Compo Nicole, Pearl David L, Tapscott Brian, Storer Amanda, Hammermueller Jutta, Brash Marina, Turner Patricia V
Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
Acta Vet Scand. 2017 Sep 8;59(1):57. doi: 10.1186/s13028-017-0326-8.
Mink are an important animal commodity group in Canada and excessive kit mortality represents a significant loss to production. National biosecurity standards have been developed for Canadian mink farms, but it is unclear how well these standards have been implemented as there are no studies correlating management practices of mink producers with causes of death in mink kits. To that end, we surveyed Ontario mink producers on their biosecurity and management practices and conducted almost 5660 post mortem examinations on found-dead, preweaned kits to characterize mink farm biosecurity practices and causes of death in preweaned kits.
We found that very few biosecurity and management practices were uniformly used by producers, despite good awareness of appropriate practices. Use of personal protective equipment was implemented by fewer than 50% of respondents, while control of mink shed access, disinfection of feed containers after use, and use of a rodent control program were the only practices implemented by greater than 70% of respondents. Only 18% of producers reported regular use of antimicrobials in feed or water, although 91% stated they used antimicrobials for treatment of bacterial diseases on a regular basis. On post mortem examination, no gross abnormalities were noted in 71% of the kits, 45% were thought to be stillborn or aborted, 27% had some form of abnormal fluid distribution in the body, and 2% had a congenital malformation. A subset of 69 gastrointestinal tract samples was submitted for bacterial culture, of which 45 samples yielded sufficient growth. Most interesting was the identification of Salmonella enterica serovar Heidelberg in 11% of samples.
The results of this study will provide a benchmark for Canadian mink producers and their veterinarians, defining the areas to which greater attention should be given to ensure more rigorous biosecurity practices are in place. Ultimately, these improvements in practices may contribute to increased mink production and animal well-being.
水貂是加拿大重要的动物商品群体，幼崽死亡率过高给生产造成重大损失。加拿大已制定了水貂养殖场的国家生物安全标准，但由于尚无研究将水貂养殖户的管理措施与幼崽死亡原因相关联，这些标准的实施效果尚不清楚。为此，我们对安大略省的水貂养殖户进行了生物安全和管理措施调查，并对近5660只死亡的断奶前幼崽进行了尸检，以描述水貂养殖场的生物安全措施和断奶前幼崽的死亡原因。
我们发现，尽管养殖户对适当的措施有较好的认知，但很少有生物安全和管理措施被一致采用。不到50%的受访者使用了个人防护设备，而只有超过70%的受访者实施了控制进入水貂舍、使用后对饲料容器进行消毒以及实施啮齿动物控制计划等措施。只有18%的养殖户报告定期在饲料或水中使用抗菌药物，尽管91%的养殖户表示他们定期使用抗菌药物治疗细菌性疾病。尸检时，71%的幼崽未发现明显异常，45%被认为是死产或流产，27%体内有某种形式的异常液体分布，2%有先天性畸形。提交了69份胃肠道样本进行细菌培养，其中45份样本有足够的生长。最有意思的是，11%的样本中鉴定出肠炎沙门氏菌海德堡血清型。
本研究结果将为加拿大水貂养殖户及其兽医提供一个基准，确定应给予更多关注的领域，以确保实施更严格的生物安全措施。最终，这些措施的改进可能有助于提高水貂产量和动物福利。
