Publications

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first report of thelazia callipaeda in wildlife from spain.we describe the first cases of infection by the nematode, thelazia callipaeda (spirurida, thelaziidae) haplotype 1 in two red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in spain and discuss the potential role of red foxes as a reservoir for t. callipaeda.201323568929
trichinella nativa in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) of germany and poland: possible different origins.in germany and poland, the high population density of the red fox (vulpes vulpes) is considered a public health risk since this wild canid is one of the main reservoirs of trichinella spp. in 2010 in poland, a program to monitor the prevalence of trichinella spp. in the red fox population was launched. after two years, trichinella spp. larvae were detected in 44 (2.7%) out of 1634 foxes tested. in germany in the period 2002-2011, trichinella spp. larvae were in 27 foxes. the trichinella species ...201324011650
trichinella infections in different host species of an endemic district of serbia.trichinella infections are endemic in the balkan region of europe. though trichinellosis and agents thereof are serious problems for human health and animal husbandry, only a limited number of trichinella isolates from serbia have been identified at the species level so far. the aim of the present study was the surveillance and monitoring of trichinella in domestic pigs and wild animals from the endemic district of branicevo. investigations performed during the 2009-2010 period revealed trichine ...201323453823
first report of trichinella pseudospiralis in poland, in red foxes (vulpes vulpes).nematode worms of the genus trichinella are one of the most widespread zoonotic pathogens. natural transmission between hosts can only occur through the ingestion of infected meat. to date, two trichinella species are known to be etiological agents of disease among domestic animals and wildlife in poland: t. spiralis and t. britovi. in the last decades, since the administration of an oral vaccination against rabies, the red fox population in poland has increased exponentially. the study area cov ...201323666649
molecular evidence of ehrlichia canis and rickettsia massiliae in ixodid ticks of carnivores from south hungary.to monitor the emergence of thermophilic, mediterranean ixodid tick species and tick-borne pathogens in southern hungary, 348 ticks were collected from shepherd dogs, red foxes and golden jackals during the summer of 2011. golden jackals shared tick species with both the dog and the red fox in the region. dermacentor nymphs were collected exclusively from dogs, and the sequence identification of these ticks indicated that dogs are preferred hosts of both d. reticulatus and d. marginatus nymphs, ...201323439290
calodium hepaticum (nematoda: capillaridae) in a red fox (vulpes vulpes) in italy with scanning electron microscopy of the eggs.calodium hepaticum (bancroft, 1893) moravec, 1982 (syn. capillaria hepatica) is a cosmopolitan capillariid nematode, infecting mainly rodents and occasionally other mammals, including humans. reports of c. hepaticum in canids are rare and the present one is, to the best of our knowledge, the first reported case in a red fox (vulpes vulpes linnaeus) in italy. scanning electron microscopy (sem) examination of the eggs of c. hepaticum allowed a precise description of the egg morphology, which is on ...201323724729
rabies and canine distemper virus epidemics in the red fox population of northern italy (2006-2010).since 2006 the red fox (vulpes vulpes) population in north-eastern italy has experienced an epidemic of canine distemper virus (cdv). additionally, in 2008, after a thirteen-year absence from italy, fox rabies was re-introduced in the udine province at the national border with slovenia. disease intervention strategies are being developed and implemented to control rabies in this area and minimise risk to human health. here we present empirical data and the epidemiological picture relating to the ...201323630599
occurrence and geographical distribution of canine distemper virus infection in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) of saxony-anhalt, germany.canine distemper virus (cdv) infects dogs and a variety of carnivore species. in saxony-anhalt, a federal state of germany, 761 foxes were examined for cdv infection, using real-time polymerase chain reaction (pcr), in the years 2010 and 2011. a prevalence of 30.5% was found for the whole time period without significant changes in prevalence between 2010 and 2011. the relative risk (rr) of a fox to test positive for cdv varied markedly within the area of the state and was significantly increased ...201322999912
prevalence of babesia microti-like infection in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) from portugal.the prevalence of piroplasm (order piroplasmida) infection was assessed in blood and bone marrow samples from 91 red foxes (vulpes vulpes) from northern, central and southern portugal by means of molecular methods. pcr for the 18s rrna gene of babesia spp. followed by sequencing revealed 63 foxes positive for the babesia microti-like piroplasm (syn. theileria annae) (69.2%; 95% confidence interval [ci]: 58.7-78.5%) and one fox positive for babesia canis (1.1%; 95% ci: 0.0-6.0%). positivity to th ...201323352108
a molecular survey of anaplasma spp., rickettsia spp., ehrlichia canis and babesia microti in foxes and fleas from sicily.fleas (insecta: siphonaptera) are obligate bloodsucking insects, which parasitize birds and mammals, and are distributed throughout the world. several species have been implicated in pathogen transmission. this study aimed to monitor red foxes and the fleas isolated from them in the palermo and ragusa provinces of sicily, italy, as these organisms are potential reservoirs and vectors of pathogens. thirteen foxes (vulpes vulpes) and 110 fleas were analysed by polymerase chain reaction (pcr) to de ...201324589112
wild boar tuberculosis in iberian atlantic spain: a different picture from mediterranean habitats.infections with mycobacterium bovis and closely related members of the mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (mtc) are shared between livestock, wildlife and sporadically human beings. wildlife reservoirs exist worldwide and can interfere with bovine tuberculosis (tb) eradication efforts. the eurasian wild boar (sus scrofa) is a mtc maintenance host in mediterranean iberia (spain and portugal). however, few systematic studies in wild boar have been carried out in atlantic regions. we describe the p ...201324010539
endoparasites of the raccoon dog (nyctereutes procyonoides) and the red fox (vulpes vulpes) in denmark 2009-2012 - a comparative study.invasive species negatively influence the biodiversity of the ecosystems they invade and may introduce pathogens to native species. raccoon dogs have very successfully invaded europe, including, recently, denmark. this study included analyses of gastrointestinal helminths and trichinella spp. from 99 raccoon dogs and 384 native red foxes collected from october 2009 to march 2012. the sedimentation and counting method used revealed that raccoon dogs and foxes harboured 9 and 13 different helminth ...201324533328
