Publications

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the alternative prey hypothesis revisited: still valid for willow ptarmigan population dynamics.the alternative prey hypothesis predicts that the interaction between generalist predators and their main prey is a major driver of population dynamics of alternative prey species. in fennoscandia, changes in climate and human land use are assumed to alter the dynamics of cyclic small rodents (main prey) and lead to increased densities and range expansion of an important generalist predator, the red fox vulpes vulpes. in order to better understand the role of these potential changes in community ...201829874270
in vivo safety studies with spbn gasgas in the frame of oral vaccination of foxes and raccoon dogs against rabies.in order to obtain marketing authorization for an oral rabies vaccine in the european union, not only safety studies in the target species, red fox and raccoon dog, are required. since baits are distributed unsupervised in the environment, specific safety studies in selected non-target species are compulsory. furthermore, oral rabies vaccines are based on live, replication-competent viruses and thus distinct safety studies in the target species for such type of vaccines are also mandatory. here, ...201829868616
echinococcus multilocularis in denmark 2012-2015: high local prevalence in red foxes.in western europe, the echinococcus multilocularis lifecycle is predominantly sylvatic, typically involving red foxes (vulpes vulpes) as the main definitive hosts with microtus spp. and arvicola spp. as intermediate hosts. during a 4-year surveillance study (2012-2015), danish red foxes and raccoon dogs (n = 1345) were examined for e. multilocularis. moreover, 134 insectivores and rodents collected in south jutland during spring and summer 2016 were examined for the presence of metacestodes. the ...201829858941
thelazia callipaeda, an endemic parasite of red foxes ( vulpes vulpes) in western romania.thelazia callipaeda (spirurida, thelaziidae) is a vector-borne zoonotic nematode parasite of the conjunctival sac of a large spectrum of hosts, currently having an expanding distribution range throughout europe. in romania, the parasite has a relatively large distribution range and host spectrum. however, the presence of t. callipaeda in red foxes ( vulpes vulpes) has not yet been confirmed. the aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and geographical distribution of t. callipaeda ...201829791293
a review of predation as a limiting factor for bird populations in mesopredator-rich landscapes: a case study of the uk.the impact of increasing vertebrate predator numbers on bird populations is widely debated among the general public, game managers and conservationists across europe. however, there are few systematic reviews of whether predation limits the population sizes of european bird species. views on the impacts of predation are particularly polarised in the uk, probably because the uk has a globally exceptional culture of intensive, high-yield gamebird management where predator removal is the norm. in a ...201829790246
spirocerca vulpis sp. nov. (spiruridae: spirocercidae): description of a new nematode species of the red fox, vulpes vulpes (carnivora: canidae).previous studies have reported nematodes of the spirocercidae family in the stomach nodules of red foxes (vulpes vulpes) described as spirocerca sp. or spirocerca lupi (rudolphi, 1819). we characterized spirurid worms collected from red foxes and compared them to s. lupi from domestic dogs by morphometric and phylogenetic analyses. nematodes from red foxes differed from s. lupi by the presence of six triangular teeth-like buccal capsule structures, which are absent in the latter. additionally, i ...201829781422
molecular epidemiology of parasitic protozoa and ehrlichia canis in wildlife in madrid (central spain).wildlife species are involved in the transmission of diverse pathogens. this study aimed to monitor raccoons (procyon lotor), american minks (neovison vison), and red foxes (vulpes vulpes) as potential reservoirs in central spain. specifically, 200 spleen and fecal samples (from 194 raccoons, 3 minks, and 3 foxes) were analyzed molecularly by pcr/qpcr and sequencing for the presence of piroplasmids, hepatozoon spp., toxoplasma gondii, and ehrlichia canis infections in the community of madrid (sp ...201829777337
mycobacterium bovis infection of red fox, france.mycobacterium bovis infection in wild red foxes was found in southern france, where livestock and other wildlife species are infected. foxes frequently interact with cattle but have been underestimated as a reservoir of m. bovis. our results suggest a possible role of the red fox in the epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis.201829774850
molecular evidence of toxoplasma gondii, neospora caninum, and encephalitozoon cuniculi in red foxes ( vulpes vulpes).toxoplasma gondii, neospora caninum, and encephalitozoon cuniculi are important infectious agents, with t. gondii and e. cuniculi having zoonotic potential. there are two main clonal lineages (types i and ii) of t. gondii in europe, but little is known about genotypes of t. gondii in wild animals. the aim of our study was molecular detection of these three pathogens in tissues of wild red foxes ( vulpes vulpes) from the czech republic. using pcr (b1 gene), we detected t. gondii in 10% of the ani ...201829733765
investigation of echinococcus multilocularis in environmental definitive host feces in the asian and the european parts of turkey.a study was carried out to investigate the presence of echinococcus multilocularis in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in two regions of turkey-central anatolia (in asia minor) and thrace (in the european part of turkey). a total of 405 putative fox feces were collected from central anatolia (186 specimens in 59 locations) and from thrace (219 specimens in 114 locations). all samples were examined by the flotation and sieving method for taeniid eggs, and positive and putative samples were further analy ...201829662885
circulating genotypes of toxoplasma gondii in northwestern italy.toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite that in europe is genetically characterized by three main clonal genotypes, with a lesser prevalence of atypical patterns. data on the genotypes of t. gondii circulating both in wildlife and livestock in northern italy are scarce. in the present study skeletal muscle samples of cattle (bos taurus), swine (sus scrofa domesticus), fox (vulpes vulpes), roe deer (capreolus capreolus) and wild boar (sus scrofa) were genotyped by using a nested pcr of 6 lo ...201829605002
