A Unique Case of Fatal Coinfection Caused by Leptospira spp. and Hepatozoon canis in a Red Fox Cub (Vulpes vulpes)

Red foxes are the most abundant wild carnivore species in Europe commonly exposed to pathogenic Leptospira and Hepatozoon canis. Despite high seroprevalence, the clinical disease caused by these pathogens in red foxes has never been reported. Herein, we report the first-ever case of a fatal Leptospira spp. and H. canis coinfection in a two-month-old red fox cub with acute haemolytic anaemia, mild bronchopneumonia, intraalveolar haemorrhage, and tubulonephrosis. The presence of pathogenic Leptospira spp. DNA was detected in the kidney and lung tissues of the infected animal. In contrast to our previous knowledge, we believe that such fatal cases due to concomitant infection by Leptospira spp. and H. canis, especially in young animals, may commonly occur in nature. However, further studies are required to identify other factors that possibly contribute to the severity and the pathogenic effect of Leptospira spp. and H. canis infections in red foxes.

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Prevalence of leptospiral antibodies in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) population of Croatia

Veterinární Medicína ◽

10.17221/3151-vetmed ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 56 (No. 4) ◽

pp. 209-213 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

A. Slavica ◽

D. Dezdek ◽

D. Konjevic ◽

Z. Cvetnic ◽

M. Sindicic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vulpes Vulpes ◽

Red Fox ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Red Foxes ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Specific Antibodies ◽

Terrestrial Mammals ◽

Epidemiological Monitoring ◽

Leptospira Spp ◽

Continental Part

Over a period of five years (2005–2010) a total of 358 red fox (Vulpes vulpes) serum samples were collected during regular hunting procedures, mostly in the continental part of Croatia. All samples were tested using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) for the presence of specific antibodies (Ab) to 12 Leptospira spp. pathogenic serovars. Specific antibodies for 11 different Leptospira spp. serovars (Australis, Sejroe, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Saxkoebing, Grippotyphosa, Tarassovi, Ballum, Pomona, Poi, Batavie, and Canicola) were detected in 121 red fox serum samples (33.8%). Among the positive samples antibodies for serovar Australis were found most frequently (32.1%), followed by Abs for serovar Sejroe (18.2%) and Icterohaemorrhagiae (13.2%). The highest Ab titre (1 : 3200) was recorded for serovar Australis and together with serovars Sejroe and Icterohaemorrhagiae this serovar showed a statistically significant frequency in cross-reactions (recorded in 23.1% cases). High Ab titres for serovars Grippotyphosa and Tarassovi (1 : 800) were detected for the first time in red foxes from the continental part of Croatia. The significant percentage (≈ 35%) of seropositive reactions to Leptospira spp. serovars implies the presence of pathogenic agents in the natural habitats of red foxes in Croatian low-land territories. The high Ab prevalence for specific serovars (Australis and Sejroe) detected in the fox population suggests predator-prey chain transmission of leptospirosis between red foxes and small terrestrial mammals, whilst the high Ab prevalence for serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae indicates an occasional contact of red foxes with rats. Red foxes can be thought of as susceptible hosts for serovars Australis and Sejroe and a possible link in leptospirosis transmission to other wild carnivores such as martens, weasels and ferrets. In contrast, this serologic survey revealed no evidence of serovar Canicola interchange between domestic carnivores (dogs) and red foxes. It can be concluded that red foxes are reliable sentinels for the epidemiological monitoring of leptospirosis, especially in lowland habitats.

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The competitor release effect applied to carnivore species: how red foxes can increase in numbers when persecuted

Animal Biodiversity and Conservation ◽

10.32800/abc.2013.36.0037 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 37-46

Author(s):

J. Lozano ◽

◽

J. G. Casanovas ◽

E. Virgós ◽

J. M. Zorrilla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wildlife Management ◽

Red Fox ◽

Intrinsic Rate ◽

Management Tool ◽

Unintended Effects ◽

Predator Control ◽

Red Foxes ◽

Control Programs ◽

Carnivore Species ◽

Theoretical Predictions

The objective of our study was to numerically simulate the population dynamics of a hypothetical community of three species of small to medium–sized carnivores subjected to non–selective control within the context of the competitor release effect (CRE). We applied the CRE to three carnivore species, linking interspecific competition with predator control efforts. We predicted the population response of European badger, the red fox and the pine marten to this wildlife management tool by means of numerical simulations. The theoretical responses differed depending on the intrinsic rate of growth (r), although modulated by the competition coefficients. The red fox, showing the highest r value, can increase its populations despite predator control efforts if control intensity is moderate. Populations of the other two species, however, decreased with control efforts, even reaching extinction. Three additional theoretical predictions were obtained. The conclusions from the simulations were: 1) predator control can play a role in altering the carnivore communities; 2) red fox numbers can increase due to control; and 3) predator control programs should evaluate the potential of unintended effects on ecosystems.