environmental determinants of the spatial distribution of alaria alata in hungary.alaria alata is a potential zoonotic parasite, which is widely distributed in eurasia. to assess the risk of human infection, it is important to know the spatial distribution pattern of the parasite and factors influencing this pattern. to investigate these relationships, 1612 red fox (vulpes vulpes) carcasses were randomly collected from the whole hungarian territory, and the intestines were examined by sedimentation and counting technique. the spatial distribution of the parasite was highly cl ...201324011677
survey on helminths in the small intestine of wild foxes in qinghai, china.the intestinal helminth fauna of tibetan sand foxes (vulpes ferrilata) and red foxes (vulpes vulpes) inhabiting in qinghai, china, was evaluated by conducting necropsy of hunted foxes and fecal egg examination of field-collected feces. in northeast and south qinghai, 36 foxes were necropsied, and the species of foxes and the parasites detected were identified by the dna barcoding. in 27 red foxes and 9 tibetan sand foxes examined, mesocestoides litteratus (total prevalence: 64%), toxascaris leon ...201323749034
natural infection of synathropic rodent species mus musculus and rattus norvegicus by leishmania infantum in sesimbra and sintra--portugal.canine leishmaniosis caused by leishmania infantum is a parasitic zoonotic disease transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies (diptera: psychodidae). genus phlebotomus is the biological vector in the old world and lutzomyia in the new world. the dog is the domestic reservoir host but other animals like the fox (vulpes vulpes) and rodents are known to maintain the infection in both sylvatic and domestic cycles.201323566789
development and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers for chinese raccoon dog (nyctereutes procyonoides procyonoides).chinese raccoon dog (nyctereutes procyonoides procyonoides) is one of the most important fur-bearing animal species. information about the genetic background of farmed chinese raccoon dogs is limited. in this study, 17 polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated and identified from an (ac)n-microsatellite-enriched library of chinese raccoon dogs. the number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 8 based on 48 individuals tested. the expected and observed heterozygosity and polymorphism infor ...201324390984
three-dimensional positioning of b chromosomes in fibroblast nuclei of the red fox and the chinese raccoon dog.great progress has been achieved over the last years in studies on chromosome arrangement in mammalian cell nuclei. growing evidence indicates that the genome's spatial organization is of functional relevance. so far, no attention has been paid to the nuclear organization of b chromosomes (bs). in this study we have examined nuclear positioning of bs in 2 species from the canidae family--the red fox and the chinese raccoon dog. using 2d and 3d fluorescence in situ hybridization and 2 gene-specif ...201323485799
functional diversity among seed dispersal kernels generated by carnivorous mammals.1. knowledge of the spatial scale of the dispersal service provided by important seed dispersers (i.e. common and/or keystone species) is essential to our understanding of their role on plant ecology, ecosystem functioning and, ultimately, biodiversity conservation. 2. carnivores are the main mammalian frugivores and seed dispersers in temperate climate regions. however, information on the seed dispersal distances they generate is still very limited. we focused on two common temperate carnivores ...201323228197
responses of a top and a meso predator and their prey to moon phases.we compared movement patterns and rhythms of activity of a top predator, the iberian lynx lynx pardinus, a mesopredator, the red fox vulpes vulpes, and their shared principal prey, the rabbit oryctolagus cuniculus, in relation to moon phases. because the three species are mostly nocturnal and crepuscular, we hypothesized that the shared prey would reduce its activity at most risky moon phases (i.e. during the brightest nights), but that fox, an intraguild prey of lynx, would avoid lynx activity ...201323579570
spanish juniper gain expansion opportunities by counting on a functionally diverse dispersal assemblage community.seed dispersal is typically performed by a diverse array of species assemblages with different behavioral and morphological traits which determine dispersal quality (dq, defined as the probability of recruitment of a dispersed seed). fate of ecosystems to ongoing environmental changes is critically dependent on dispersal and mainly on dq in novel scenarios. we assess here the dq, thus the multiplicative effect of germination and survival probability to the first 3 years of life, for seeds disper ...201324198937
does litter size variation affect models of terrestrial carnivore extinction risk and management?individual variation in both survival and reproduction has the potential to influence extinction risk. especially for rare or threatened species, reliable population models should adequately incorporate demographic uncertainty. here, we focus on an important form of demographic stochasticity: variation in litter sizes. we use terrestrial carnivores as an example taxon, as they are frequently threatened or of economic importance. since data on intraspecific litter size variation are often sparse, ...201323469140
stress triangle: do introduced predators exert indirect costs on native predators and prey?non-consumptive effects of predators on each other and on prey populations often exceed the effects of direct predation. these effects can arise from fear responses elevating glucocorticoid (gc) hormone levels (predator stress hypothesis) or from increased vigilance that reduces foraging efficiency and body condition (predator sensitive foraging hypothesis); both responses can lead to immunosuppression and increased parasite loads. non-consumptive effects of invasive predators have been little s ...201323585861
behavioral responses of native prey to disparate predators: naiveté and predator recognition.it is widely accepted that predator recognition and avoidance are important behaviors in allowing prey to mitigate the impacts of their predators. however, while prey species generally develop anti-predator behaviors through coevolution with predators, they sometimes show accelerated adoption of these behaviors under strong selection pressure from novel species. we used a field manipulation experiment to gauge the ability of the common ringtail possum (pseudocheirus peregrinus), a semi-arboreal ...201322865005
