Epizootiologic Studies of Aleutian Disease: I. Transplacental Transmission of the Virus

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Abstract
Aleutian disease (AD) of mink is a transmissible viral disease which is known to have a familial distribution. The present study was undertaken to determine if the virus was transplacentally transmitted. In 17 pregnant female mink of the aa genotype known to have AD, there were 29 dead and 30 live kits in utero. In 5 pregnant females of the Aa genotype known to have AD, there were 5 dead and 23 live feti. Of the 53 live feti studied 32 contained AD virus based on animal inoculation trials. Approximately the same percentage of live feti from the 2 genotypes had the virus when they were compared. Transplacental transmission of AD virus does occur.