scholarly journals Survey on viral pathogens in wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Germany with emphasis on parvoviruses and analysis of a DNA sequence from a red fox parvovirus

1998 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 433-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. TRUYEN ◽  
T. MÜLLER ◽  
R. HEIDRICH ◽  
K. TACKMANN ◽  
L. E. CARMICHAEL
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequence ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Canine Parvovirus ◽  
Domestic Dog ◽  
Interspecies Transmission ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Feline Panleukopenia Virus ◽  
Free Ranging

The seroprevalence of canine parvovirus (CPV), canine distemper virus (CDV), canine adenovirus (CAV) and canine herpesvirus (CHV) infections in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) was determined in fox sera collected between 1991 and 1995. A total of 500 sera were selected and the seroprevalences were estimated to be 13% (65 of 500 sera) for CPV, 4·4% (17 of 383 sera) for CDV, 3·5% (17 of 485 sera) for CAV, and 0·4% (2 of 485 sera) for CHV, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two (rural and suburban) areas under study.Parvovirus DNA sequences were amplified from tissues of free-ranging foxes and compared to those of prototype viruses from dogs and cats. We report here a parvovirus sequence indicative of a true intermediate between the feline panleukopenia virus-like viruses and the canine parvovirus-like viruses. The red fox parvoviral sequence, therefore, appears to represent a link between those viral groups. The DNA sequence together with a significant seroprevalence of parvovirus infections in foxes supports the hypothesis that the sudden emergence of canine parvovirus in the domestic dog population may have involved the interspecies transmission between wild and domestic carnivores.

scholarly journals Pathogen screening in the red fox (Vulpes Vulpes) from Lithuania

Biologija ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Povilas Sakalauskas ◽  
Indrė Lipatova ◽  
Jana Radzijevskaja ◽  
Algimantas Paulauskas
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Pathogen Screening ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Babesia Spp ◽  
Mycoplasma Spp

The aim of this study was to screen free-ranging red foxes from Lithuania for the presence of different vector-borne pathogens. A total of 31 red foxes from three districts of Lithuania were molecularly tested for the presence of pathogens. Five different pathogens were detected in 83.9% of red foxes: Anaplasma spp., Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp., Borrellia spp. and Babesia spp. The presence of Mycoplasma spp. and Dirofilaria spp. was not detected in our study.

scholarly journals Control of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) fertility with cabergoline: dose response and timing of intervention

Reproduction ◽  
2001 ◽  
pp. 147-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
CA Marks ◽  
L Jalkanen ◽  
R Savolainen ◽  
RV Short
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Fertility Control ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Prolactin Secretion ◽  
Domestic Dog ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Silver Fox

Cabergoline, a potent dopamine agonist and inhibitor of prolactin secretion, was investigated as a potential fertility control agent in the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes). Sixty silver fox vixens were selected randomly and artificially inseminated. Cabergoline was fed to groups of 12 vixens in a minced beef ration either as a single dose of 25, 50 or 100 microg kg(-1), or a dose of 50 microg kg(-1) that was repeated 2 days later (2 x 50 microg kg(-1)). Four foxes from each group of 12 were given cabergoline at day 28, day 35 or day 48 after artificial insemination, and a control group of four foxes was used as a comparison for each dose day. In a separate trial, two groups of five foxes were selected randomly from the farm population and fed 100 microg kg(-1) of either cabergoline or a placebo each day from day 42 to day 46 of pregnancy. Foxes that received single doses of cabergoline of 100 microg kg(-1) or 2 x 50 microg kg(-1) aborted at day 28, but the same doses did not result in abortions when administered on days 35 and 48. Although lactation was not terminated in groups that received a single or double dose of cabergoline, increased post-natal cub mortality was associated with cabergoline administration. Growth of cubs between 4 and 8 weeks of age was not inhibited in vixens that received cabergoline. Doses of 100 microg cabergoline kg(-1) administered each day from day 42 to day 46 resulted in abortions and terminated lactation. The capacity of single doses of cabergoline to cause abortions in the red fox during mid- rather than late pregnancy is contrary to reported observations for the domestic dog. This finding indicates that luteotrophic support of the corpus luteum by prolactin may be more important at mid-pregnancy in the red fox. The results of this study support previous field observations that cabergoline delivered in bait affects the reproductive success of vixens and may be a practical adjunct to the lethal control of wild red foxes in Australia.

