TY - JOUR

T1 - Familial disease history and fur color type are associated with urinary tract disease in farmed mink (Neovison vison)

AU - Mundbjerg, Karin

AU - Tolver, Anders

AU - Sebbelov, Ida

AU - Clausen, Tove

AU - Lundfold, Jesper

AU - Hammer, Anne Sofie

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Mink urinary tract disease (MUTD) and mink fatty liver disease (MFLD) constitute two important disease entities in the mink production associated with sudden mortality and economic loss. Genetic factors or heritability of the diseases have not previously been investigated. Since mortality associated with MUTD and MFLD mainly occurs in the young immature mink, a potential genetic predisposition would rarely be passed on by the mink itself but potentially by relatives. This study aimed to investigate familial aggregation of MUTD and MFLD based on data from four generations of mink on a research farm. The study included a total of 27,511 mink of brown and black color type with a post mortem prevalence of 0.8% for MUTD (n = 221) and 0.5% for MFLD (n = 138) within a year from birth. The prevalence in the color types brown and black were 0.6% and 1.6% for MUTD and 0.5% and 0.7% for MFLD. Family history of MUTD in breeding animals was found to be associated with a significantly higher probability of MUTD leading to mortality in offspring (p = 0.012, RR = 1.7; CI [1.1–2.4]), however this association was not significant for MFLD (p = 0.163, RR = 1.5; CI [0.9–2.7]). Mink of the color type black showed significantly higher risk of MUTD (RR = 2.6; CI [2.0–3.3]) and MFLD (R = 1.6; CI [1.1–2.2]) compared to brown mink. The results indicate that genetic factors may play a role in understanding MUTD and that selective breeding may contribute to reduce mortalities associated with this disease.

AB - Mink urinary tract disease (MUTD) and mink fatty liver disease (MFLD) constitute two important disease entities in the mink production associated with sudden mortality and economic loss. Genetic factors or heritability of the diseases have not previously been investigated. Since mortality associated with MUTD and MFLD mainly occurs in the young immature mink, a potential genetic predisposition would rarely be passed on by the mink itself but potentially by relatives. This study aimed to investigate familial aggregation of MUTD and MFLD based on data from four generations of mink on a research farm. The study included a total of 27,511 mink of brown and black color type with a post mortem prevalence of 0.8% for MUTD (n = 221) and 0.5% for MFLD (n = 138) within a year from birth. The prevalence in the color types brown and black were 0.6% and 1.6% for MUTD and 0.5% and 0.7% for MFLD. Family history of MUTD in breeding animals was found to be associated with a significantly higher probability of MUTD leading to mortality in offspring (p = 0.012, RR = 1.7; CI [1.1–2.4]), however this association was not significant for MFLD (p = 0.163, RR = 1.5; CI [0.9–2.7]). Mink of the color type black showed significantly higher risk of MUTD (RR = 2.6; CI [2.0–3.3]) and MFLD (R = 1.6; CI [1.1–2.2]) compared to brown mink. The results indicate that genetic factors may play a role in understanding MUTD and that selective breeding may contribute to reduce mortalities associated with this disease.

KW - Cystitis

KW - Familial aggregation

KW - Hepatic steatosis

KW - Mink

KW - Neovison vison

KW - Urolithiasis

U2 - 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.10.026

DO - 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.10.026

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33172618

AN - SCOPUS:85095803367

VL - 133

SP - 326

EP - 331

JO - Research in Veterinary Science

JF - Research in Veterinary Science

SN - 0034-5288

ER -