radiographic analysis of vocal tract length and its relation to overall body size in two canid species.body size is an important determinant of resource and mate competition in many species. competition is often mediated by conspicuous vocal displays, which may help to intimidate rivals and attract mates by providing honest cues to signaler size. fitch proposed that vocal tract resonances (or formants) should provide particularly good, or honest, acoustic cues to signaler size because they are determined by the length of the vocal tract, which in turn, is hypothesized to scale reliably with overa ...201324363497
a range-wide synthesis and timeline for phylogeographic events in the red fox (vulpes vulpes).many boreo-temperate mammals have a pleistocene fossil record throughout eurasia and north america, but only few have a contemporary distribution that spans this large area. examples of holarctic-distributed carnivores are the brown bear, grey wolf, and red fox, all three ecological generalists with large dispersal capacity and a high adaptive flexibility. while the two former have been examined extensively across their ranges, no phylogeographic study of the red fox has been conducted across it ...201323738594
genetic epidemiology of sarcoptes scabiei in the iberian wolf in asturias, spain.during the last decades, attempts have been made to understand the molecular epidemiology of sarcoptes scabiei, and to detect and clarify the differences between isolates from different hosts and geographic regions. two main phenomena have been described: (i) host-taxon derived-sarcoptes mite infection in european wild animals (revealing the presence of three separate clusters, namely herbivore-, carnivore- and omnivore-derived sarcoptes populations in europe) and (ii) prey-to-predator sarcoptes ...201323664709
exposure to predator odor and resulting anxiety enhances the expression of the α2 δ subunit of voltage-sensitive calcium channels in the amygdala.the α2 δ subunit of voltage-sensitive calcium channels (vsccs) is the molecular target of pregabalin and gabapentin, two drugs marked for the treatment of focal epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and anxiety disorders. expression of the α2 δ subunit is up-regulated in the dorsal horns of the spinal cord in models of neuropathic pain, suggesting that plastic changes in the α2 δ subunit are associated with pathological states. here, we examined the expression of the α2 δ-1 subunit in the amygdala, hippoc ...201322849384
a foxy view of human beauty: implications of the farm fox experiment for understanding the origins of structural and experiential aspects of facial attractiveness.within 20 years, experimental selection of quantified "not too aggressive, not too fearful" behavior to human approach was shown in silver foxes (vulpes vulpes) to produce a neotenic package of traits in adults: ability to seek, induce, and sustain contact (called friendly or rapport behavior); relatively short limbs and foreshortened skull/face; and light pigmentation areas. earlier sexual maturation, prolonged receptivity, and larger litters were also noted. the increased estradiol supporting ...201324053070
the concentration of manganese, iron and strontium in bone of red fox vulpes vulpes (l. 1758).the aims of the study were to determine manganese (mn), iron (fe) and strontium (sr) concentrations in fox bone samples from north-western poland and to examine the relationships between the bone mn, fe and sr concentrations and the sex and age of the foxes. in the studied samples of fox cartilage, cartilage with adjacent compact bone, compact bone and spongy bone, the concentrations of the analysed metals had the following descending order: fe > sr > mn. the only exception was in compact bone, ...201324013932
quantifying behavioral changes in territorial animals caused by sudden population declines.although territorial animals are able to maintain exclusive use of certain regions of space, movement data from neighboring individuals often suggest overlapping home ranges. to explain and unify these two aspects of animal space use, we use recently developed mechanistic models of collective animal movement. we apply our approach to a natural experiment on an urban red fox (vulpes vulpes) population that underwent a rapid decline in population density due to a sarcoptic mange epizooty. by extra ...201323933730
freezing to the predator odor 2,4,5 dihydro 2,5 trimethylthiazoline (tmt) is disrupted by olfactory bulb removal but not trigeminal deafferentation.2,4,5 dihydro 2,5 trimethylthiazoline (tmt) is a synthesized component of red fox anal secretions that reliably elicits defensive behaviors in rats and mice. tmt differs from other predator odors because it is a single molecule, it can be synthesized in large quantities, and the dose for exposure is highly controllable in an experimental setting. tmt has become a popular tool for studying the brain mechanisms that mediate innate fear behavior to olfactory stimuli. however, this view of tmt as a ...201323831303
measurement repeatability of tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove offset distance in red fox (vulpes vulpes) cadavers.to describe ct image reconstruction criteria for measurement of the tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove (tt-tg) offset distance, evaluate intra- and inter-reconstruction repeatability, and identify key sources of error in the measurement technique, as determined in vulpine hind limbs.201323718657
identification of multiple novel viruses, including a parvovirus and a hepevirus, in feces of red foxes.red foxes (vulpes vulpes) are the most widespread members of the order of carnivora. since they often live in (peri)urban areas, they are a potential reservoir of viruses that transmit from wildlife to humans or domestic animals. here we evaluated the fecal viral microbiome of 13 red foxes by random pcr in combination with next-generation sequencing. various novel viruses, including a parvovirus, bocavirus, adeno-associated virus, hepevirus, astroviruses, and picobirnaviruses, were identified.201323616657
morphology of the transverse ligament of the atlas and the alar ligaments in the silver fox (vulpes vulpes var).recent new anatomical and histological features of craniocervical junction in dogs and cats were described providing evidence of differences between the carnivore species. no information on these structures in foxes exists.201323557095
comparison of metal concentrations in bones of long-living mammals.the aim of this study was to compare zinc, copper, lead, cadmium, and mercury concentrations in the bones of long-living mammals-humans (homo sapiens) and canidae (dogs canis familiaris and foxes vulpes vulpes) from northwestern poland and to determine the usefulness of canidae as bioindicators of environmental exposure to metals in humans. zinc concentrations in cartilage with adjacent compact bone and in spongy bone were highest in foxes (∼120 mg/kg dry weight (dw)) and lowest in dogs (80 mg/k ...201323377610
red foxes (vulpes vulpes) bioindicator of lead and copper pollution in sicily (italy).the aim of this study was to evaluate pb and cu accumulation in muscle and skin samples of red fox (vulpes vulpes) from sicily, for monitoring of environmental metals pollution. metals determination, carried out by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (aas), showed the presence of pb and cu in all samples analyzed. pb concentrations were similar in muscle (0.04±0.009 mg/kg) and skin (0.03±0.004 mg/kg) samples, while cu levels resulted higher in muscle (1.842±0.178 mg/kg) than in skin (1.22±0.151 ...201323313116
