The occurrence of thermophilic Campylobacter in mink and an experimental oral infection of pregnant mink by Campylobacter jejuni.

The occurrence of in the intestinal contents of mink and in the mink feed, prepared from fresh, untreated slaughter offal, was studied. The farms and the central feeding kichens, from where the intestinal and feed samples were collected, were situated in the northwestern part of Finland. All mink samples, originating from farms, and feed samples, originating from 2 central feeding kichens were negative for and for The only positive faecal samples were obtained from a farm, being located in the southern part of Finland. Experimental colonization of was followed in 10 pregnant mink during their last trimester of pregnancy. The animals colonized only transiently with Five of the animals shedded Campylobacters only for 1–2 weeks after inoculation. Two experimental animals aborted. These animals were colonized at the time of abortion with The association of infection to abortion was not, however, confirmed. The uterine contents or the fetuses examined were negative for Campylobacters.