Molecular genetic polymorphism of American mink populations (Neovison vison) in model fur farms and on the adjacent territories in Belarus

Abstract

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.

The role of invasive alien species in the emergence and spread of zoonoses

“…In December 2020, a wild American mink in Utah near a fur farm was found to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 representing the first case of a non-captive animal infected with this coronavirus. This is of particularly concern, considering that there are studies demonstrating a clear overlap in habitat use between free-ranging mink populations and farm animals (Hammershøj et al 2005;Valnisty et al 2020). A further case was reported in Spain with the capture of two American minks in the wild with SARS-CoV-2 infection, although in this case far from fur farms (Aguiló-Gisbert et al 2021).…”