pathology of sarcoptic mange in red foxes (vulpes vulpes): macroscopic and histologic characterization of three disease stages.sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious skin disease that can have a devastating impact on affected wild mammal populations. there are notable variations in the clinical and pathologic picture of sarcoptic mange among species and among conspecifics. however, the origin of these variations is unclear. we propose a classification scheme for skin lesions associated with sarcoptes scabiei infestation to provide a basis for a subsequent risk factor analysis. we conducted a case-control study focused o ...201323307375
occurrence of trichinella spp. in wild animals in northwestern libya.the present study determined the occurrence of trichinella spp. in captured and some perished wildlife animals which included 70 hedgehogs, 19 red foxes, 13 common jackals and 8 crested porcupines in northwestern libya. muscle samples of these animals were examined by trichinoscopy. trichinella larvae were detected only in 4 (5.7%) of the hedgehogs (erinaceus algirus) and 2 (10.5%) of the red foxes (vulpes vulpes). larvae were found in the muscles of the diaphragm, abdomen, tongue, forelimb, hin ...201326623318
2008-2011 sylvatic rabies epidemic in italy: challenges and experiences.after more than 10 years of absence, in 2008 rabies re-emerged and spread in wild foxes in north-eastern italy. in order to control the infection and to minimize the risk of human exposure, three oral foxes vaccination campaigns were first carried out by manual distribution of baits between january and september 2009, followed by four emergency oral rabies vaccination (orv) campaigns by aerial distribution in the affected regions starting in december 2009. ordinary aerial orv campaigns followed ...201324392677
polymorphism of cytogenetic markers in wild and farm red fox (vulpes vulpes) populations.analysis of the origin of domestic animals is of wide interest and has many practical applications in areas such as agriculture and evolutionary biology. identification of an ancestor and comparison with the domesticated form allows for an analysis of genetic, physiological, morphological and behavioral effects of domestication. because fox breeding has been an ongoing process for over a century, differences are expected between farm and wild populations at the chromosomal level. the aim of this ...201324279163
accounting for complementarity to maximize monitoring power for species management.to choose among conservation actions that may benefit many species, managers need to monitor the consequences of those actions. decisions about which species to monitor from a suite of different species being managed are hindered by natural variability in populations and uncertainty in several factors: the ability of the monitoring to detect a change, the likelihood of the management action being successful for a species, and how representative species are of one another. however, the literature ...201324073812
[crossing blue fox (alopex lagopus) to red fox (vulpes vulpes) using artificial insemination].an experiment with breeding red fox to blue fox by artificial insemination is described. the conception rate obtained was low. of five blue fox vixens three whelped, and average litter size was 6.5. none of the six red fox vixens whelped. examination of semen from the hybrid males showed aspermia. the testosterone levels in the male hybrids were significantly lower than those in male blue fox, the difference was less outstanding between the hybrids and the red fox males. the histological investi ...20137383839
relationship between hyponeophagia and adrenal cortex function in farmed foxes.the adrenal cortex function of farmed blue (alopex lagopus) and silver foxes (vulpes vulpes) differing in their reaction in the feeding test were assessed. the urine cortisol:creatinine ratio was lower for those animals eating in the feeding test in comparison to those not eating in both species. in addition, eater silver foxes had lower baseline serum cortisol concentration and also lower serum cortisol concentration 2 h after acth administration than noneaters. there were no differences in any ...201310073480
[effect of lighting schedules on the ontogeny of gonad and adrenal endocrine function in female silver-black foxes vulpes vulpes with two genetically determined types of behavior].additional illumination of animals nonselected for domesticative behaviour, results in the earlier increase of estradiol level in the blood and in higher production of this hormone by the gonads during pubertal period. artificial illumination regimes do not significantly affect estradiol-producing activity of the ovaries in animals selected for domesticated behaviour. at the same time, additional illumination of the females with this type of behaviour increased progesteron-producing function of ...20137386083
[sex-related differences in blood and gonad levels of testosterone in silver fox fetuses].the mass of silver fox fetuses of both sexes, their gonads, and adrenals, and the levels of testosterone in blood serum and in gonads and adrenals were determined from day 31 of gestation and every five days thereafter until its termination. marked sex-related differences were revealed: the blood and gonad levels of testosterone in male fetuses were much higher than those in female fetuses. the fetal adrenals contained significantly less testosterone than the gonads. no sex-related differences i ...201311573424
[circadian rhythm of various melatonin biosynthesis parameters in the silver fox vulpes fulvus during domestication]. 201310198995
[the cortisol content in the fetal adrenals of the silver fox vulpes fulvus during selection for the domesticated type of behavior]. 20139412114
[the role of steroid hormones in the sexual and agonistic behaviors of male silver foxes].silver fox males were tested for sexual and agonistic behaviour after introduction of a female at different stages of the reproductive cycle. the high level of aggressive interactions between male and female and no mountings were observed out of the reproductive season. during the reproductive season, the introduction of anoestrus female did not affect the aggressive behaviour but increased the number of mountings while introduction of a receptive female reduced aggressive contacts and augmented ...20138693802
[the biosynthesis of cortisol and its regulation by the adrenocorticotropic hormone in the adrenals of silver fox embryos].we studied the cortisol level in blood serum and adrenal homogenates, as well as the in vitro production of cortisol in adrenals of silver fox embryos of both sexes in response to exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone (acth) stimulation. the level of cortisol in blood serum did not show any significant changes during the embryo development, while its level in adrenals and production by adrenals in vitro increased progressively from day 35 to day 50 of prenatal life. we found that acth is capable ...20138754526