Distinguishing characteristics of the hairs of wild and domestic canids from Alberta

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 536-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan. J. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Cross Section ◽  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Canis Familiaris ◽  
Domestic Dog ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Distinguishing Features ◽  
Region Size ◽  
Band Number

Dorsal, ventral, and lateral guard hairs were examined from 12 wolves (Canis lupus), 14 coyotes (Canis latrans), six domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), and six red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to determine distinguishing features. Wolf and coyote hairs are not separable using present techniques. However, wolf–coyote hair can be identified by its total length, band number and size, and distinctive basal cuticle scale pattern. Red fox hair is characteristic in its length, color, tip region size, basal cuticle scale pattern, and medulla cross section. Domestic dog hair is identified by its length and basal cuticle scale pattern. Several macroscopic and microscopic hair characteristics of Alberta canids are different from those of eastern canids.

Variation in fur farm and wild populations of the red fox, Vulpes vulpes (Carnivora: Canidae) — Part I: Morphometry

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Zatoń-Dobrowolska ◽  
Magdalena Moska ◽  
Anna Mucha ◽  
Heliodor Wierzbicki ◽  
Piotr Przysiecki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Selective Breeding ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Morphometric Traits ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Ear Height ◽  
Morphological Differences ◽  
The Right ◽  
Almost All

This paper demonstrates the influence of artificial selection on morphometric traits in the red fox [Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)]. Measurements and two proportion coefficients were analysed in 132 wild and 199 farm red foxes. The two groups differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) on all but one of the measurements. Eight out of 11 measurements were significantly greater in the farm fox population, while only tail length, ear height, and length of the right hind limb were greater in the population of wild foxes. The opposite trend was observed when analysing variation in the measurements — the farm foxes were characterized by a greater variability only in the case of body weight, body length, and breadth of chest. When analysing the sexual dimorphism index in different sex and population groups, in almost all analysed traits, the greatest differences occurred between farm males and wild females. All of the traits examined in this study are important for survival of wild foxes. However, because importance of some traits was reduced during domestication and selective breeding (farm foxes do not have to fight for survival), the genetic relationship between them may have weakened. Other possible causes of morphological differences between the studied groups of red foxes are discussed as well.

scholarly journals Foraging habits of the Red Fox Vulpes vulpes (Mammalia: Carnivora: Canidae) in the Himalaya, India

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 12418-12421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aishwarya Maheshwari
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Intense Competition ◽  
Diurnal Behavior ◽  
Large Predators ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
The Himalaya

This study attempts to investigate reason behind the diurnal behavior of nocturnal red fox and found availability of domestic fowls and young ones of the sheep/ goats during daytime. Free ranging fowls (n=230; an average 57.5 per year) and inattentive young ones of sheep/ goats (n=74; an average 18.5 per year) were the most vulnerable to for red fox predation.  This study concludes that diurnal behavior could be due to reduce intense competition with large predators such as snow leopard and wolf, during night time and the freedom from human harassment in preying upon inattentive livestock.

scholarly journals Adaptations of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) to urban environments in Sydney, Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarita Gil-Fernández ◽  
Robert Harcourt ◽  
Thomas Newsome ◽  
Alison Towerton ◽  
Alexandra Carthey
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Canis Lupus Familiaris ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Sydney Australia ◽  
Site Types

Abstract With urban encroachment on wild landscapes accelerating globally, there is an urgent need to understand how wildlife is adapting to anthropogenic change. We compared the behaviour of the invasive red fox (Vulpes vulpes) at eight urban and eight peri-urban areas of Sydney, Australia. We observed fox behaviour around a lure and compared fox activity patterns to those of potential prey and to two domestic predators (dogs—Canis lupus familiaris and cats—Felis catus). We assessed the influence of site type, vegetation cover, and distance from habitation on fox behaviour, and compared the temporal activity patterns of urban and peri-urban red foxes. Urban red foxes were marginally more nocturnal than those in peri-urban areas (88% activity overlap). There was greater overlap of red fox activity patterns with introduced mammalian prey in urban areas compared with peri-urban areas (90% urban vs 84% peri-urban). Red fox temporal activity overlapped 78% with cats, but only 20% with dogs, across both site types. The high degree of overlap with cats and introduced mammalian prey is most likely explained by the nocturnal behaviour of these species, while pet dogs are generally kept in yards or indoors at night. The behavioural differences we documented by urban red foxes suggest they may adapt to human modifications and presence, by being more nocturnal and/or more confident in urban areas.

scholarly journals Genetic Structure and Gene Flow in Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Scandinavia: Implications for the Potential Future Spread of Echinococcus multilocularis Tapeworm

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (24) ◽  
pp. 5289
Author(s):  
Mari Hagenlund ◽  
Arne Linløkken ◽  
Kjartan Østbye ◽  
Zea Walton ◽  
Morten Odden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Population Ecology ◽  
Wildlife Management ◽  
Echinococcus Multilocularis ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Genetic Structuring ◽  
High Level

Knowledge about the dispersal and gene flow patterns in wild animals are important for our understanding of population ecology and the connectedness of populations. It is also important for management relating to disease control and the transmission of new and emerging diseases. Our study aimed to evaluate the genetic structuring among comparative samples of red foxes in a small part of Scandinavia and to estimate the gene flow and potential directionality in the movements of foxes using an optimized set of microsatellite markers. We compared genetic samples of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from two areas in Sweden and two areas in Norway, including red fox samples from areas where the occurrence of the cyclophyllic tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis has been documented, and areas without known occurrence of the parasite. Our results show a high level of gene flow over considerable distances and substantiates migration from areas affected with E. multilocularis into Norway where the parasite is not yet detected. The results allow us to better understand the gene flow and directionality in the movement patterns of red foxes, which is important for wildlife management authorities regarding the spread of E. multilocularis.

