Inactivation of Aleutian mink disease virus through high temperature exposure in vitro and under field-based composting conditions

- We examine Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) response to higher temperatures under in vitro conditions.
- AMDV inactivation was solely temperature dependent and independent of virus dose.
- The temperature threshold for complete AMDV inactivation under in vitro conditions is 65 °C.
- We examine AMDV response to temperatures under field-based composting of mink manure.
- The temperature required for complete AMDV inactivation under field conditions was >65 °C for a minimum of four days.

Disposal of manure contaminated with Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) is a significant concern to the mink industry. Inactivation of AMDV under field conditions has received limited attention in the scientific literature. We evaluated the thermal inactivation of AMDV in vitro and during composting of mink manure. Spleen homogenate containing AMDV was heated under controlled conditions at 45 °C, 55 °C, and 65 °C for 3 days. Results of the in vitro study identified complete absence of viral replication in mink at 65 °C only. Next, manure-mixed AMDV packed in polyester pouches was inserted in different layers of three replicate mink manure compost piles. The virus was retrieved after the compost piles had undergone a heating period and subsequently returned to ambient temperatures. Temperature regimes in the compost piles were categorized as ≥65 °C, ≥60-64 °C, and ≥55-59 °C. Initially, layer-wise composite virus samples were assayed for virus replication in mink. Twenty-one-day post-inoculation (p.i.) plasma tested for AMDV and antibodies indicated infection in 40%, 80%, and 100% of mink inoculated from samples originating from the top, center and bottom layers of the piles, respectively. Subsequently, the virus was extracted from individual pouches in compost layers achieving thermal activity ≥65 °C and was tested in mink. No antibodies or virus was detected in plasma taken weekly up to day 21 p.i. PCR data of bone marrow and lymph nodes collected on day 21 p.i. also showed no AMDV. However, mink that received virus from positive control manure indicated infection in their plasma as early as 1 week p.i.