[the reproductive function of young male silver foxes vulpes vulpes after long-term selection for domesticated behavior].sperm morphology of spermaries, testosterone plasma level and sexual activity of young silver fox males selected for domestic behavior have been studied. it is established that a number of spermatozoa in semen of males from selected population is lower as compared with the control one, whereas abnormal spermatogenesis level is significantly increased. the testosterone plasma level in males after a female introduction increased to the same extent in both groups. sexual activity in males from sele ...20138714300
[the brain catecholamines during domestication of the silver fox vulpes fulvus].studies have been made on the content of catecholamines (noradrenaline and dopamine) as well as metabolites of dopamine (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic and homovanillic acids) in the brain structures of silver foxes which differ in their handling reactions. the level of noradrenaline was found to be significantly higher in the anterior hypothalamus of domesticated animals; no differences in noradrenaline content were found in the frontal cortex, hippocamp, posterior hypothalamus and midbrain in anima ...20132375194
[gonadal endocrine function in female silver foxes selected for domesticated behavior].selection for domesticated behavior in female silver fox is accompanied by a number of changes in endocrine function of ovaries. significant changes in peripheral blood estradiol and progesterone levels and their production by gonads during anestrous may be an endocrine basis for out-of-season activation of reproductive system and earlier beginning of seasonal reproduction in domesticated females. the increase in the hormone level during preimplantation period of pregnancy and before parturition ...20132741558
[effect of estradiol on the adrenocortical function of the silver fox]. 20143021540
[adrenal function in different phases of the estrous cycle in the domesticated silver fox, vulpes fulvus].experiments were made on silver foxes from a population which had been selected for 10 to 15 generations for the domestic behaviour and on animals from a control, unselected population. in females from both populations, studies were made of the level of 11-ohcs in the blood serum, in vitro production of 11-ohcs, the size of fascicular zone in the adrenal cortex, the volume of cellular nuclei and nucleoli, as well as the reaction of the adrenals in vitro to 2 doses of acth (1 and 5 units/g of the ...20142829475
radiographic, ultrasonographic, and anatomic assessment of femoral trochlea morphology in red foxes (vulpes vulpes).to compare repeatability and equivalency of measures of femoral trochlea depth and trochlear angle in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) determined by use of radiography, ultrasonography, and digital photography of cadaver limbs.201425419805
novel divergent rhabdovirus in feces of red fox, spain. 201425419624
the value of using feasibility models in systematic conservation planning to predict landholder management uptake.understanding the social dimensions of conservation opportunity is crucial for conservation planning in multiple-use landscapes. however, factors that influence the feasibility of implementing conservation actions, such as the history of landscape management, and landholders' willingness to engage are often difficult or time consuming to quantify and rarely incorporated into planning. we examined how conservation agencies could reduce costs of acquiring such data by developing predictive models ...201425382827
sequence analysis of the ras-mapk pathway genes sos1, egfr & grb2 in silver foxes (vulpes vulpes): candidate genes for hereditary hyperplastic gingivitis.hereditary hyperplastic gingivitis (hhg) is an autosomal recessive disease that presents with progressive gingival proliferation in farmed silver foxes. hereditary gingival fibromatosis (hgf) is an analogous condition in humans that is genetically heterogeneous with several known autosomal dominant loci. for one locus the causative mutation is in the son of sevenless homologue 1 (sos1) gene. for the remaining loci, the molecular mechanisms are unknown but ras pathway involvement is suspected. he ...201425377643
unilateral laparoscopic ovariectomy in a red fox (vulpes vulpes) with an ovarian cyst.unilateral laparoscopic ovariectomy was attempted in a red fox (vulpes vulpes) with an ovarian cyst through single portal access. the ovarian cyst was resistant to conservative therapy using gonadotropin-releasing hormone. a 10-mm laparoscope with an operating channel was introduced into the abdomen via a 12-mm umbilical portal. the left ovary and cyst (34.1 x 30.8 mm) were fixed to the left abdominal wall by a transabdominal suspension suture. the ovarian pedicles and ligaments were progressive ...201425314842
demonstrating frequency-dependent transmission of sarcoptic mange in red foxes.understanding the relationship between disease transmission and host density is essential for predicting disease spread and control. using long-term data on sarcoptic mange in a red fox vulpes vulpes population, we tested long-held assumptions of density- and frequency-dependent direct disease transmission. we also assessed the role of indirect transmission. contrary to assumptions typical of epidemiological models, mange dynamics are better explained by frequency-dependent disease transmission ...201425296930
does fire influence the landscape-scale distribution of an invasive mesopredator?predation and fire shape the structure and function of ecosystems globally. however, studies exploring interactions between these two processes are rare, especially at large spatial scales. this knowledge gap is significant not only for ecological theory, but also in an applied context, because it limits the ability of landscape managers to predict the outcomes of manipulating fire and predators. we examined the influence of fire on the occurrence of an introduced and widespread mesopredator, th ...201425291186
range-wide multilocus phylogeography of the red fox reveals ancient continental divergence, minimal genomic exchange and distinct demographic histories.widely distributed taxa provide an opportunity to compare biogeographic responses to climatic fluctuations on multiple continents and to investigate speciation. we conducted the most geographically and genomically comprehensive study to date of the red fox (vulpes vulpes), the world's most widely distributed wild terrestrial carnivore. analyses of 697 bp of mitochondrial sequence in ~1000 individuals suggested an ancient middle eastern origin for all extant red foxes and a 400 kya (sd = 139 kya) ...201425212210
defining specificity in dna detection of wildlife: response to gonçalves et al. "the risks of using "species-specific" pcr assays in wildlife research: the case of red fox (vulpes vulpes) identification in tasmania". 201425194684
