• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.165-169
• /
• 2009

Suppuratives bronchopneumonia was found in a 3-month old domestic muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus). Dead muskrat showed hemorrhagic nasal discharge, severe hemorrhage and consolidation were observed in the lungs in necropsy. Histologically, severe polymorphic neutrophils and alveolar macrophages were infiltrated in the bronchus, bronchioles, alveoli. P. multocida and B. bronchiseptica were identified from the lungs, Klebsiella was isolated from the cecum. We demonstrated those organisms by biochemical test and confirmed P. multocida capsular type A by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.7
• /
• pp.630-633
• /
• 2020

Renal failure syndrome in wild mammals is infrequently reported. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a medium-sized rodent known to carry many diseases but rarely exhibiting renal failure. A six-month old female muskrat was submitted to our laboratory for pathological diagnosis, and necropsy revealed severe renal damage with sand-like lithiasis in the ureter, renal calculi, and hydronephrosis. All major organs, including the cerebrum, also showed systemic hemorrhage and calcification which may have been due to uremia induced by renal failure. Histopathologically, necrosis and microcalcification were detected in the renal cortex and the medulla, especially in the proximal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts of the kidney. Significant hyalinization of the glomeruli was also observed, and this suggested chronic nephritis. These findings would support mycotoxic effects, particularly on the kidney. Moreover, infiltration of neutrophils and mononuclear cells was observed in the lung and of plasma cells in the spleen. The definitive cause of the toxic effects in this case of muskrat renal failure could be attributed to contaminated food.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.303-308
• /
• 2009

Essential oils of the musk from wild muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Fifty-six chemical components were separated, and 14 volatile compounds (78% of composition of total essential oil) of macrocyclic musk, mainly cyclopentadecanone, 12-hydroxy-14-methyl-oxa-cyclotetradec-6-en-2-one, cycloheptadecanone and 9-cycloheptadecen-1-one, were identified by the comparison of Wiley/NBS Library from the results of GC-MS. However, l-muscone, a compound reported by earlier workers in the musk from muskrat, was not detected using the spike test in this study. Interestingly, cyclohexadecanone, which has the same molecular weight (Mw 238) as l-muscone, was identified. In addition, it is considered that because of possessing much higher amounts of macrocyclic components compared to the original musk, muskrat has higher economic values in perfume and pharmaceutical industries.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2020

This study was conducted to determine whether invasive muskrats settle in the natural ecosystem of Korea. The study also aimed to provide information on the selection of target areas, basic behavioral characteristics, and habitat use-related data, all of which are essential for effective management strategy establishment and site management. To this end, a trend in international muskrat management was identified to examine the management direction according to the settlement stage. We also secured the location of 72 domestic farmers and classified five regions in Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Sejong Special Self-governing City into regions with high potential for natural leakage to raise the need for a quick survey. We determined that muskrats successfully settled in the natural ecosystem of Korea, based on the fact that we consistently identified a muskrat habitat at the same point for three years, from 2016 to 2018, the age of the captured population was estimated to be 1.2 years, and there had been no additional make-up factors near the habitat since 2012. The muskrats that settled in Korea showed a small home range of 0.0027 ㎢ (MCP 95%) and were estimated to show regular mobility before Spring and Autumn. Also, the areas where the muskrat habitat was observed had a high level of habitat environment disturbance and their ecological and food intake characteristics reflected that disturbance. Muskrat traces were high in hydrophyte vegetation, which can be used as a hideout in open waters and where the growth of both floating leaved plants and floating plants are prevalent. Since international invasive muskrats have already settled in the domestic ecosystem and there is concern about their proliferation in the future, the government must consider a preemptive response and scientific management.