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

Animals ◽  
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.

Vector-borne pathogens in arctic foxes, Vulpes lagopus, from Canada

2015 ◽  
Vol 99 ◽  
pp. 58-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia E. Mascarelli ◽  
Stacey A. Elmore ◽  
Emily J. Jenkins ◽  
Ray T. Alisauskas ◽  
Mary Walsh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Lagopus ◽  
Arctic Foxes ◽  
Vector Borne

scholarly journals AMY2B Gene Copy-Number Variation Studied by Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) in Three Canids: Red Fox, Arctic Fox, and Chinese Raccoon Dog

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-55
Author(s):  
Michal Antkowiak ◽  
Joanna Nowacka-Woszuk ◽  
Izabela Szczerbal ◽  
Marek Switonski ◽  
Maciej Szydlowski
Keyword(s):  
Copy Number Variation ◽  
Copy Number ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Digital Pcr ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Raccoon Dog ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Arctic Foxes ◽  
Number Variation ◽  
Raccoon Dogs

Copy-number variation (CNV) is an important source of genetic variation, and one that played a role in the process of domestication. The adaptation to a new diet is a characteristic feature of dog domestication. We therefore sought genomic signatures of this process. The pancreatic alpha-amylase gene (AMY2B), expressed in the pancreas, exhibits a variable number of copies. It has been shown that the multiplication of this gene is associated with the adaptation of dogs to a starch-rich diet. To date, there has been no information made available on the copy-number variation of AMY2B in canid farm animals. The aim of the present study was to examine the AMY2B copy number in the red fox, the arctic fox, and in the Chinese raccoon dog. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) was used to count the gene copies in 152 animals (60 red foxes, 53 arctic foxes, and 39 Chinese raccoon dogs). We found that the majority (91%) of the animals had two copies of this gene. Of the red foxes and Chinese raccoon dogs, only 8% had three copies, while 32% of the arctic foxes had three copies. Our study showed that the multiplication of the AMY2B gene did not occur over several decades of breeding selection, which may reflect the low-starch feeding regime.

From monogamy to complexity: social organization of arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) in contrasting ecosystems

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (9) ◽  
pp. 1102-1116 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Norén ◽  
P. Hersteinsson ◽  
G. Samelius ◽  
N.E. Eide ◽  
E. Fuglei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Organization ◽  
Group Formation ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Resource Depletion ◽  
Simple Groups ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Vulpes Lagopus ◽  
Arctic Foxes ◽  
Plausible Model ◽  
Prey Resources

Canids display pronounced intraspecific variation in social organization, ranging from single breeding females to large and complex groups. Despite several hypotheses in this matter, little is understood about the ecological factors underlying this flexibility. We have used the arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus (L., 1758)) to investigate how contrasting ecosystem conditions concerning resources and predation influence group formation. We predicted that complex groups are more common in resource-rich ecosystems with predators, whereas simple groups occur in more marginal ecosystems without predators. Samples from 54 groups were collected from four populations of arctic foxes with contrasting prey resources and predation and these samples were genotyped in 10 microsatellite loci. We found considerable variation between ecosystems and a significant relationship between resources and formation of complex groups. We conclude that sufficient amounts of food is a prerequisite for forming complex groups, but that defense against predation further increases the benefits of living in larger groups. We present a conceptual model suggesting that a trade-off between the cost of resource depletion and the benefits obtained for guarding against predators explain the differences in social organization. The variable ecology of the arctic foxes makes it is a plausible model species for understanding the connection between ecology and social organization also in other species.

scholarly journals Breeding den selection by Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) in southern Yamal Peninsula, Russia

Polar Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stijn P. Hofhuis ◽  
Dorothee Ehrich ◽  
Natalia A. Sokolova ◽  
Pim van Hooft ◽  
Aleksandr A. Sokolov
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Yamal Peninsula ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Vulpes Lagopus ◽  
Relative Risks ◽  
Arctic Foxes ◽  
Prey Resources ◽  
Selection For

AbstractSelecting the right location for a den during the breeding season is a type of habitat selection in the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) that is likely to affect its reproductive success. A den’s suitability likely depends on its ability to provide shelter, as well as its proximity to prey resources. Depending on the different relative risks that Arctic foxes may face across their broad circumpolar range, Arctic foxes may place different emphases on selection for shelter and prey resources in different ecosystems. Understanding the different requirements for reproduction under different ecological conditions is highly relevant to conservation efforts in areas where Arctic foxes are threatened by rapid environmental changes. Here, we investigated the relative selection for shelter and prey resources in southern Yamal Peninsula (Russia) using data from 45 dens collected over a 13-year period. Arctic foxes preferred to breed in dens with more den entrances; an indicator of shelter quality. Arctic foxes also preferred dens surrounded by more prey resources (quantified by the amount of river valley habitat), but this result was less conclusive. These results complement the findings reported from other study areas, illustrating that Arctic foxes in ecosystems with diverse predator communities may put emphasis on selection for shelter quality. In less productive ecosystems, Arctic foxes may rather put emphasis on selection for prey resources. As tundra ecosystems become more productive and generalist predators move north, the reproductive requirements and habitat selection of Arctic foxes may change accordingly, depending on the species’ ability to adapt.