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Occurrence and diversity of arthropod-transmitted pathogens in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in western Austria, and possible vertical (transplacental) transmission ofHepatozoon canis

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182017001536 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 145 (3) ◽

pp. 335-344 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

ADNAN HODŽIĆ ◽

NAIKE MROWIETZ ◽

RITA CÉZANNE ◽

PIA BRUCKSCHWAIGER ◽

SYLVIA PUNZ ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vulpes Vulpes ◽

Red Fox ◽

Blood Feeding ◽

Hepatozoon Canis ◽

Red Foxes ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Wild Canid ◽

Low Prevalence ◽

Canid Species ◽

First Time

SUMMARYRed fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the most abundant wild canid species in Austria, and it is a well-known carrier of many pathogens of medical and veterinary concern. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence and diversity of protozoan, bacterial and filarial parasites transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods in a red fox population in western Austria. Blood (n= 351) and spleen (n= 506) samples from foxes were examined by PCR and sequencing and the following pathogens were identified:Babesia canis,Babesiacf.microti(syn.Theileria annae),Hepatozoon canis,Anaplasma phagocytophilum,CandidatusNeoehrlichia sp. andBartonella rochalimae. Blood was shown to be more suitable for detection ofBabesiacf.microti, whilst the spleen tissue was better for detection ofH. canisthan blood. Moreover, extremely low genetic variability ofH. canisand its relatively low prevalence rate observed in this study may suggest that the parasite has only recently been introduced in the sampled area. Furthermore, the data presented here demonstrates, for the first time, the possible vertical transmission ofH. canisfrom an infected vixen to the offspring, and this could explain the very high prevalence in areas considered free of its main tick vector(s).

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The first record of molineus patens (Dujardin, 1845) in foxes (Vulpes vulpes L.) in Serbia and the Western Balkans

Veterinarski glasnik ◽

10.2298/vetgl200517018p ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 18-18

Author(s):

Ivan Pavlovic ◽

Pavle Gavrilovic ◽

Nemanja Zdravkovic ◽

Slobodan Stanojevic ◽

Dragica Vojinovic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vulpes Vulpes ◽

Red Fox ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

First Record ◽

Western Balkans ◽

Red Foxes ◽

Internal Organs ◽

Carnivore Species ◽

Terrestrial Carnivore ◽

Control And Eradication

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) has the widest global distribution among terrestrial carnivore species and is an important reservoir for a range of parasites. Investigations on parasitic fauna of red foxes have intensified in recent years in Serbia, resulting in the detection of some parasites that have not been recorded before. Within the Programme for the Control and Eradication of Rabies in Serbia, from January to March 2019, 52 legally hunted foxes were was established by standard methods, i.e. dissection followed by microscopic examination. Internal organs of the hunted animals were examined for the presence of parasites. Parasite identification was based on morphological characteristics. Parasites were found in 23 (44.23%) foxes. Eight species of parasites were established, among which, the nematode Molineus patens (Dujardin, 1845) was discovered in the small intestine of five foxes (9.61%). The intensity of M. patens infection varied from 17 to 43 parasites. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of M. patens in red foxes in Serbia and in the Western Balkans.

