Urolithiasis in Mink: Pathology, Bacteriology and Experimental Production

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Abstract
Urolithiasis occurred in ranch mink in certain periods of the year: from April to June primarily among pregnant or lactating females, and from August to November in male kits. With few exceptions the uroliths are composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate. Renal plaques were demonstrated in 43 of 184 clinically healthy mink and in 4 mink which succumbed to causes other than urolithiasis; in several cases minute calculi were found attached to plaques. Plaques were found in 17 of 49 mink with urolithiasis. Urinary infection, chiefly with micrococci, was associated with urolithiasis in 41 of 47 cases, and the organism could be demonstrated in all layers of the organic matrix. Micrococci isolated from uroliths induced calculus formation in 38% of 50 experimentally infected mink. Infection was established and calculi developed in 7 of 15 mink infected merely by instillation of the bacterial suspension into the untraumatized bladder.