Temporal activity shift in arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) in response to human disturbance

Mercury bioaccumulation in hair and skin of silver and arctic foxes farmed in typically rural and urbanized regions (Wielkopolskie Voivodship, Poland) was assessed. Hair and skin samples were collected and analyzed for total Hg content using atomic absorption spectrometry. Hairs and skin of foxes farmed in the rural region accumulated higher amount of Hg compared to animals from the urbanized one. Species effect (lower Hg concentration in V. lagopus) was noted, females having higher accumulation compared with males. The highest Hg content was observed in hairs of V. vulpes females in the rural region (0.207 mg/kg on average), and in skin of V. lagopus females (0.0082 mg/kg on average). Highly significant correlation (r = 0.796) was noted between Hg content in skin and hairs of farm foxes. The present study confirms the previous finding that non-invasively collected hair samples are a good tool applicable in evaluating heavy metal load of different environments.

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Mineral density and biomechanical properties of bone tissue from male Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) exposed to organochlorine contaminants and emaciation

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology ◽

10.1016/j.cbpc.2008.07.015 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 149 (1) ◽

pp. 97-103 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Christian Sonne ◽

Hans Wolkers ◽

Frank F. Rigét ◽

Jens-Erik Beck Jensen ◽

Jenni Teilmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Tissue ◽

Biomechanical Properties ◽

Vulpes Lagopus ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Arctic Foxes ◽

Organochlorine Contaminants

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The Effect of Dietary Methionine Levels on the Performance Parameters of Arctic Foxes (Vulpes Lagopus)

Annals of Animal Science ◽

10.2478/v10220-012-0033-3 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 393-401 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andrzej Gugołek ◽

Tomasz Wyczling ◽

Paweł Janiszewski ◽

Przemysław Sobiech ◽

Piotr Wyczling ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Total Protein ◽

The Body ◽

Performance Parameters ◽

Vulpes Lagopus ◽

Growing Period ◽

Finnish Type ◽

Arctic Foxes ◽

Performance Traits ◽

Fur Quality

The Effect of Dietary Methionine Levels on the Performance Parameters of Arctic Foxes (Vulpes Lagopus)The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary inclusion levels of methionine and cystine on the performance traits and health status of Arctic foxes. The experimental material comprised 60 blue Arctic foxes of the Finnish type. Control group (C) animals were fed diets (CA and CB) with standard concentrations of methionine and cystine. In experimental groups E1 and E2, methionine content was increased by approximately 2 g per 100 g total protein, relative to the recommended intake. Diets for group E1 were supplemented with liquid methionine (E1A and E1B), and diets for group E2 were supplemented with crystalline methionine (E2A and E2B). Diets A were offered during the growing period, and diets B were administered during the furring period. During the growing period, methionine+cystine levels in diets E1 and E2 were 4.19+0.59 g and 4.22+0.53 g per 100 g total protein, respectively. During the furring period, methionine+cystine levels were 4.83+0.68 g in diets E1 and 4.91+0.61 g in diets E2. The body weights of Arctic foxes were determined, their body conformation was evaluated, and the duration of the rearing period was calculated. Blood samples for morphological and biochemical analyses were collected from animals aged 24 weeks, selected randomly from each group. After slaughter, pelt length and fur quality were determined in accordance with the International Trading System. The results of this study indicate that diets for Arctic foxes should be supplemented with methionine. The experimental diets contributed to improving the performance traits of foxes, in particular fur quality, and they had no adverse influence on the health status of animals. It may be concluded that farm-raised Arctic foxes of the Finnish type show an increased demand for methionine.

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Broad Range Screening of Vector-Borne Pathogens in Arctic Foxes (Vulpes lagopus) in Iceland

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10112031 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 2031

Author(s):

Sándor Hornok ◽

Kristin Mühldorfer ◽

Nóra Takács ◽

Regina Hofmann-Lehmann ◽

Marina L. Meli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽

The Arctic ◽

Vulpes Lagopus ◽

Protozoan Parasites ◽

Red Foxes ◽

Warming Climate ◽

Hemotropic Mycoplasma ◽

Arctic Foxes ◽

Vector Borne ◽

Real Time Qpcr

The arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is the only native terrestrial mammal in Iceland. While red foxes (V. vulpes) are known to be epidemiologically important carriers of several vector-borne pathogens in Europe, arctic foxes have never been evaluated in a similar context on this continent. This has become especially relevant in the last decade, considering the establishing populations of the tick species Ixodes ricinus in Iceland. In this study, liver DNA extracts of 60 arctic foxes, hunted between 2011–2012, were molecularly screened for vector-borne protozoan parasites (Trypanosomatidae, Babesia, Theileria, Hepatozoon) and bacteria (Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Borrelia, hemotropic Mycoplasma). One sample was real-time qPCR positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, though this positivity could not be confirmed with sequencing. Samples were negative for all other tested vector-borne pathogens. Results of this study indicate that, except for A. phagocytophilum, Icelandic arctic foxes were apparently “not yet infected” with vector-borne pathogens in 2011–2012, or their infections were “below the detection limit” of applied methods. Taking into account the broad range of target microorganisms analyzed here, as well as the warming climate and increasing presence of the vector I. ricinus in Iceland, our results will be very useful as baseline data for comparison in future monitoring of the emergence of ticks and tick-borne diseases in this country.

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