Intestinal helminths of raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from the Augustów Primeval Forest (north-eastern Poland)

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminths in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in the Augustów Primeval Forest (north-eastern Poland), with particular regard to zoonotic parasites. Material and Methods: Intestines from 53 raccoon dogs and 66 red foxes were examined with the use of sedimentation and counting technique (SCT). Samples of faeces from 51 red foxes and 50 raccoon dogs were examined with the use of flotation method. Results: Parasitic helminths were found by SCT in 98.5% of red foxes and 96.2% of raccoon dogs. Both species were infected with: Alaria alata (93.9% and 94.3%, respectively), hookworms (68.2% and 83.0%), Apophallus spp. (7.6% and 15.1%), Mesocestoides spp. (57.6% and 24.5%), Taenia spp. (40.9% and 1.9%), and Toxocara/Toxascaris nematodes (33.3% 15.1%). Echinococcus multilocularis was detected only in red foxes (6.1%), but trematodes Echinostomatidae and nematodes Molineus spp. only in raccoon dogs (18.9% and 41.5%, respectively). Additionally, Capillaria spp. eggs were detected by flotation method in 78.4% of foxes and 20.0% of raccoon dogs. Conclusion: The study showed a very high percentage of red foxes and raccoon dogs infected with intestinal helminths in the Augustów Primeval Forest. Moreover, dangerous zoonotic parasites also were found, which should be taken into consideration in the assessment of infection risk for humans in this region.

Prevalence of intestinal nematodes of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in north-west Poland

“…Polish foxes in the present study. Similar prevalence has been demonstrated in studies in northern and southern Poland (1,30). However, another studies conducted in western and southern Poland showed a significantly lower prevalence of these nematodes (11-35%) (31,32,33).…”

A comparative study of helminths of raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procynoides) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) sharing the same territory

“…Comparison of the parasite fauna of raccoon dogs and red foxes in Lithuania [6], Denmark [7] and Poland [8] gave similar results.…”

“…Also in the comparative studies in Lithuania, Denmark and Poland, red foxes were more often infected with these Taenia species than raccoon dogs [6][7][8]. According to literature data from European countries metacestodes of these cestodes have been found mainly in voles, lemmings and muskrats but not in insectivorous shrews.…”

“…There are only few studies in which parasites of raccoon dogs and red foxes originating from a common territory had been comparatively examined [6][7][8]. The aim of this paper is to compare the helminth fauna of raccoon dogs and red foxes sharing the same environments in the Uckermark district in Germany.…”

Seroprevalence of Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp. in Invasive Non-native American Mink

“…1a, c). Similarly, nonnative raccoon dogs have been found infected with E. multilocularis in north-western Poland, suggesting that wild species other that red fox may influence the occurrence of human cases (Machnicka-Rowiń ska et al 2002;Karamon et al 2016). Even if a species serves as a paratenic host, as American mink does, it may also serve as a prey item for definitive hosts like red fox or raccoon dog.…”