Properties of Aleutian disease virus assayed with feline kidney cells

Molecular assessment of visitor personal protective equipment contamination with the Aleutian mink disease virus and porcine circovirus-2 in mink and porcine farms

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is an element of biosecurity intended to prevent the access or spread of diseases in farms. Nevertheless, to date no extensive reports exist about the effectiveness of different available PPE on farms. Thus, our aim was to estimate the degree of protection of PPE from viral contamination during farm visits. Two farms, infected with Aleutian mink disease virus and porcine circovirus–2 respectively, were visited by six visitors wearing different combinations of PPE: coveralls with hood and bootcovers, both with a certified barrier to infective agents (certified PPE group) and non-certified bootcover and coverall without hood (non-certified PPE group). Seventy-two swab samples from PPE and both hair and street clothes under PPE were taken after the visit and analysed by qPCR. Our results reveal viral exposure during visits, and the external protections of body and shoes were contaminated in all cases (24/24). In addition, protection from viral contamination varied noticeably according to the biosecurity elements used. A higher number of positives were detected in the non-certified PPE group than in the certified PPE group, both in elements under external protections (14/18 vs 3/18) and also in hair (4/6 vs 0/6). In fact, non-certified bootcovers broke during visits, resulting in viral contamination of the internal elements under them; these are consequently not suitable for using with wrinkled surfaces usually found in farm facilities. Thus, certified coveralls should be used in order to prevent contaminations, and workers and personnel of farms should be trained in their proper use. qPCR is a useful tool in the risk management of biosecurity programmes, and our results may serve as a model to evaluate different biosecurity measures.

Lesser housefly (Fannia canicularis) as possible mechanical vector for Aleutian mink disease virus

Flies are known vectors for a variety of infectious diseases in animals. In fur mink farming, one of the most severe diseases is Aleutian disease, which is caused by the Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV). The presence of large fly populations is a frequent issue in mink farms; however, no studies assessing their role as AMDV carrier vectors have been conducted to-date. In order to determine the presence of AMDV in aerial flies from an infected mink farm, flies (n = 254) and environmental swab samples (n = 4) were collected from two farm barns. Fannia canicularis (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) represented more than 99% of the fly population. One hundred and fifty specimens of this species were divided into pools of ten flies and analysed by qPCR, and positive samples were further sequenced. All fly pools and environmental samples tested positive for AMDV, and sequence analysis revealed identical genotypes in both types of samples. This is the first report of AMDV contamination in flies from mink farms, suggesting that F. canicularis may act as an AMDV vector. These results may be of interest for epidemiological studies and also for the improvement of control measures against this virus in mink farms.

Distribution of Aleutian mink disease virus contamination in the environment of infected mink farms

Control and eradication of Aleutian Mink Disease Virus (AMDV) are a major concern for fur-bearing animal production. Despite notably reducing disease prevalence, current control programs are unable to prevent the reinfection of farms, and environmental AMDV persistence seems to play a major role regarding this issue. In this study 114 samples from different areas and elements of seven infected mink farms were analyzed by qPCR in order to evaluate the environmental distribution of AMDV load. Samples were classified into nine categories, depending on the type of sample and degree of proximity to the animals, the main source of infection. Two different commercial DNA extraction kits were employed in parallel for all samples. qPCR analysis showed 69.3% positive samples with one kit and 81.6% with the other, and significant differences between the two DNA extraction methods were found regarding AMDV DNA recovery. Regarding sample categorization, all categories showed a high percentage of AMDV positive samples (31%-100%). Quantification of positive samples showed a decrease in AMDV load from animal barns to the periphery of the farm. In addition, those elements in direct contact with animals, the street clothes and vehicles of farm workers and personal protective equipment used for sampling showed a high viral load, and statistical analysis revealed significant differences in AMDV load between the first and last categories. These results indicate high environmental contamination of positive farms, which is helpful for future considerations about cleaning and disinfection procedures and biosecurity protocols.

Amdoparvoviruses in small mammals: expanding our understanding of parvovirus diversity, distribution, and pathology

Many new viruses have been discovered recently, thanks in part to the advent of next-generation sequencing technologies. Among the Parvoviridae, three novel members of the genus Amdoparvovirus have been described in the last 4 years, expanding this genus that had contained a single species since its discovery, Aleutian mink disease virus. The increasing number of molecular and epidemiological studies on these viruses around the world also highlights the growing interest in this genus. Some aspects of amdoparvoviruses have been well characterized, however, many other aspects still need to be elucidated and the most recent reviews on this topic are outdated. We provide here an up-to-date overview of what is known and what still needs to be investigated about these scientifically and clinically relevant animal viruses.

Inactivation of Aleutian mink disease virus through high temperature exposure in vitro and under field-based composting conditions

Disposal of manure contaminated with Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) is a significant concern to the mink industry. Inactivation of AMDV under field conditions has received limited attention in the scientific literature. We evaluated the thermal inactivation of AMDV in vitro and during composting of mink manure. Spleen homogenate containing AMDV was heated under controlled conditions at 45°C, 55°C, and 65°C for 3 days. Results of the in vitro study identified complete absence of viral replication in mink at 65°C only. Next, manure-mixed AMDV packed in polyester pouches was inserted in different layers of three replicate mink manure compost piles. The virus was retrieved after the compost piles had undergone a heating period and subsequently returned to ambient temperatures. Temperature regimes in the compost piles were categorized as ≥65°C, ≥60-64°C, and ≥55-59°C. Initially, layer-wise composite virus samples were assayed for virus replication in mink. Twenty-one-day post-inoculation (p.i.) plasma tested for AMDV and antibodies indicated infection in 40%, 80%, and 100% of mink inoculated from samples originating from the top, center and bottom layers of the piles, respectively. Subsequently, the virus was extracted from individual pouches in compost layers achieving thermal activity ≥65°C and was tested in mink. No antibodies or virus was detected in plasma taken weekly up to day 21 p.i. PCR data of bone marrow and lymph nodes collected on day 21 p.i. also showed no AMDV. However, mink that received virus from positive control manure indicated infection in their plasma as early as 1 week p.i.

