infections in wild animal populations, specifically in American mink (Neovison vison), European polecat (Mustela putorius), European pine marten (Martes martes), common genet (Genetta genetta) [6,7], and even raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and skunks (Mephitis mephitis) [8], which can be an asymptomatic reservoir of AMD. There have also been reports of the possibility of humans becoming infected with AMDV.…”