Apicomplexan parasites of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in northeastern Poland

Abstract

Molecular detection of apicomplexan parasites in splenic samples of red foxes collected from northeastern Poland was conducted by PCR amplification of a fragment of the 18S rRNA spanning the V4 gene region of Apicomplexa. Positive PCR products were further analysed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequencing to identify species. One hundred and eleven red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were acquired from 15 localities in the Mazovian Province and 27 foxes were acquired from the Mazurian Lakeland. Apicomplexan 18S rDNA was detected in 15.9% of 138 fox spleens examined. Three apicomplexan species were identified: Hepatozoon canis was detected in 11.6% of the spleen samples, Toxoplasma gondii was detected in 3.6% of the spleen samples and a Babesia sp. was sequenced from 1 sample (0.7%). This data represent the first record of H. canis, T. gondii and a B. sp. from naturally infected red foxes in Poland. Infected foxes may act as sylvatic reservoirs of these apicomplexan parasites as well as serving as a source of infection for arthropod definitive hosts and vectors.

Fox on the run ¿ molecular surveillance of fox blood and tissue for the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens in Austria

“…To date H. canis is not found endemically in dogs in these areas, nor is R. sanguineus known to occur autochthonously [12,19,21,23], although H. canis has already been found in dogs in areas lacking the main vector tick in Germany [13,20] and Hungary [12,22]. ITS-R: TCG GGA TGG GAT CGT GTG…”

An Australian dog diagnosed with an exotic tick-borne infection: should Australia still be considered free from Hepatozoon canis?

“…Hepatozoon canis has been most widely reported in domestic dogs and, increasingly, in red foxes (Table 1). Compared with dogs, a higher prevalence (ranging from 12-95%) of H. canis has been observed in red fox populations in Austria (Duscher et al, 2014), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Hodzic et al, 2015), the Czech Republic (Mitkova et al, 2016), Germany (Najm et al, 2014), Poland (Karbowiak et al, 2010) and…”

Autochthonous Babesia canis, Hepatozoon canis and imported Babesia gibsoni infection in dogs in the Czech Republic

“…In fact, the animal originated from Slovakia, where B. gibsoni was already reported (Vichova et al 2016). T. annae was not detected in our sample set, although clinical disease in dogs caused by this parasite was reported from several European countries (Zahler et al 2000;Falkeno et al 2013;Rene-Martellet et al 2015) and the parasite is apparently common in red foxes in Central Europe (Karbowiak et al 2010;Duscher et al 2014;Najm et al 2014).…”

“…vulpes), an organism which causes severe clinical babesiosis in some parts of Europe (Zahler et al 2000;Falkeno et al 2013;Rene-Martellet et al 2015). However, this parasite is found predominantly in red foxes which seem to be the natural (and reservoir) host (Karbowiak et al 2010;Duscher et al 2014;Najm et al 2014).…”

“…Reports of H. canis in domestic dogs from localities outside the Rhipicephalus range are rare (Hamel et al 2011;Maguire et al 2011;Hornok et al 2013), commonly attributable to travel. Conversely, the parasite is commonly reported in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and Eurasian golden jackals (Canis aureus) also in Rhipicephalus-free geographic areas (Majlathova et al 2007;Karbowiak et al 2010;Duscher et al 2013;Duscher et al 2014;Farkas et al 2014;Mitkova et al 2014;Najm et al 2014). In the CR, H. canis was reported for the first time in red foxes and in hunting dogs only recently (Mitkova et al 2016), indicating the possibility of occasional transmission of the parasite between dogs and foxes in areas with an apparent absence of R. sanguineus s.l.…”