the influence of habitat structure on genetic differentiation in red fox populations in north-eastern poland.the red fox (vulpes vulpes) has the widest global distribution among terrestrial carnivore species, occupying most of the northern hemisphere in its native range. because it carries diseases that can be transmitted to humans and domestic animals, it is important to gather information about their movements and dispersal in their natural habitat but it is difficult to do so at a broad scale with trapping and telemetry. in this study, we have described the genetic diversity and structure of red fox ...201424954926
changes in the distribution of red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in urban areas in great britain: findings and limitations of a media-driven nationwide survey.urbanization is one of the major forms of habitat alteration occurring at the present time. although this is typically deleterious to biodiversity, some species flourish within these human-modified landscapes, potentially leading to negative and/or positive interactions between people and wildlife. hence, up-to-date assessment of urban wildlife populations is important for developing appropriate management strategies. surveying urban wildlife is limited by land partition and private ownership, r ...201424919063
microsatellite polymorphism and its association with body weight and selected morphometrics of farm red fox (vulpes vulpes l.).polymorphism of 30 canine-derived microsatellites was studied in a group of 200 red foxes kept on 2 polish farms. 22 out of 30 microsatellites were selected to study association between marker genotypes and body weight (bw), body length (bl), body circumference (bc), tail length (tl), ear height (eh), length of the right front limb (frll), length of the right rear limb (rrll), length of the right front foot (frfl) and length of the right rear foot (rrfl). a total of 112 alleles and 243 genotypes ...201424819338
aujeszky's disease in red fox (vulpes vulpes): phylogenetic analysis unravels an unexpected epidemiologic link.we describe aujeszky's disease in a female of red fox (vulpes vulpes). although wild boar (sus scrofa) would be the expected source of infection, phylogenetic analysis suggested a domestic rather than a wild source of virus, underscoring the importance of biosecurity measures in pig farms to prevent contact with wild animals.201424807353
dietary copper supplementation improves pelt characteristics of female silver fox (vulpes fulva) during the winter fur-growing season.copper has an essential role in normal fur pigmentation and fur quality. this study evaluated the effects of cupric citrate (cucit) supplementation on growth, nutrients metabolism and pelt characteristics of the female silver fox (vulpes fulva). fifty age-matched female silver foxes with similar body weights were randomly divided into five dietary groups for 58 days during the winter fur-growing season. the basal diet contained 4.92 mg/kg copper. groups i-v were supplemented with 6, 30, 60, 90 o ...201424798300
quantifying extinction probabilities from sighting records: inference and uncertainties.methods are needed to estimate the probability that a population is extinct, whether to underpin decisions regarding the continuation of a invasive species eradication program, or to decide whether further searches for a rare and endangered species could be warranted. current models for inferring extinction probability based on sighting data typically assume a constant or declining sighting rate. we develop methods to analyse these models in a bayesian framework to estimate detection and surviva ...201424788945
toward reliable estimates of abundance: comparing index methods to assess the abundance of a mammalian predator.due to time and financial constraints indices are often used to obtain landscape-scale estimates of relative species abundance. using two different field methods and comparing the results can help to detect possible bias or a non monotonic relationship between the index and the true abundance, providing more reliable results. we used data obtained from camera traps and feces counts to independently estimate relative abundance of red foxes in the black forest, a forested landscape in southern ger ...201424743565
the risks of using "species-specific" pcr assays in wildlife research: the case of red fox (vulpes vulpes) identification in tasmania. 201424742708
lack of fear response in mice (mus musculus) exposed to human urine odor.a goal of the guide for the care and use of laboratory animals is to improve animal welfare by minimizing sources of fear, anxiety, and stress. as a result, it includes recommendations on overcrowding, frequency of cage changes, enrichment, and group housing. however, human odorants are a potential but unexplored source of fear, anxiety, and stress. although mice have been maintained for decades for animal research, whether mice perceive humans as predators is unknown. if so, this would necessit ...201424602539
fatal spirocercosis in a free-ranging red fox. 201424578435
vaccine-induced rabies in a red fox (vulpes vulpes): isolation of vaccine virus in brain tissue and salivary glands.oral vaccination campaigns to eliminate fox rabies were initiated in slovenia in 1995. in may 2012, a young fox (vulpes vulpes) with typical rabies signs was captured. its brain and salivary gland tissues were found to contain vaccine strain sad b19. the basic logical alignment search tool alignment of 589 nucleotides determined from the n gene of the virus isolated from the brain and salivary glands of the affected fox was 100% identical to the genbank reference sad b19 strain. sequence analysi ...201424484500
flow cytometric evaluation of sperm apoptosis in semen of silver foxes in the breeding period.the objective of the study was to evaluate cytometrically the percentage of apoptotic and necrotic spermatozoa in fresh semen of silver foxes in the breeding season. in males f3 and f4 with high percentages of early apoptotic (a+pi-), late apoptotic (a+pi+) and necrotic (a-pi+) spermatozoa as well as 56-65% of living spermatozoa (a-pi-) with progressive motility, the semen was characterised by reduced fertility. in males f1 and f2 with spermatozoa showing the motility and viability of 89-90% and ...201424332010
molecular evidence of kobuviruses in free-ranging red foxes (vulpes vulpes).red foxes (vulpes vulpes) are susceptible to viral diseases of domestic carnivores. in this study, by screening rectal swabs collected from 34 red foxes in italy, we identified kobuvirus rna in five samples. based on analysis of partial rdrp and full-length vp1 genes, all of the strains shared the highest identity with canine kobuviruses (cakvs) recently detected in the us, the uk and italy. these findings provide the first evidence of the circulation of these novel viruses in foxes.201424452667
genome-wide expression analysis of hereditary hyperplastic gingivitis in silver foxes (vulpes vulpes) using canine microarrays.hereditary hyperplastic gingivitis (hhg) is an autosomal recessive condition found predominantly in farmed silver foxes, first documented in europe in the 1940s. hereditary gingival fibromatosis (hgf) is an analogous condition occurring in humans. hgf has a heterogeneous aetiology with emphasis placed on the autosomal dominant forms of inheritance for which there are three known loci: hgf1, hgf2, and hgf3. among these, only one causative mutation has been determined, in the son of sevenless homo ...201425469536