scholarly journals Dynamics of Cellular Factors of the Immune System of Arctic Foxes (Vulpes lagopus) on the Background of Mixtinvasion

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri Kuznetsov ◽  
Nadezhda Kuznetsova
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
B Lymphocytes ◽  
Natural Resistance ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Vulpes Lagopus ◽  
T Suppressors ◽  
Arctic Foxes ◽  
Cellular Factors ◽  
T Helpers

The article presents data on the dynamics of cellular immune system factors of the arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) while being affected by mixtinvasion of protozoa (Isospora vulpina) and helminth (Toxascaris leonina). The changes in the blood cell composition, in particular those responsible for the body’s immunity and immune status, reflect the pathological effect of the endoparasites on the animal’s body. The development of the invasive process during mixtinvasions causes and is accompanied by a decrease in the level of nonspecific resistance of the host organism. In addition, a significant process of inhibition of the lysozyme complementary activity in the blood serum and the development of secondary immunodeficiencies is observed. The aim of our work was to study the development of the pathological process in arctic foxes, caused by previously detected mixtinvasion by eimeriidoses and helminthiases, as well as to identify dynamical patterns of the immune system cellular factors. Intravital diagnostics of parasitoses was carried out by means of coproscopic studies with the help of conventional flotation methods. 127 arctic foxes participated in the experiment. Among them individuals with double invasion, an invasion with both protozoa (placeI. vulpina) and helminth (T. leonina), were selected for the experiment. Healthy animals served as the control group. Arctic foxes which took part in the experiment were divided into three groups of 10 animals each. Groups were formed by the method of balanced analogous groups. Evaluation of the T-system of immunity was carried out by the method of spontaneous rosetting according to Jondal (1972). Isolation of lymphocytes by the method of A. Boyum (1968), B-lymphocytes were determined by the method of E. Mendes (1973), theophylline-resistant and theophylline-sensitive T-lymphocytes were determined using the method of S. Limatibul et.al. (1978). The immunoregulation index was calculated by the ratio of T-helpers to T-suppressors. During the experiment, it was found that in infected animals the total number of lymphocytes was significantly 10.2 % higher than in animals in the control group, however, there was a tendency to a sharp decrease in the total number of lymphocytes in patients with I. vulpina + T. leonina. The T-helper dynamics in infected foxes was 18.9 ± 0.9 (P≤0.05), which is 21.9 % less than in the control – 24.2 ± 0.6 (P≤0, 05). The dynamics of T-suppressors turned out to be directly opposite to the dynamics of the T-helpers. The dynamics of B-lymphocytes in the 2nd group turned out to be 1.76 times higher than in animals from the control. In the 3rd group same indicator was comparable with the control values of 2.9 ± 0.3, against 2.5 ± 0.4 in the control group. The study showed that mixtinvasion with placeI. vulpina + T. leonina leads to immunosuppression in the arctic foxes. Interestingly the specific therapy did not straighten the immune state of the animals, but on the contrary it became more pronounced, which suggests that antiparasitic drugs have an immunosuppressive nature on the body of arctic foxes as evidenced by violations of the parameters of the body’s natural resistance, the content of T-E-ROCK lymphocytes.

scholarly journals Relationships between fox populations and rabies virus spread in northern Canada

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0246508
Author(s):  
Susan A. Nadin-Davis ◽  
Emilie Falardeau ◽  
Alex Flynn ◽  
Hugh Whitney ◽  
H. Dawn Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Rabies Virus ◽  
Control Region ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Population Substructure ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Northern Canada ◽  
Arctic Foxes ◽  
Northern Alaska

