VACCINE-INDUCED CANINE-DISTEMPER IN EUROPEAN MINK, MUSTELA-LUTREOLA

This report describes vaccine-induced canine distemper virus (CDV) inf ection in four European mink (Mustela lutreola) induced by the adminis tration of a multivalent, avian-origin vaccine. Clinical signs consist ing of seizures, ataxia, facial twitching, oculonasal discharge, hyper keratosis of footpads, and anorexia developed 16-20 days postvaccinati on. Conjunctival smears from one animal were positive for CDV antigen by direct fluorescent antibody testing, confirming the clinical diagno sis. The four mink died 16-26 days postvaccination. Gross and microsco pic lesions that were diagnostic for CDV infection included interstiti al pneumonia, lymphoid depiction, nonsuppurative encephalitis, and der matitis. Vaccine-strain virus was isolated from tissues of three anima ls. Cases of vaccine-induced distemper in mustelids using avian-origin vaccine have seldom been reported.