Identification of a DNA segment in ferret Aleutian disease virus similar to a hypervariable capsid region of mink Aleutian disease parvovirus

A 401bp DNA fragment of ferret Aleutian disease virus (ADV) was amplified using PCR primers spanning a hypervariable region of mink ADV capsid sequence. The amplified fragment was 88-89% homologous to the same region of previously known sequence of three different strains of mink ADV, however, as low as 54% homology was observed when compared with a 39bp segment known as hypervariable region. Within the predicted 13 amino acid hypervariable region, the ferret ADV sequence differed at 6 positions from the wild type mink Utah1 strain. Three amino acids Gln289, Glu293 and Thr295 in this region were common to the pathogenic ferret ADV, mink Utah1 and ADVK strains, but differed from the cell culture adapted nonpathogenic mink strain ADVG suggesting that these three conserved residues may have some functional significance.

Nucleotide sequence analysis of Aleutian mink disease parvovirus shows that multiple virus types are present in infected mink

Different isolates of Aleutian mink disease parvovirus (ADV) were cloned and nucleotide sequenced. Analysis of individual clones from two in vivo-derived isolates of high virulence indicated that more than one type of ADV DNA were present in each of these isolates. Analysis of several clones from two preparations of a cell culture-adapted isolate of low virulence showed the presence of only one type of ADV DNA. We also describe the nucleotide sequence from map units 44 to 88 of a new type of ADV DNA. The new type of ADV DNA is compared with the previously published ADV sequences, to which it shows 95% homology. These findings indicate that ADV, a single-stranded DNA virus, has a considerable degree of variability and that several virus types can be present simultaneously in an infected animal.

Apparent lack of neutralizing antibodies in Aleutian disease is due to masking of antigenic sites by phospholipids

It is generally accepted that Aleutian disease virus (ADV) cannot be neutralized by antibodies either in vivo or in vitro. We found several ways to demonstrate neutralization of ADV by specific antibodies from mink. It was essential to make ADV monodisperse by treatment with sodium lauroyl sarkosyl or n-butanol or by filtration through 0.05-micron membranes before neutralization tests. In kinetic experiments, there was a 95% loss of virus infectivity within the first 5 min of reaction, but a resistant fraction of about 1% remained after 1.5 hr of incubation. Neutralization titers between 1:160 and 1:640 were found in sera from naturally and experimentally infected mink. A positive relation was consistently found between neutralization and ELISA titers. Furthermore, separation of phospholipids from ADV was shown by thin-layer chromatography of butanol-extracted virions. By reconstitution of monodispersed ADV with various lipids, phospholipids were found to interfere with virus neutralization by attachment to the virus surface.

Immune complexes in Aleutian disease: demonstration of antibody on isolated virus

The specific binding of Staphylococcal protein A for mammalian immunoglobulin G was used to demonstrate IgG associated with Aleutian disease virus (ADV) when isolated from infected mink tissues. Protein A specifically bound to mink serum Ig with no reaction with other serum or tissue proteins. Protein A labeled with 131Iodine reacted with crude virus preparations but not with virus that had been purified by freon extraction to the point where it became reactive with antibody by counterimmunoelectrophoresis. Binding to purified ADV was restored when the purified virus was first reacted with antibody. Results of urea treatment indicated this as an alternative method for isolation of ADV free from antibody.

Autoimmunity in Aleutian disease: contribution of antiviral and anti-DNA antibody to hypergammaglobulinemia

The contributions to Aleutian disease gammopathy of specific antiviral antibody and an autoimmune component, anti-DNA antibody, were studied with pastel ranch mink naturally infected with Aleutian disease virus. Specific antibody activities were determined by countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis and radioimmune assay, respectively. Gamma globulin levels (percent gamma) were determined by serum electrophoresis. Within an infected mink population, it was possible to predict the level of gammopathy from measurement of the two antibody levels. For the mink serum samples used, there was better correlation between anti-DNA antibody levels and total serum immunoglobulin than between anti-Aleutian disease virus antibody titers and percent gamma. With serum samples taken over a 2-week interval, significant increases were measured in anti-DNA antibody and percent gamma. Increases in anti-Aleutian disease virus titers during this period were not significant. The results suggest that the continuing increases in serum immunoglobulin in Aleutian disease virus-infected mink are due to both a specific antiviral response and an autoimmune response, as reflected in generation of anti-DNA antibody.

Anti-deoxyribonucleic acid antibody associated with persistent infection of mink with Aleutian disease virus

Anti-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) antibody was quantitated in sera from mink infected with Aleutian disease virus (ADV). During the course of the disease after experimental infection, the amount of anti-DNA antibody increased 60% initially, but then decreased to an intermediate level when measured 2.5 months later. The percentage of serum immunoglobulin, however, steadily increased over 3.5-fold during this period, resulting in the characteristic gammopathy. Correlation between the level of anti-DNA antibody and hypergammaglobulinemia was demonstrated with sera from chronically infected mink. Competition experiments and use of labeled nucleic acids indicated that the immunoactivity was more specific for double-stranded DNA than single-stranded DNA or ribonucleic acid. Anti-DNA antibody was found in purified immunoglobulin from chronically infected mink. Differences in avidity of antibody to DNA among antisera that had the same equivalence point were found. Avidity of antibody for DNA increased during the course of the disease.