<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">A total of 180 foxes (<italic>Vulpes vulpes</italic>) from an area scarcely investigated of north-west Italy, were examined for intestinal helminths using sedimentation and counting technique (SCT). Faecal samples were submitted to centrifugation with 50 % zinc sulphate used as flotation solution.No fox was found completely negative for intestinal helminths. The most frequently identified nematodes were <italic>Uncinaria stenocephala</italic> (70.0 %), <italic>Molineus legerae</italic> (27.2 %), <italic>Toxocara canis</italic> (26.7 %), <italic>Toxascaris leonina</italic> (25.6 %), <italic>Trichuris vulpis</italic> (21.1 %), <italic>Aonchotheca putorii</italic> (8.9 %), <italic>Pterygodermatites affinis</italic> (5.6 %). Genus <italic>Mesocestoides</italic> (81.7 %), family Dilepididae (29.4 %) and <italic>Taenia</italic> spp. (8.3 %) were the most prevalent cestodes. All foxes were negative for <italic>E. multilocularis</italic> and <italic>E. granulosus</italic>. In two foxes trematodes belonging to the family Plagiorchidae were found.The study highlighted that foxes are hosts of intestinal helminths of veterinary and medical importance which may be transmitted to dogs and humans.</abstract>

A total of 180 foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from an area scarcely investigated of north-west Italy, were examined for intestinal helminths using sedimentation and counting technique (SCT). Faecal samples were submitted to centrifugation with 50 % zinc sulphate used as flotation solution.No fox was found completely negative for intestinal helminths. The most frequently identified nematodes were Uncinaria stenocephala (70.0 %), Molineus legerae (27.2 %), Toxocara canis (26.7 %), Toxascaris leonina (25.6 %), Trichuris vulpis (21.1 %), Aonchotheca putorii (8.9 %), Pterygodermatites affinis (5.6 %). Genus Mesocestoides (81.7 %), family Dilepididae (29.4 %) and Taenia spp. (8.3 %) were the most prevalent cestodes. All foxes were negative for E. multilocularis and E. granulosus. In two foxes trematodes belonging to the family Plagiorchidae were found.The study highlighted that foxes are hosts of intestinal helminths of veterinary and medical importance which may be transmitted to dogs and humans.

Intestinal helminths of red foxes (<italic>Vulpes vulpes</italic>) in north-west Italy

Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy

Istituto Zooprofi lattico Sperimentale of Piedmont, Liguria, Aosta Valley, via Nizza 4, 18100 Imperia, Italy

Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy

Helminthologia

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

Intestinal helminths of red foxes () in north-west Italy

A total of 180 foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from an area scarcely investigated of north-west Italy, were examined for intestinal helminths using sedimentation and...

Intestinal helminths of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in north-west Italy

Article Category: Research Article

Publié en ligne: 10 mars 2016

Pages: 31 - 38

Reçu: 11 juin 2015

Accepté: 14 janv. 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/helmin-2015-0073

Mots clés
intestinal helminths, fox, Liguria, Italy

© 2016 Institute of Parasitology, SAS, Košice

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

Intestinal helminths of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in north-west Italy

Article Category: Research Article

Publié en ligne: 10 mars 2016

Pages: 31 - 38

Reçu: 11 juin 2015

Accepté: 14 janv. 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/helmin-2015-0073

Mots clésintestinal helminths, fox, Liguria, Italy

© 2016 Institute of Parasitology, SAS, Košice

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

Mots clés
intestinal helminths, fox, Liguria, Italy