[Meningo-encephalitis in mink caused by NCD virus (author's transl)]

In 1970-1972 a great number of mink died of a meningo-encephalitis in the Netherlands. The results of the detailed microbiological and histopathological examination pointed to infection by NCD virus as the cause of the mortality. During the isolation of the NCD virus in embryonated hen eggs the haemagglutinating properties were extremely weak and incomplete; the normal haemagglutination of the NCD virus was not found until the mink isolates had been passed through chickens. Transmission experiments revealed that the pathogenicity of the NCD virus was relatively low in mink after i.c. and i.m. infection, very young mink being the most susceptible. The mink were doubtlessly infected with the NCD virus bij feeding with offal of infected poultry. There was in fact quite a high incidence of Newcastle disease on Dutch chicken farms in 1970-1972.