Background The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a geographically widespread predator species, occurring across the northern Hemisphere. It has high veterinary-medical significance, in part owing to its definitive host role in the life cycle of several tapeworm species, including zoonotic ones. However, there have been only few reports on cyclophyllid tapeworm (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) infection in red foxes from China. Methods In this study, 263 tapeworms were collected from eight road-killed red foxes in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR, northwestern China). The tapeworms were analyzed based on morphological characters and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene sequences. Results 83 Taenia and 180 Mesocestoides tapeworms were identified according to the presence or absence of rostellum, and the number, the length and the shape of the large rostellar hooks. The morphological and molecular analyses revealed that i) 180 Mesocestoides tapeworms, here named as Mesocestoides sp. Vulpes vulpes, showed 99.21% (378/381 bp) identity to Mesocestoides sp. reported from red fox in Mongolia; and ii) 83 Taenia tapeworms belonged to three species. The first Taenia species (n = 16, named as Taenia sp. Vulpes vulpes), based on the length of large rostellar hooks (337–342 µm) and its cox1 sequence, was identified as a potentially novel species, which is phylogenetically close to Taenia laticollis. The second species (n = 54, named as Taenia sp. Vulpes vulpes & Rhombomys opimus), was morphologically similar to Taenia endothoracicus according to the number (n = 52), the length (319–332 µm) and the shape of the large rostellar hooks. This species, infecting three red foxes, shared 100% cox1 sequence identity with Taenia sp. Rhombomys opimus genotype C found previously in great gerbils (Rhombomys opimus) in the same region. The third species (n = 13, named as Taenia polyacantha-like), had shorter large rostellar hooks (178–180 µm) and showed 96.27% (361/375 bp) sequence identity to Taenia polyacantha reported from red fox in Italy. In addition, co-infections with two Taenia species and with Taenia and Mesocestoides species were also demonstrated. Conclusions The “great gerbil-red fox” life cycle of Taenia sp. Vulpes vulpes & Rhombomys opimus, belonging to the mitochondrial lineage of T. endothoracicus, is confirmed. The T. polyacantha-like species and Mesocestoides sp. Vulpes vulpes were found for the first time in red fox in China. Taenia sp. Vulpes vulpes is a potentially novel species, which is close to Taenia laticollis based on its phylogenetic properties. The life cycle of Taenia sp. Vulpes vulpes and Mesocestoides sp. Vulpes vulpes should be further explored.
BackgroundPreviously, twelve Rickettsia species were found in ticks, fleas, sheep keds (Melophagus ovinus), bats (common pipistrelle: Pipistrellus pipistrellus) and a tick-bitten patient in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), northwestern China. Here we aimed to molecularly detect rickettsial agents in red fox (Vulpes vulpes), marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna) and their ticks.MethodsDuring 2018-2019, 12 red foxes, 1 marbled polecat and their ticks were sampled in two counties and a city of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (northwestern China). The heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney of these 13 carnivores were dissected, followed by DNA extraction. Hard ticks were identified both morphologically and molecularly. All samples were examined for the presence of rickettsiae by amplifying four genetic markers.ResultsA total of 26 adult ticks and 28 nymphs (38 Ixodes canisuga, nine Ixodes kaiseri, six Haemaphysalis erinacei and one Dermacentor marginatus) were collected from red foxes, and four H. erinacei ticks were removed from a marbled polecat. Analysis of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences indicated that 2-32 nucleotides differed between I. canisuga, I. kaiseri and H. erinacei from northwestern China and Europe. Rickettsia raoultii was detected in three red foxes, Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae in a red fox, Rickettsia sibirica in a red fox and a marbled polecat, and R. raoultii in two tick species (I. canisuga and D. marginatus).ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, I. canisuga and I. kaiseri have not been previously reported from red foxes in China. The DNA of R. sibirica and R. raoultii was detected for the first time in organs of red foxes, and R. sibirica in organs of marbled polecat. This is also the first molecular evidence for the presence of R. raoultii in I. canisuga. Our findings add to the range of tick-borne pathogens in wildlife species and associated ticks in China.
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