Staphylococcal adenitis in ranch mink in Ontario

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pathology
• Microbiology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Bacterial infections can cause significant morbidity and mortality in mink populations.
• Apocrine gland adenitis, vaginitis, and mastitis are distinct clinical conditions affecting mink.
• Chediak-Higashi syndrome is an inherited disorder affecting immune function in mink.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the causative agent of an outbreak of acute adenitis, vaginitis, and mastitis in mink.
• To determine if mink with Chediak-Higashi syndrome exhibit increased susceptibility to specific bacterial infections.

Main Methods:

• Bacterial isolation and identification from affected mink tissues and secretions.
• Clinical case observation and disease incidence recording across different mink color phases.
• Comparison of disease frequency between mink with and without Chediak-Higashi syndrome.

Main Results:

• Staphylococcus intermedius was consistently isolated from cases of adenitis, vaginitis, and mastitis.
• The incidence of these diseases was notably higher in mink exhibiting Chediak-Higashi syndrome compared to other color phases.
• Neonatal mink were primarily affected by acute cervical apocrine gland adenitis.

Conclusions:

• Staphylococcus intermedius is identified as the primary pathogen responsible for the observed disease outbreak in mink.
• Mink with Chediak-Higashi syndrome demonstrate a heightened susceptibility to Staphylococcus intermedius infections, leading to more frequent and severe clinical manifestations.
• Effective disease management strategies should consider the genetic predisposition of mink with Chediak-Higashi syndrome to bacterial infections.