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal spread of sarcoptic mange in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Switzerland over more than 60 years: lessons learnt from comparative analysis of multiple surveillance tools

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Roberto Rolando Pisano ◽  
Fridolin Zimmermann ◽  
Luca Rossi ◽  
Simon Capt ◽  
Ezgi Akdesir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
19Th Century ◽  
General Health ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Sarcoptes Scabiei ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Sarcoptic Mange ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
First Case ◽  
Combining Data

Abstract Background Sarcoptic mange is a contagious skin disease of wild and domestic mammals caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Reports of sarcoptic mange in wildlife increased worldwide in the second half of the 20th century, especially since the 1990s. The aim of this study was to provide new insights into the epidemiology of mange by (i) documenting the emergence of sarcoptic mange in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the last decades in Switzerland; and (ii) describing its spatiotemporal spread combining data obtained through different surveillance methods. Methods Retrospective analysis of archived material together with prospective data collection delivered a large dataset from the 19th century to 2018. Methods included: (i) a review of historical literature; (ii) screening of necropsy reports from general health surveillance (1958–2018); (iii) screening of data on mange (1968–1992) collected during the sylvatic rabies eradication campaign; (iv) a questionnaire survey (<1980–2017) and (v) evaluation of camera-trap bycatch data (2005–2018). Results Sarcoptic mange in red foxes was reported as early as 1835 in Switzerland. The first case diagnosed in the framework of the general health surveillance was in 1959. Prior to 1980, sarcoptic mange occurred in non-adjacent surveillance districts scattered all over the country. During the period of the rabies epidemic (1970s-early 1990s), the percentage of foxes tested for rabies with sarcoptic mange significantly decreased in subregions with rabies, whereas it remained high in the few rabies-free subregions. Sarcoptic mange re-emerged in the mid-1990s and continuously spread during the 2000–2010s, to finally extend to the whole country in 2017. The yearly prevalence of mange in foxes estimated by camera-trapping ranged from 0.1–12%. Conclusions Sarcoptic mange has likely been endemic in Switzerland as well as in other European countries at least since the mid-19th century. The rabies epidemics seem to have influenced the pattern of spread of mange in several locations, revealing an interesting example of disease interaction in free-ranging wildlife populations. The combination of multiple surveillance tools to study the long-term dynamics of sarcoptic mange in red foxes in Switzerland proved to be a successful strategy, which underlined the usefulness of questionnaire surveys.

Genetic characterization of feline parvovirus sequences from various carnivores

Microbiology ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Steinel ◽  
L. Munson ◽  
M. van Vuuren ◽  
U. Truyen
Keyword(s):  
Interspecies Transmission ◽  
Panthera Tigris ◽  
Acinonyx Jubatus ◽  
Feline Panleukopenia Virus ◽  
Siberian Tiger ◽  
Carnivore Species ◽  
Feline Parvovirus ◽  
Enteritis Virus ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
First Time

Infections with viruses of the feline parvovirus subgroup such as feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), mink enteritis virus (MEV) and canine parvovirus (CPV-2) [together with its new antigenic types (CPV-2a, CPV-2b)] have been reported from several wild carnivore species. To examine the susceptibility of different species to the various parvoviruses and their antigenic types, samples from wild carnivores with acute parvovirus infections were collected. Viral DNA was amplified, and subsequently analysed, from faeces or formalin-fixed small intestines from an orphaned bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis), a free-ranging honey badger (Mellivora capensis), six captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), a captive Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) and a free-ranging African wild cat (Felis lybica). Parvovirus infection in bat-eared fox and honey badger was demonstrated for the first time. FPV-sequences were detected in tissues of the African wild cat and in faeces of one cheetah and the honey badger, whereas CPV-2b sequences were found in five cheetahs and the bat-eared fox. The Siberian tiger (from a German zoo) was infected with a CPV-type 2a virus. This distribution of feline parvovirus antigenic types in captive large cats suggests an interspecies transmission from domestic dogs. CPV-2 sequences were not detected in any of the specimens and no sequences with features intermediate between FPV and CPV were found in any of the animals examined.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document