Aleutian disease of mink

Aleutian disease of mink (ADV) is a persistent viral infection caused by the Aleutian Mink Disease Parvovirus (Parvoviridae family). The virus possesses an icosahedral capside, partially resistant to ether, chloroform, fluorocarbon, proteases, nucleases and has a low pH. Although all strains of mink are susceptible to this virus, Aleutian mink appear to be the most predisposed to the development of severe lesions. The classical chronic form of the disease develops in adults, whereas an acute form characterized by a fatal interstitial pneumonia is found in newborns. Infected minks develop marked plasmacytosis, lymphocyte infiltration of many organs and tissues, gammopathy, elevated immunoglobulin level, hypersynthesis of antivirus antibodies and the formation of immune complexes. The immune-complex derived lesions are the cause of the development of arteritis in which IgG, complement and viral antigens may be detected within the blood vessel walls. Natural transmission occurs both vertically and horizontally. Viraemia is usually persistent throughout the course of the disease and the virus is present in saliva and feces about 15 days after infection, and intermittently in urea. Infection brings about both homoral and cellural immune responses. Antibodies produced to the linear epitopes of the viral capside are found mainly in the Ige class of immunoglobulins. Cell-mediated defence reactions include an increase in the number of Tc (CD8) cells.