Rabies spreads in both Arctic (Vulpes lagopus) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) throughout the Canadian Arctic but limited wildlife disease surveillance, due to the extensive landmass of the Canadian north and its small widely scattered human population, undermines our knowledge of disease transmission patterns. This study has explored genetic population structure in both the rabies virus and its fox hosts to better understand factors that impact rabies spread. Phylogenetic analysis of 278 samples of the Arctic lineage of rabies virus recovered over 40 years identified four sub-lineages, A1 to A4. The A1 lineage has been restricted to southern regions of the Canadian province of Ontario. The A2 lineage, which predominates in Siberia, has also spread to northern Alaska while the A4 lineage was recovered from southern Alaska only. The A3 sub-lineage, which was also found in northern Alaska, has been responsible for virtually all cases across northern Canada and Greenland, where it further differentiated into 18 groups which have systematically evolved from a common predecessor since 1975. In areas of Arctic and red fox sympatry, viral groups appear to circulate in both hosts, but both mitochondrial DNA control region sequences and 9-locus microsatellite genotypes revealed contrasting phylogeographic patterns for the two fox species. Among 157 Arctic foxes, 33 mitochondrial control region haplotypes were identified but little genetic structure differentiating localities was detected. Among 162 red foxes, 18 control region haplotypes delineated three groups which discriminated among the Churchill region of Manitoba, northern Quebec and Labrador populations, and the coastal Labrador locality of Cartwright. Microsatellite analyses demonstrated some genetic heterogeneity among sampling localities of Arctic foxes but no obvious pattern, while two or three clusters of red foxes suggested some admixture between the Churchill and Quebec-Labrador regions but uniqueness of the Cartwright group. The limited population structure of Arctic foxes is consistent with the rapid spread of rabies virus subtypes throughout the north, while red fox population substructure suggests that disease spread in this host moves most readily down certain independent corridors such as the northeastern coast of Canada and the central interior. Interestingly the evidence suggests that these red fox populations have limited capacity to maintain the virus over the long term, but they may contribute to viral persistence in areas of red and Arctic fox sympatry.

THE DETECTION OF Anaplasma phagocytophilum AND Babesia vulpes IN SPLEEN SAMPLES OF RED FOX (Vulpes vulpes) IN SLOVENIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Strašek Smrdel ◽  
Tatjana Avšič
Keyword(s):  
Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Conventional Pcr ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Limited Impact ◽  
Pcr Products ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Babesia Spp

The entrance of wild animals into human settings serves as the access of vector-borne pathogens to susceptible hosts. A red fox (Vulpes vulpes) frequently enters and is quite adapted to living in urban and periurban environments. Due to its living habits, it could be a possible source of tick-borne pathogens, but it could also transfer pathogens through bites. One hundred and ten spleen samples from red foxes were screened for the presence of the Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia vulpes genomes with real-time and conventional PCR. Positive PCR products were further sequenced. A genotype of A. phagocytophilum was determined and species of Babesia spp. if possible.Five (4.5%) spleen samples from red fox were positive for A. phagocytophilum DNA. With nucleotide comparison, three genotypes from cluster I were detected. The detected prevalence of B.vulpes in red fox in Slovenia was 76.3%. The parasite was detected in all tested regions of the country. Data from our study suggest that the red fox may have only limited impact on the circulation of the zoonotic genotype of A. phagocytophilum, but it represents a risk of transmission of B. vulpes near human settings and consequently poses a threat to domestic animals.Key words: red fox, Vulpes vulpes, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., Babesia vulpes, tick-borne pathogens, dogsUGOTAVLJANJE ANAPLAZME (Anaplasma phagocytophilum) IN BABEZIJE (Babesia vulpes) V VZORCIH VRANIC PRI RDEČIH LISICAH (Vulpes vulpes) V SLOVENIJI Izvleček: Prehajanje divjih živali v urbana okolja omogoča prenos klopno prenosljivih patogenih mikroorganizmov do dovzetnih oseb in živali. Navadna rdeča lisica (Vulpes vulpes) pogosto prehaja v okolico bivališč ljudi, prav tako se je že dobro privadila življenju v bližini ljudi. Zaradi svojih življenjskih navad predstavlja možen vir klopno prenosljivih patogenov preko okuženih klopov, lahko tudi preko ugriza živali. Stodeset vzorcev vranic navadne rdeče lisice smo pregledali na prisotnost genoma bakterije Anaplasma phagocytophilum in parazita Babesia spp. Pozitivnim vzorce smo nato določili zaporedje DNK in določili genotip A. phagocytophilum oz. vrsto babezije, kadar je bilo to mogoče. Pet vzorcev vranic (4.5 %) navadne rdeče lisice je bilo pozitivnih na prisotnost genoma A. phagocytophilum. Z določitvijo zaporedja DNK smo določili tri genotipe. Prevalenca okužbe z B. vulpes pri slovenskih lisicah je 76.3 %, določili pa smo jo v vseh statističnih regijah Slovenije. Navadna rdeča lisica ima zelo omejen vpliv na kroženje zoonotskega genotipa A. phagocytophilum. Kljub temu pa predstavlja verjeten vir prenosa parazita B. vulpes v urbana področja in posledično nevarnost za domače živali. Ključne besede: navadna rdeča lisica; Vulpes vulpes; Anaplasma phagocytophilum; Babesia spp.; Babesia vulpes; klopno prenosljivi patogeni mikroorganizmi; psi 

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