a comparison of facial color pattern and gazing behavior in canid species suggests gaze communication in gray wolves (canis lupus).as facial color pattern around the eyes has been suggested to serve various adaptive functions related to the gaze signal, we compared the patterns among 25 canid species, focusing on the gaze signal, to estimate the function of facial color pattern in these species. the facial color patterns of the studied species could be categorized into the following three types based on contrast indices relating to the gaze signal: a-type (both pupil position in the eye outline and eye position in the face ...201424918751
how does a carnivore guild utilise a substantial but unpredictable anthropogenic food source? scavenging on hunter-shot ungulate carcasses by wild dogs/dingoes, red foxes and feral cats in south-eastern australia revealed by camera traps.there is much interest in understanding how anthropogenic food resources subsidise carnivore populations. carcasses of hunter-shot ungulates are a potentially substantial food source for mammalian carnivores. the sambar deer (rusa unicolor) is a large (≥ 150 kg) exotic ungulate that can be hunted throughout the year in south-eastern australia, and hunters are not required to remove or bury carcasses. we investigated how wild dogs/dingoes and their hybrids (canis lupus familiaris/dingo), red foxe ...201424918425
tick-borne encephalitis transmission risk: its dependence on host population dynamics and climate effects.tick-borne encephalitis (tbe) is a human disease caused by a flavivirus that is spread by ticks (ixodes ricinus). in 2011 and 2012, the highest tbe incidence ever was recorded in sweden. it has been proposed that warmer spring temperatures result in higher survival of ticks and thus high incidence of tbe. here, analyses were done of time series of tbe for 1976-2011 in relation to the north atlantic oscillation (nao), mean summer temperatures, and yearly number of harvested european hare (lepus e ...201424745813
bottom-up and top-down processes interact to modify intraguild interactions in resource-pulse environments.top predators are declining globally, in turn allowing populations of smaller predators, or mesopredators, to increase and potentially have negative effects on biodiversity. however, detection of interactions among sympatric predators can be complicated by fluctuations in the background availability of resources in the environment, which may modify both the numbers of predators and the strengths of their interactions. here, we first present a conceptual framework that predicts how top-down and b ...201424908053
lethal control of an apex predator has unintended cascading effects on forest mammal assemblages.disruption to species-interaction networks caused by irruptions of herbivores and mesopredators following extirpation of apex predators is a global driver of ecosystem reorganization and biodiversity loss. most studies of apex predators' ecological roles focus on effects arising from their interactions with herbivores or mesopredators in isolation, but rarely consider how the effects of herbivores and mesopredators interact. here, we provide evidence that multiple cascade pathways induced by let ...201424619441
isotopic investigation of niche partitioning among native carnivores and the non-native coyote (canis latrans).we employed stable carbon (δ(13)c) and nitrogen (δ(15)n) isotopes within a hypothetico-deductive framework to explore potential resource partitioning among terrestrial mammalian carnivores. isotope values were acquired using guard hair samples from bobcat (lynx rufus), coyote (canis latrans), gray fox (urocyon cinereoargenteus), and red fox (vulpes vulpes) in the adirondack park, ny, usa. enrichment along the δ(13)c axis was expected to reflect the use of human sources of food (reflecting a corn ...201424666214
molecular assessment of hepatozoon (apicomplexa: adeleorina) infections in wild canids and rodents from north africa, with implications for transmission dynamics across taxonomic groups.parasites play a major role in ecosystems, and understanding of host-parasite interactions is important for predicting parasite transmission dynamics and epidemiology. however, there is still a lack of knowledge about the distribution, diversity, and impact of parasites in wildlife, especially from remote areas. hepatozoon is a genus of apicomplexan parasites that is transmitted by ingestion of infected arthropod vectors. however, alternative modes of transmission have been identified such as tr ...201425050803
viral metagenomic analysis of feces of wild small carnivores.recent studies have clearly demonstrated the enormous virus diversity that exists among wild animals. this exemplifies the required expansion of our knowledge of the virus diversity present in wildlife, as well as the potential transmission of these viruses to domestic animals or humans.201424886057
eucoleus boehmi infection in red fox (vulpes vulpes) from italy.in the last decade an increase of the number of red foxes in anthropized habitats across european countries, including italy, has been observed. this pones implications in terms of disease transmission between wildlife and domestic animals; in fact, there are evidences of the role of foxes as reservoirs and amplifiers of a broad spectrum of parasites infecting pets. the present study evaluated the prevalence of eucoleus boehmi, an emerging extra-intestinal nematodes of the capillariinae subfamil ...201425458564
enhanced understanding of predator-prey relationships using molecular methods to identify predator species, individual and sex.predator species identification is an important step in understanding predator-prey interactions, but predator identifications using kill site observations are often unreliable. we used molecular tools to analyse predator saliva, scat and hair from caribou calf kills in newfoundland, canada to identify the predator species, individual and sex. we sampled dna from 32 carcasses using cotton swabs to collect predator saliva. we used fragment length analysis and sequencing of mitochondrial dna to di ...201423957886
"reversed" intraguild predation: red fox cubs killed by pine marten.camera traps deployed at a badger meles meles set in mixed pine forest in north-eastern poland recorded interspecific killing of red fox vulpes vulpes cubs by pine marten martes martes. the vixen and her cubs settled in the set at the beginning of may 2013, and it was abandoned by the badgers shortly afterwards. five fox cubs were recorded playing in front of the den each night. ten days after the first recording of the foxes, a pine marten was filmed at the set; it arrived in the morning, made ...201424954928
