Detection of Aleutian disease antibodies in feral American mink in southern England
- N. Yamaguchi, BSc, MSc, DPhil1 and
- D. W. Macdonald, MA, DPhil, FIBiol1
Abstract
Fourteen of 27 American mink (Mustela vison) trapped in the upper Thames region were positive for anti-Aleutian disease antibodies. This demonstration of the occurrence of this viral disease in a feral American mink population suggests that it could threaten populations of at least two protected mustelids, the otter (Lutra lutra) and the polecat (Mustela putorius), and may also play a role in the apparent decline of local mink populations in Britain.
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