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Helminths of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Lithuania

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2011

RASA BRUŽINSKAITĖ-SCHMIDHALTER ,
MINDAUGAS ŠARKŪNAS ,
ALVYDAS MALAKAUSKAS ,
ALEXANDER MATHIS ,
PAUL R. TORGERSON  and
PETER DEPLAZES
RASA BRUŽINSKAITĖ-SCHMIDHALTER
Affiliation:
Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Science, Tilžės Street 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
MINDAUGAS ŠARKŪNAS*
Affiliation:
Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Science, Tilžės Street 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania
ALVYDAS MALAKAUSKAS
Affiliation:
Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Science, Tilžės Street 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania
ALEXANDER MATHIS
Affiliation:
Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
PAUL R. TORGERSON
Affiliation:
Section of Veterinary Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
PETER DEPLAZES
Affiliation:
Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
*
*Corresponding author: Department of Infectious Diseases, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Science, Tilžės Street 18, 47181 Kaunas, Lithuania. Tel: +370 7 363 559. E-mail: minsar@lva.lt
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Summary

Red foxes and raccoon dogs are hosts for a wide range of parasites including important zoonotic helminths. The raccoon dog has recently invaded into Europe from the east. The contribution of this exotic species to the epidemiology of parasitic diseases, particularly parasitic zoonoses is unknown. The helminth fauna and the abundance of helminth infections were determined in 310 carcasses of hunted red foxes and 99 of raccoon dogs from Lithuania. Both species were highly infected with Alaria alata (94·8% and 96·5% respectively) and Trichinella spp. (46·6% and 29·3%). High and significantly different prevalences in foxes and raccoon dogs were found for Eucoleus aerophilus (97·1% and 30·2% respectively), Crenosoma vulpis (53·8% and 15·1%), Capillaria plica (93·3% and 11·3%), C. putorii (29·4% and 51·5%), Toxocara canis (40·5% and 17·6%) and Uncinaria stenocephala (76·9% and 98·8%). The prevalences of the rodent-transmitted cestodes Echinococcus multilocularis, Taenia polyacantha, T. crassiceps and Mesocestoides spp. were significantly higher in foxes than in raccoon dogs. The abundances of E. multilocularis, Mesocestoides, Taenia, C. plica and E. aerophilus were higher in foxes than those in raccoon dogs. A. alata, U. stenocephala, C. putorii and Echinostomatidae had higher abundances in raccoon dogs. The difference in prevalence and abundance of helminths in both animals may reflect differences in host ecology and susceptibility. The data are consistent with red foxes playing a more important role than raccoon dogs in the transmission of E. multilocularis in Lithuania.

Keywords

helminthsEchinococcus multilocularisred foxesVulpes vulpesraccoon dogsNyctereutes procyonoidesLithuania
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 139 , Issue 1 , January 2012 , pp. 120 - 127
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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