analysis of genomic instability in primary spermatocytes of interspecific hybrids of the red fox (vulpes vulpes) and the arctic fox (alopex lagopus).the aim of this study was to analyse meiotic cells of male interspecific hybrids of the red fox (vulpes vulpes) and the arctic fox (alopex lagopus). to this end we determined stages of meiotic cells as well as carried out fish analyses with probes specific to heterosomes and a tunel assay on synaptonemal complex preparations. the meiotic cell analysis revealed only the presence of stages of the first meiotic division from leptotene to pachytene. moreover, we observed an increased level of early ...201425916158
genome organization and dna methylation patterns of b chromosomes in the red fox and chinese raccoon dogs.the molecular structure of b chromosomes (bs) is relatively well studied. previous research demonstrates that bs of various species usually contain two types of repetitive dna sequences, satellite dna and ribosomal dna, but bs also contain genes encoding histone proteins and many others. however, many questions remain regarding the origin and function of these chromosomes. here, we focused on the comparative cytogenetic characteristics of the red fox and chinese raccoon dog b chromosomes with pa ...201425491428
fluoride in the bones of foxes (vulpes vulpes linneaus, 1758) and raccoon dogs (nyctereutes procyonoides gray, 1834) from north-western poland.assessment of exposure to fluoride (f(-)) is increasingly focused on mineralized tissues, mainly bones. their periodic growth and continuous reconstruction make them a good material for studying long-term f(-) accumulation. in this study, f(-)concentrations were determined in the bones of foxes and raccoon dogs from north-western poland and relationships between bone f(-) and the age categories of the animals were attempted to be identified. bone samples were collected from femurs of 32 foxes (1 ...201424869802
first molecular evidence of hepatozoon canis infection in red foxes and golden jackals from hungary.recently, hepatozoon canis infection has been detected among shepherd, hunting and stray dogs in the southern part of hungary, which is considered to be free of rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato and close to the border with croatia. the aim of this study was to acquire information on the possibility that red foxes and/or golden jackals could play a role in the appearance and spread of h. canis in hungary.201424985073
serological investigation of wild boars (sus scrofa) and red foxes (vulpes vulpes) as indicator animals for circulation of francisella tularensis in germany.tularemia outbreaks in humans have recently been reported in many european countries, but data on the occurrence in the animal population are scarce. in north america, seroconversion of omnivores and carnivores was used as indicator for the presence of tularemia, for the european fauna, however, data are barely available. therefore, the suitability of wild boars (sus scrofa) and red foxes (vulpes vulpes) as indicators for the circulation of f. tularensis in germany was evaluated. serum samples f ...201424359418
toxoplasma gondii in sympatric wild herbivores and carnivores: epidemiology of infection in the western alps.toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite that is able to infect almost all warm blooded animals. in europe, the domestic cat is the main definitive host. worldwide, 6 billion people are infected with this parasite. the goal of our research is to evaluate the prevalence of t. gondii infection in wild animals from a previously unsampled area in northern italy where 0.1% of women seroconvert during pregnancy each year.201424766665
the dispersion and detection patterns of mtdna-assigned red fox vulpes vulpes scats in tasmania are anomalous.models used for resource allocation in eradication programmes must be based on replicated data of known quality and have proven predictive accuracy, or they may provide a false indication of species presence and/or distribution. in the absence of data corroborating the presence of extant foxes vulpes vulpes in tasmania, a habitat-specific model based upon mtdna data (sarre et al. 2012. journal applied ecology, 50, 459-468) implied that foxes were widespread. overall, 61 of 9940 (0·6%) surveyed s ...201425641979
an invasive vector of zoonotic disease sustained by anthropogenic resources: the raccoon dog in northern europe.the raccoon dog (nyctereutes procyonoides) is an introduced species in europe with a continually expanding range. since the species is capable of affecting local ecosystems and is a vector for a number of severe zoonotic diseases, it is important to understand its food habits. raccoon dog diet was studied in estonia by examining the contents of 223 stomach samples collected during the coldest period of the year, august to march, in 2010-2012. the most frequently consumed food categories were ant ...201424852942
twenty year experience of the oral rabies vaccine sag2 in wildlife: a global review.the sag2 vaccine (rabigen® sag2) is a modified live attenuated rabies virus vaccine, selected from the sad bern strain in a two-step process of amino acid mutation using neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. the strain is genetically stable and does not spread in vivo or induce a persistent infection. its absence of residual pathogenicity was extensively demonstrated in multiple target and non target species (such as wild carnivores and rodent species), including non-human primates. the efficacy o ...201425106552
fox on the run--molecular surveillance of fox blood and tissue for the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens in austria.the red fox (vulpes vulpes) is a widespread species, harbouring many pathogens relevant for humans and pets. indeed, anaplasma spp., ehrlichia canis and rickettsia spp. among the bacteria and hepatozoon canis as well as babesia sp. among the parasites have been the focus of several studies.201425413694
piroplasmosis in wildlife: babesia and theileria affecting free-ranging ungulates and carnivores in the italian alps.piroplasmosis are among the most relevant diseases of domestic animals. babesia is emerging as cause of tick-borne zoonosis worldwide and free-living animals are reservoir hosts of several zoonotic babesia species. we investigated the epidemiology of babesia spp. and theileria spp. in wild ungulates and carnivores from northern italy to determine which of these apicomplexan species circulate in wildlife and their prevalence of infection.201424533742
molecular and histopathological detection of hepatozoon canis in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) from portugal.hepatozoon canis is a protozoan tick-borne pathogen of dogs and wild canids. hepatozoon spp. have been reported to infect foxes in different continents and recent studies have mostly used the polymerase chain reaction (pcr) for the detection and characterization of the infecting species. surveying red foxes (vulpes vulpes) may contribute to better understanding the epidemiology of canine vector-borne diseases, including hepatozoonosis caused by h. canis in domestic dogs. the present study invest ...201424655375
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