<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><bold>Introduction:</bold> Farm mink (<italic>Neovison vison</italic>) can be naturally exposed to <italic>T. canis</italic> and <italic>T. leonina</italic> pathogens on the farm. If mink were hosts, it would imply some veterinary public health as well as animal welfare issues. For this reason, the aim of the study was to determine whether mink might be definitive or paratenic hosts of these parasites. <bold>Material and Methods:</bold> Four groups of mink were infected with both parasite species using larvated eggs or feed containing mouse tissue previously infected with the parasites. Following inoculation, the infections were monitored <italic>in vivo</italic> by faecal examination for 14 weeks p.i., and then western blotting and ELISA were performed. <bold>Results:</bold> Coprology did not reveal any canine roundworm eggs, neither were nematodes found in mink intestines during <italic>post mortem</italic> examination. The specific IgG antibodies recognising excretory/secretory (ES) antigens of both parasite species were identified in mink sera. Single <italic>T. leonina</italic> tissue larvae were found in digested organs. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Our results confirm that farm mink may contribute both <italic>T. canis</italic> and <italic>T. leonina</italic> infections. It was proved that farm mink were not their definitive hosts, and therefore mink faeces need not be considered a source of canine roundworm eggs in any soil it fertilises. Nonetheless, as farm mink may be a paratenic host for both parasite species, this may have some impact on the health and welfare of infected animals.</p></abstract>

Introduction: Farm mink (Neovison vison) can be naturally exposed to T. canis and T. leonina pathogens on the farm. If mink were hosts, it would imply some veterinary public health as well as animal welfare issues. For this reason, the aim of the study was to determine whether mink might be definitive or paratenic hosts of these parasites. Material and Methods: Four groups of mink were infected with both parasite species using larvated eggs or feed containing mouse tissue previously infected with the parasites. Following inoculation, the infections were monitored in vivo by faecal examination for 14 weeks p.i., and then western blotting and ELISA were performed. Results: Coprology did not reveal any canine roundworm eggs, neither were nematodes found in mink intestines during post mortem examination. The specific IgG antibodies recognising excretory/secretory (ES) antigens of both parasite species were identified in mink sera. Single T. leonina tissue larvae were found in digested organs. Conclusions: Our results confirm that farm mink may contribute both T. canis and T. leonina infections. It was proved that farm mink were not their definitive hosts, and therefore mink faeces need not be considered a source of canine roundworm eggs in any soil it fertilises. Nonetheless, as farm mink may be a paratenic host for both parasite species, this may have some impact on the health and welfare of infected animals.

Experimental infection with <italic>T. canis</italic> and <italic>T. leonina</italic> in farm mink (<italic>Neovison vison</italic>)

Division of Parasitology and Invasiology, Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Department of Large Animal Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Division of Pathology in Exotic, Laboratory, Non-domesticated Animals and Fish

Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Experimental infection with  and  in farm mink ()

Introduction: Farm mink (Neovison vison) can be naturally exposed to T. canis and T. leonina pathogens on the farm. If mink were hosts, it would imply some...

Experimental infection with T. canis and T. leonina in farm mink (Neovison vison)

Publicado en línea: 20 jun 2019

Páginas: 197 - 203

Recibido: 12 oct 2018

Aceptado: 29 abr 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2019-0033

Palabras clave
farm mink (), definitive/paratenic host

© 2019 Maciej Klockiewicz et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Experimental infection with T. canis and T. leonina in farm mink (Neovison vison)

Publicado en línea: 20 jun 2019

Páginas: 197 - 203

Recibido: 12 oct 2018

Aceptado: 29 abr 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2019-0033

Palabras clavefarm mink (), definitive/paratenic host

© 2019 Maciej Klockiewicz et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Palabras clave
farm mink (), definitive/paratenic host