Related Experiment Videos
[Isolation of reoviruses from mink]
Abstract:
In this first report of the isolation of reovirus from mink, isolates were obtained from 18 to 26 young mink with viral enteritis, by using cultures of cat kidney cells. The isolated also produced cytopathic changes in cell cultures of mink kidney, dog kidney, piglet kidney, calf kidney, bovine embryonic kidney and calf testis. A characteristic feature was the formation of eosinophilic inclusion bodies in the cytoplasma of culture cells. Haemagglutination tests were negative with erythrocytes from cat, rabbit, pig, horse and cattle. Attempts to infect old and young mink, kittens and ferrets with tissue culture material failed. It was not known to what extent this second infection with reovirus influenced the course of mink viral enteritis.
Insights
This study reports the first isolation of reovirus from mink with viral enteritis. The virus caused cell damage but failed to infect other animals, suggesting limited host range in this context.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Animal Pathology
Context:
- Viral enteritis in mink is a significant concern for the fur industry.
- Reoviruses are a genus of double-stranded RNA viruses with a broad host range.
Purpose:
- To report the initial isolation and characterization of a reovirus from mink suffering from viral enteritis.
- To investigate the cytopathic effects and host range of the isolated mink reovirus.
Summary:
- Reovirus was isolated from 18 out of 26 young mink with viral enteritis using cat kidney cell cultures.
- The isolates induced cytopathic effects in various mammalian kidney and testicular cell cultures, forming intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies.
- Haemagglutination tests were negative, and attempts to infect mink, kittens, and ferrets with the cultured virus were unsuccessful.
Impact:
- This research provides the first evidence of reovirus infection in mink with enteritis.
- Understanding the characteristics of this mink reovirus is crucial for disease management and prevention in mink farming.
- Further studies are needed to determine the role of reovirus coinfection in the pathogenesis of mink viral enteritis.