Aleutian Disease (Plasmacytosis) of Mink: II. Responses of Mink to Formalin-Treated Diseased Tissues and to Subsequent Challenge With Virulent Inoculum

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to examine the responses of Aleutian and standard dark types of mink to inoculations of formalintreated suspensions of tissues of mink with experimentally transmitted plasmacytosis. Control groups of mink received similar injections of normal Aleutian mink tissues or diseased tissues without formalin treatment. A second experiment was conducted to test the formalinized diseased tissue suspension for immunogenic value. Groups of mink which received one, two, or three doses of "vaccine" were later challenged with virulent inocula. Additional groups of mink served as unvaccinated and environmental controls.Treatment with 0.3% formalin with fine trituration and incubation at 37 degrees C was effective in preventing the development of plasmacytosis in inoculated mink. These mink remained susceptible to subsequent challenge with untreated diseased tissue suspensions. No immunity was demonstrated in the vaccinated mink. Mink inoculated with normal mink tissues did not develop plasmacytosis, nor did uninoculated environmental controls.