<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Introduction:</bold> Foxes are a reservoir of parasites that are dangerous to humans. The aim of the study was to determine the parameters associated with the occurrence of tapeworms in red foxes in north-western Poland.<bold>Material and Methods:</bold> Parasitological sections were taken from 620 red foxes using IST and SCT methods in 18 districts of West Pomerania Province.<bold>Results:</bold> The extensity of fox infection with tapeworms was 61%. <italic>Echinococcus multilocularis</italic>, <italic>Mesocestoides</italic> spp., <italic>Dipylidium caninum</italic>, and specimens of the genus <italic>Taenia</italic> were identified. <italic>E. multilocularis</italic> was found in 11 districts. <italic>Mesocestoides</italic> spp. demonstrated the highest prevalence (41.3%), while <italic>E. multilocularis</italic> demonstrated the lowest prevalence (2.9%); however, it infected foxes with the greatest mean intensity (235.6 tapeworms per fox). The most common co-occurrence in a single host organism was observed for <italic>Mesocestoides</italic> spp. and tapeworms of the genus <italic>Taenia</italic>; however, no examples were found of coinfection by <italic>E. multilocularis</italic> and <italic>D. caninum</italic>.<bold>Conclusion:</bold> The occurrence of tapeworms in foxes was high in West Pomerania Province and was often higher than observed in previous years. For this reason, the risk of parasite transmission to humans and domestic animals is mounting. The risk of infection is also amplifying due to the growth of the fox population.</abstract>

Introduction: Foxes are a reservoir of parasites that are dangerous to humans. The aim of the study was to determine the parameters associated with the occurrence of tapeworms in red foxes in north-western Poland.Material and Methods: Parasitological sections were taken from 620 red foxes using IST and SCT methods in 18 districts of West Pomerania Province.Results: The extensity of fox infection with tapeworms was 61%. Echinococcus multilocularis, Mesocestoides spp., Dipylidium caninum, and specimens of the genus Taenia were identified. E. multilocularis was found in 11 districts. Mesocestoides spp. demonstrated the highest prevalence (41.3%), while E. multilocularis demonstrated the lowest prevalence (2.9%); however, it infected foxes with the greatest mean intensity (235.6 tapeworms per fox). The most common co-occurrence in a single host organism was observed for Mesocestoides spp. and tapeworms of the genus Taenia; however, no examples were found of coinfection by E. multilocularis and D. caninum.Conclusion: The occurrence of tapeworms in foxes was high in West Pomerania Province and was often higher than observed in previous years. For this reason, the risk of parasite transmission to humans and domestic animals is mounting. The risk of infection is also amplifying due to the growth of the fox population.

Presence of tapeworms (Cestoda) in red fox (<italic>Vulpes vulpes</italic>) in north-western Poland, with particular emphasis on <italic>Echinococcus multilocularis</italic>

Department of Animal Reproduction Biotechnology and Environmental Hygiene

Faculty of Biotechnology and Animal Husbandry

West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Presence of tapeworms (Cestoda) in red fox () in north-western Poland, with particular emphasis on 

Introduction: Foxes are a reservoir of parasites that are dangerous to humans. The aim of the study was to determine the parameters associated with the...

Presence of tapeworms (Cestoda) in red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in north-western Poland, with particular emphasis on Echinococcus multilocularis

Published Online: Mar 28, 2019

Page range: 71 - 78

Received: Jul 30, 2018

Accepted: Feb 04, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2019-0005

Keywords
red fox, spp., Poland

© 2019 Agnieszka Tylkowska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Presence of tapeworms (Cestoda) in red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in north-western Poland, with particular emphasis on Echinococcus multilocularis

Published Online: Mar 28, 2019

Page range: 71 - 78

Received: Jul 30, 2018

Accepted: Feb 04, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2019-0005

Keywordsred fox, spp., Poland

© 2019 Agnieszka Tylkowska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
red fox, spp., Poland