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Detection and characterization of Leptospira spp. in dogs diagnosed with kidney and/or liver disease in Selangor, Malaysia

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation ◽

10.1177/10406387211024575 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 104063872110245

Author(s):

Sabri A. Rahman ◽

Kuan H. Khor ◽

Siti Khairani-Bejo ◽

Seng F. Lau ◽

Mazlina Mazlan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liver Disease ◽

Mortality Rate ◽

Direct Detection ◽

Bacterial Disease ◽

Pathogenic Leptospira ◽

Wide Range ◽

Leptospira Spp ◽

Rrna Sequencing ◽

The Common

Leptospirosis is a serious bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals. A wide range of symptoms have been described in humans; the disease in dogs is commonly associated with kidney and/or liver disease. In Malaysia, information about the common serovars infecting dogs is limited. Therefore, we investigated the occurrences of leptospirosis in 124 pet dogs diagnosed with kidney and/or liver disease. Blood, urine, abdominal effusion, and/or kidney and liver were collected from the dogs. Based on microscopic agglutination testing, 53 of 124 (42.7%) dogs were seropositive for leptospiral exposure. Sera were frequently positive to serovars Bataviae ( n = 12), Javanica ( n = 10), and Icterohaemorrhagiae ( n = 10). Direct detection using PCR showed that 42 of 124 (33.9%) of the whole blood and 36 of 113 (31.9%) urine samples were positive for pathogenic Leptospira spp. By PCR, 2 of 23 (9.1%) kidney and 2 of 23 (9.1%) liver were positive for pathogenic Leptospira spp. Abdominal effusion from 4 dogs were PCR-positive for pathogenic Leptospira spp. The species detected were L. interrogans, L. borgpetersenii, L. kirschneri, and L. kmetyi by partial 16S rRNA sequencing. We further identified and characterized 11 Leptospira spp. isolates from 8 dogs as serovars Bataviae, Javanica, and Australis. The mortality rate of the Leptospira-infected dogs was high (18 of 53; 34%).

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Potential remedy against Echinococcus multilocularis in wild red foxes using baits with anthelmintic distributed around fox breeding dens in Hokkaido, Japan

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182002001968 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 125 (2) ◽

pp. 119-129 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

H. TSUKADA ◽

K. HAMAZAKI ◽

S. GANZORIG ◽

T. IWAKI ◽

K. KONNO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Echinococcus Multilocularis ◽

Red Fox ◽

Red Foxes ◽

Clethrionomys Rufocanus ◽

Efficient Control ◽

Positive Rate ◽

Potential Remedy ◽

Patent Infection

The effect of bait-delivered anthelmintic to reduce the prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in wild red foxes was evaluated in Koshimizu, in the eastern part of Hokkaido, Japan. The study area (200 km2) was divided into baited and non-baited sections. The anthelmintic baits were distributed around fox den sites in the baited section every month for 13 months. After 1 year of the anthelmintic bait distribution, the prevalence of E. multilocularis in foxes, evaluated either by the parasite egg examination (from 27.1 to 5.6%) or coproantigen ELISA (from 59.6 to 29.7%), decreased in the baited section contrasting to that in the non-baited section (parasite egg: from 18.8 to 24.2%; ELISA: from 41.9 to 45.8%). The prevalence of E. multilocularis in grey red-backed vole Clethrionomys rufocanus, caught around fox dens, born after bait distribution also decreased and was significantly lower than that in non-baited section. However, within the study periods, the coproantigen-positive rate in fox faeces sporadically increased, while egg-positive rate constantly decreased. Since coproantigen ELISA can detect pre-patent infection, this observation indicates that reinfection pressure in the baited section was still high even after the 13 months of anthelmintic bait distribution. Therefore, the bait distribution longer than our study period is required for the efficient control of E. multilocularis in wild red fox population.

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Protein typing of major outer membrane lipoproteins from Chinese pathogenic Leptospira spp. and characterization of their immunogenicity

Vaccine ◽

10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.09.089 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 243-255 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Dongjiao Luo ◽

Feng Xue ◽

David M. Ojcius ◽

Jinfang Zhao ◽

Yafei Mao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Outer Membrane ◽

Pathogenic Leptospira ◽

Leptospira Spp ◽

Membrane Lipoproteins

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Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the gene encoding OmpL1, a transmembrane outer membrane protein of pathogenic Leptospira spp.

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.175.13.4225-4234.1993 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 175 (13) ◽

pp. 4225-4234 ◽

Cited By ~ 68

Author(s):

D A Haake ◽

C I Champion ◽

C Martinich ◽

E S Shang ◽

D R Blanco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sequence Analysis ◽

Membrane Protein ◽

Outer Membrane ◽

Molecular Cloning ◽

Outer Membrane Protein ◽

Gene Encoding ◽

Pathogenic Leptospira ◽

Leptospira Spp

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

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1139/cjas-2016-0026 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 96 (4) ◽

pp. 589-597 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

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.

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