sequential development of lesions in spontaneous Aleutian-disease of mink

Normal and Aleutian disease affected mink from ranches with a high prevalence of Aleutian disease were killed at approximately monthly intervals from July to November. Serum was subjected to zone electrophoresis and the serum protein changes were compared to the histologic stage of development of the renal, hepatic, and arterial changes. The initial renal lesions were interstitial infiltrations of plasma cells and lymphocytes with later development of glomerular changes. The arterial lesions were early medial necrosis followed by the appearance of fibrinoid and later by healing with concentric fibrillar proliferation. There seemed to be a direct relation between the severity of renal, hepatic, and arterial changes and the magnitude of hypergammaglobulinemia. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed.