Photoperiodic regulation of reproduction in the male silver fox (Vulpes vulpes)

The results presented in this study are the first such extensive characterization of the sperm morphometry of the blue fox (Alopex lagopus) and silver fox (Vulpes vulpes), as representatives of the family Canidae. Canine spermatozoa, especially the sperm of farmed foxes, are not often described in studies on reproduction. The aim of the study was a detailed comparison of the morphometric dimensions and shape of the sperm of two fox species: silver fox and blue fox. Semen collected from 10 silver foxes and 10 blue foxes was used for the study. The specimens were stained with silver nitrate. Measurements were performed of the length, width, perimeter, and area of the head; the area of the acrosome and its coverage; the length of the midpiece and its coverage; the length of the tail; and the length of the end piece of the tail. In addition, four head shape indices were calculated: ellipticity, elongation, roughness and regularity. The following values for the morphometric parameters and shape indices were obtained for blue fox and silver fox, respectively: head length—6.72 µm and 6.33 µm; head width—4.54.µm and 4.21 µm; head perimeter—18.11 µm and 17.37 µm; head area—21.94 µm2 and 21.11 µm2; acrosome area—11.50 µm2 and 10.92 µm2; midpiece length—12.85 µm and 12.79 µm; tail end piece length—3.44 µm and 3.28 µm; tail length—65.23 µm and 65.09 µm; acrosome coverage—52.43% and 52.83%; midpiece coverage—19.71% and 19.65%; sperm length—71.95 µm and 71.42 µm; ellipticity—1.49 and 1.52; elongation—0.19 and 0.20; roughness—0.84 and 1.88; regularity—1.09 and 0.99. The significance of differences between species was verified by Tukey’s test at p ≤ 0.05. Statistically significant differences between species were found for the following parameters: head length, width, perimeter and area; acrosome area; tail, end piece, and total sperm length; roughness and regularity. The differences in the size and shape of sperm can be used to establish reference patterns for fox sperm enabling more accurate species identification.

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Cortical branches of the middle cerebral artery in silver fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-736x2016001000020 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 36 (10) ◽

pp. 1053-1057

Author(s):

Benedykt Skoczylas ◽

◽

Witold Brudnicki ◽

Krzysztof Kirkiłło-Stacewicz ◽

Włodzimierz Nowicki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Middle Cerebral Artery ◽

Cerebral Artery ◽

Vulpes Vulpes ◽

Silver Fox

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Use of oral fluralaner (Bravecto) to successfully manage adult-onset generalised demodicosis in a silver fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Veterinary Record Case Reports ◽

10.1136/vetreccr-2019-000898 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. e000898 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Amanda Burke ◽

Jack Kottwitz ◽

Chengming Wang ◽

Amelia White

Keyword(s):

Vulpes Vulpes ◽

Single Injection ◽

Adult Onset ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Successful Management ◽

Demodex Canis ◽

Silver Fox ◽

Skin Biopsies ◽

Generalised Demodicosis ◽

Ocular Discharge

A six-year-old spayed female silver fox (Vulpes vulpes) presented with bilateral ocular discharge, lethargy, facial alopecia and dermatitis of six months’ duration. The fox was immobilised with ketamine (4 mg/kg), dexmedetomidine (0.01 mg/kg) and butorphanol (0.05 mg/kg) intramuscularly for skin cytology, skin scrapings, dermatophyte culture, bloodwork, faecal floatation and skin biopsies. Diagnostics revealed numerous Demodex species mites. Histopathology showed folliculitis, perifolliculitis and furunculosis with mites, identified as Demodex canis using RT-PCR. The fox received meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg by mouth, three days), cefovecin (8.6 mg/kg subcutaneously, single injection), praziquantel (56.8 mg, subcutaneously, single injection), and fluralaner (250 mg, by mouth, once every 12 weeks, Bravecto). Complete resolution was noted one month after initiating treatment. Thirteen months later the fox remains mite-free and is receiving fluralaner by mouth every 12 weeks. This case report describes successful management of adult-onset generalised Demodex species dermatitis in a silver fox using oral fluralaner.

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