scholarly journals First report of Angiostrongylus vasorum in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Serbia

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 1265
Author(s):  
P. Gavrilović ◽  
I. Todorović ◽  
I. Pavlović ◽  
A. Živulj

Angiostrongylosis caused by Angiostrongylus vasorum is an emerging disease in Europe and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is considered as a main reservoir species for this parasite. Since there have been no reports of A. vasorum in red foxes in Serbia at the time of carrying out our investigations, the aim of the investigations was to explore the role of red foxes in South Banat (northern Serbia) as reservoirs for A. vasorum. Legally hunted foxes were autopsied in the Veterinary Specialised Institute “Pančevo”. The heart, lungs and pulmonary artery were examined macroscopically for evidence of gross lesions and for the presence of adult specimens of A. vasorum. Impression smears of the changed lung tissue were examined microscopically for the presence of first stage larvae of A. vasorum and histopathological examination was performed on lung samples. Out of 24 examined foxes hunted in different locations, 13 had lesions manifested in the lungs, which were suspected to be indicative of angiostrongylosis. In the majority of the foxes distal parts of the pulmonary lobes were swollen, firm, and discoloured to dark-red, dark-yellow and darkbrown. The characteristic lesions in distal parts of the pulmonary lobes were completely consistent with the presence of adult parasites in the right heart and pulmonary arteries, and with the presence of the first stage larvae in the impression smears. The present finding contributes to the knowledge of geographic distribution of angiostrongylosis in red foxes in Europe and provides valuable information that should raise awareness in veterinarians to consider this parasitosis in dogs with signs of cardiopulmonary diseases.

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca A Jeffery ◽  
Murray W Lankester ◽  
Mike J McGrath ◽  
Hugh G Whitney

Angiostrongylus vasorum and Crenosoma vulpis infect the pulmonary arteries and airways, respectively, of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Both are widespread in Europe, but within North America, A. vasorum occurs only on the island of Newfoundland. During 2000–2002, 366 red fox carcasses were examined from six regions of Newfoundland for the purpose of determining the distribution of both parasites, effects on the condition of their host, and whether infection with one affects that of the other. Crenosoma vulpis occurred island-wide with a prevalence of 87% and mean (±SE) intensity of 230 ± 20.8. Young-of-the-year red foxes had more C. vulpis (260 ± 39.4) than yearlings (91 ± 31.2) or adults (78 ± 41.1) (χ2 = 25.72, df = 2, p < 0.001), and numbers of adult worm were weakly related to fecal output of first-stage larvae (r2 = 0.20, p < 0.001) but not to host sex or body-fat index. Angiostrongylus vasorum occurred only in southeast Newfoundland where prevalence was 56% and mean intensity was 72 ± 7.6. Its distribution may be limited by cold, as it was absent from areas with mean winter temperatures below –4 °C. Intensity of adult A. vasorum was not related to host age, sex, larval output, or measures of body condition. Although referred to as a heartworm, 88% of adult worms were actually found in the pulmonary arteries rather than in the right ventricle. Furthermore, there was no apparent association between infections with the two parasites (Gc[1] = 0.10) even though 40% of red foxes had dual infections.


2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Santoro ◽  
Nicola D’Alessio ◽  
Francesca Di Prisco ◽  
Benedetto Neola ◽  
Brunella Restucci ◽  
...  

AbstractAngiostrongylus vasorum (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae) infection was detected at post-mortem examination in the pulmonary arteries and hearts of 34/102 (33,3%) of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from the Campania Region in southern Italy. Pathological changes consisted of granulomatous interstitial pneumonia caused by larvae and intravascular pulmonary adult nematodes. These changes confirm that angiostrongylosis infection in red foxes has a mainly chronic course, in which the infected host may disperse parasite larvae in the environment over its lifetime. Results suggest that the life cycle of A. vasorum is well established in the red fox in the Campania Region representing a potential infection risk for dogs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgiana Deak ◽  
Eduardo Berriatua ◽  
Andrei Daniel Mihalca

Abstract Background Angiostrongylus vasorum (Nematoda, Metastrongyloidea) is a vascular nematode that resides in the pulmonary arteries and the right side of the heart of a wide variety of carnivores, with an indirect life cycle using coprophagic gastropods as intermediate hosts. For domestic dogs, the infection with A. vasorum can be asymptomatic, but more frequently, it is associated with a wide range of clinical manifestations like cardio-respiratory signs, bleedings, neurological signs, and ocular problems which can lead to death when not treated accordingly. Angiostrongylosis was confirmed for the first time in Romania in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in 2017 and two years later a seroepidemiologic study was conducted among domestic dogs. However, to this date, no clinical canine angiostrongylosis cases were published in Romania. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the knowledge about canine angiostrongylosis among veterinarians in Romania and to update the distribution of this disease using a national wide anonymous questionnaire. Results Overall, 147 unique responses were submitted, from 31 out of 42 counties. Twelve veterinarians (8%) from 8 counties (26%) acknowledged diagnosing a case of angiostrongylosis including 5 from the Bucharest and 1 from each of the remaining seven counties. All affected dogs had respiratory distress, 75% suffered cardiopathy, 16% coagulopathies and 8% neurological signs. Case diagnosis was based mostly on larval detection by coprology (67%) and serological antigen detection test (42%). Conclusions Romanian veterinarians are aware of canine angiostrongylosis and a significant number have clinical experience with the disease. Epidemiological studies are now needed to assess its distribution in the country, and further efforts are required to improve understanding of the disease, its diagnostic and treatment methods among veterinarians.


