The pens that housed CD infected mink should be steam cleaned and disinfected. Distemper virus is present in nasal and conjunctival exudates, urine and feces. The malady was first called Fort Williams disease because the disease was first recognized in that area of Ontario, Canada. Outbreaks of MVE occur in the kits in July, August and September, but can occur as late as December. In older mink, MVE produces a mild or subclinical infection.
Transmission occurs by the fecal-oral route.
MVE is difficult to eradicate on a ranch since the virus persists in contaminated pens for a year or longer. In kits, the mortality can be as high as 75 percent. Clinical signs appear four to nine days post-exposure and begin with depression, lethargy, anorexia and vomiting. Watery diarrhea develops and often includes mucofibrinous casts that are yellow, green, pink or grey, depending on the amount of bile present. Currently, only inactivated MVE vaccines are available commercially.