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Sarcocystosis in mink (Mustela vison)
J A Ramos-Vara1, J P Dubey, G L Watson
1Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, USA.
Abstract:
This report describes the clinical, microscopic, and ultrastructural findings in mink with muscular sarcocystosis. Three 2-3-mo-old mink were killed because they were ill with signs of progressive neurological disease. One mink had variable numbers of sarcocysts in multiple skeletal muscles. Sarcocysts were up to 300 microm in long and 20 microm wide. Ultrastructurally, the sarcocyst wall had numerous elongated 1.7-2.0-microm x 250-nm villar protrusions (VP). The VP had microtubules and irregularly distanced minute undulations. Both metrocytes and bradyzoites were present in sarcocysts. The mink with sarcocysts in muscles also had nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis and meningomyelitis. Similar brain lesions were found in other 2 mink from the same farm, but sarcocysts were not observed in the skeletal muscle of these animals. This is the first report of muscular sarcocystosis in mink.
Insights
Muscular sarcocystosis was identified in mink exhibiting neurological disease. This parasitic infection involves sarcocysts in skeletal muscles and brain inflammation, marking a novel finding in mink.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Parasitology
- Comparative Pathology
Background:
- Sarcocystosis is a parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Sarcocystis.
- Neurological signs are observed in various animal species infected with Sarcocystis, but reports in mink are scarce.
- Muscular sarcocystosis has not been previously documented in mink.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the clinical, microscopic, and ultrastructural characteristics of muscular sarcocystosis in mink.
- To investigate the association between sarcocyst infection and neurological disease in mink.
- To provide the first report of sarcocystosis affecting mink skeletal muscles.
Main Methods:
- Necropsy and histopathological examination of skeletal muscles and central nervous system.
- Light and electron microscopy to characterize sarcocysts and their structures.
- Clinical assessment of affected mink exhibiting neurological signs.
Main Results:
- One mink displayed numerous sarcocysts in skeletal muscles, measuring up to 300 µm long and 20 µm wide.
- Ultrastructural analysis revealed sarcocyst walls with elongated villar protrusions (VP) containing microtubules.
- The infected mink also exhibited nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis and meningomyelitis; similar brain lesions were noted in two other mink without detectable muscle sarcocysts.
Conclusions:
- This study reports the first instance of muscular sarcocystosis in mink.
- Sarcocystis infection in mink can be associated with significant neurological pathology.
- Further research is warranted to understand the Sarcocystis species involved and transmission dynamics in mink populations.