2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksander Demiaszkiewicz ◽  
Anna Pyziel ◽  
Izabela Kuligowska ◽  
Jacek Lachowicz

AbstractAngiostrongylus vasorum belongs to the superfamily of Metastrongyloidea. This nematode occurs in foxes, dogs and other predators. The Nematode A. vasorum place themselves in the pulmonary artery and its branches, and in the right ventricle and atrium of the heart. Numerous species of land snails are the intermediate hosts of the parasite. In 2013, lungs and hearts of 76 foxes shot in the Forest District Głęboki Bród in Augustowska Primeval Forest were parasitologically necropsied. Four of the examined foxes were infected with the nematode A. vasorum, a prevalence of 5.2%. In one fox pericardium there were 6 male and 6 female nematodes. In the remaining three foxes nematodes were localized in the pulmonary artery. In two foxes 2 specimens of nematodes were detected (male and female, and two females) while 1 female was detected in the other fox. This is the first report of the presence of the nematode A. vasorum in fox in Poland.


2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Zatoń-Dobrowolska ◽  
Magdalena Moska ◽  
Anna Mucha ◽  
Heliodor Wierzbicki ◽  
Piotr Przysiecki ◽  
...  

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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pia Webster ◽  
Jesper Monrad ◽  
Christian M. O. Kapel ◽  
Annemarie T. Kristensen ◽  
Asger L. Jensen ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haider Alyousef ◽  
Elsawi M. Osman ◽  
Mohamed A. Gomha

Introduction. Liposarcoma is a rare pathological entity. By far it is the most common histological subtype of genitourinary sarcomas in adults. Approximately two hundred cases were reported in the literature. We are hereby presenting a case with a typical clinical scenario of paratesticular liposarcoma.Case report. A 75-year-old gentleman presented with a painless right hemiscrotal swelling that was progressively increasing in size over the last 6 years. Testicular tumour markers were negative. Imaging showed a heterogenous mass with fat component. Subsequently he underwent wide local excision that included the paratesticular mass along with the right testicle and all right inguinal canal contents up to the deep inguinal ring with the sparing of right illioinguinal nerve. Histopathological examination showed a well differentiated liposarcoma of the spermatic cord. He remained recurrence-free so far after 18 months of followup.Conclusion. Radical orchidectomy with wide local excision comprises the cornerstone of treatment of paratesticular liposarcoma. Due to the rarity of the disease there is no definite universal consensus of opinion as regards the role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.


Parasitology ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. T. Richards ◽  
S. Harris ◽  
J. W. Lewis

SUMMARYA descriptive epidemiological survey was undertaken of the ascarid nematode Toxocara canis in 521 red foxes (vulpes, vulpes) during the period January 1986 to July 1990. Age–prevalence and age–intensity profiles show that worm are significantly higher in cubs than in subadult or adult foxes and higher in subadult than in adult foxes. variations in worm burdens occur, with the highest prevalences and intensities being found during the spring, when are born, and in the summer months. Prevalences and intensities then decrease during the autumn and winter months both subadult and adult foxes, but, during this period, prevalences are significantly higher in male than in female Variations in worm burdens in the fox population are likely to be related to the reproductive cycle of the fox, with proportion of cubs becoming infected in utero. The role of the fox in the transmission of T. canis in the urban environment is discussed.


1996 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.L. Willingham ◽  
N.W. Ockens ◽  
C.M.O. Kapel ◽  
J. Monrad

AbstractSixty-eight red foxes were collected from the metropolitan area of Copenhagen and examined for helminth infections. Standard faecal flotations for intestinal parasites gave the following results: Strongyle eggs (75.0%), Capillaria eggs (36.8%), Toxocara eggs (23.5%), Taenia eggs (1.5%), and coccidia oocysts (2.9%). Gastrointestinal helminths were collected from 21 of the 68 foxes with the following specimens found: Uncinaria stenocephala (85.7%), Toxocara canis (81.0%), Taenia spp. (38.1%), Mesocestoides lineatus (23.8%) and Polymorphus spp. (9.5%). Faeces of 39 foxes were examined by the Baermann method for larvae of cardiopulmonary worms with 20 foxes (51.3%) being infected. Fourteen foxes (35.9%) were infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum, 11 (28.2%) were infected with Crenosoma vulpis, and 5 foxes (12.8%) were infected with both species. Muscle digestion of diaphragms from the 68 foxes indicated that none harboured larvae of Trichinella spiralis.


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