[multidisciplinary management of alveolar echinococcosis : echino-liege working group].alveolar echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease due to the tapeworm echinococcus multilocularis. the definitive host is the red fox. until recently, belgium was considered a country at very low risk for alveolar echinococcosis. however, recent studies carried out in southern belgium have revealed, through post-mortem examination, high prevalences (up to 62 %) in foxes. cats and dogs can act as definitive hosts. human are accidentally infected by ingestion of food contaminated by the feces. after a ...201829595013
evaluating the efficacy of a landscape scale feral cat control program using camera traps and occupancy models.the impact of introduced predators is a major factor limiting survivorship and recruitment of many native australian species. in particular, the feral cat and red fox have been implicated in range reductions and population declines of many conservation dependent species across australia, including ground-nesting birds and small to medium-sized mammals. the impact of predation by feral cats since their introduction some 200 years ago has altered the structure of native fauna communities and led t ...201829593271
babesia microti-like piroplasm (syn. babesia vulpes) infection in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in nw spain (galicia) and its relationship with ixodes hexagonus.piroplasmosis is caused by several species of protozoa such as the babesia microti-like piroplasm (bml), an emerging blood protozoan also known as theileria annae or babesia vulpes. infection by bml was first reported in dogs in spain where it is endemic today. recently, a high prevalence of bml has been increasingly detected in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in european countries. the objective of this study was to determine infection levels of this parasite in foxes from galicia, nw spain, and tick ...201829559146
a survey of babesia spp. and hepatozoon spp. in wild canids in israel.babesia spp. and hepatozoon spp. are apicomplexan parasites that infect a variety of animals, including canids. their life-cycle includes an invertebrate hematophagous vector as a definitive host and vertebrates as intermediate hosts. the aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for babesia spp. and hepatozoon spp. infections in wild golden jackals (canis aureus) and red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in israel and to compare spleen with blood sample polymerase chain reactio ...201829554923
efficacy of oral rabies vaccination in individual age groups of juvenile red foxes.although juvenile red foxes (vulpes vulpes) are considered a single age group, essential for monitoring the effectiveness of the oral rabies vaccination (orv), there appear to be significant differences among age subgroups. herein, a subset of 335 foxes aged 0-1 year that had not consumed bait in previous campaign were collected for monitoring the effectiveness of the first seven orv campaigns in greece, carried out from 2013 to 2017. these juveniles were additionally assigned to three individua ...201830389044
genetic diversity and population structure of angiostrongylus vasorum parasites within and between local urban foxes (vulpes vulpes).angiostrongylus vasorum is a nematode parasite of the pulmonary arteries and heart that infects domestic and wild canids. dogs (canis familiaris) and red foxes (vulpes vulpes) are the most commonly affected definitive hosts. recent studies suggest that angiostrongylosis is an emerging disease, and that red foxes may play an important role in the epidemiology of the parasite. genetic analyses of parasites collected from dogs and foxes throughout europe have shown that the same parasite haplotypes ...201830389010
first findings of brown hare (lepus europaeus) reintroduction in relation to seasonal impact.in europe, brown hare (lepus europaeus) populations have been declining steadily since the 1970s. gamekeepers can help to support brown hare wild populations by releasing cage-reared hares into the wild. survival rates of cage-reared hares has been investigated in previous studies, however, survival times in relation to seasonality, which likely plays a crucial role for the efficacy of this management strategy, has not been evaluated. here we examine the survival duration and daytime home ranges ...201830304009
prevalence of capillaria plica in danish wild carnivores.capillaria plica is a parasitic nematode belonging to the family capillariidae. the adult parasites reside in the urinary tract of wild and domestic canines. the infection is most often asymptomatic, but can cause a wide range of symptoms including urinary bladder inflammation, pollacisuria, dysuria and hematuria. canines acquire the infection by ingesting the intermediate host, the earthworm (lumbricidae). epidemiological studies on c. plica infection in wildlife are few and only one previous d ...201830302310
genetic diversity of mhc class ii drb1 exon 2 in the red fox (vulpes vulpes) on hokkaido, japan.to assess the genetic diversity of the red fox (vulpes vulpes) population on hokkaido island, northern japan, we examined genotypes of exon 2 of the major histocompatibility complex (mhc) class ii drb1 gene for 232 individuals and identified 17 novel alleles. the subpopulation in the southern area was genetically differentiated from those in all other areas on hokkaido, suggesting isolation in southern hokkaido. in addition, the southern subpopulation is lower in genetic diversity than the other ...201830298779
the landscape of fear: why some free-ranging rodents choose repeated live-trapping over predation risk and how it is associated with the physiological stress response.live trapping is an essential element of field ecological studies. however, the act of trapping provides two types of conditional benefits (food from the bait when hungry, and refuge from a predator when threatened) against one type of drawback (confinement). our understanding of how animals assess the two benefits against the lone risk determines how we interpret classic field studies in chemical ecology and wildlife management. here, we studied wood mice responses to these risks and rewards of ...201830266620
contamination of selected recreational areas in lublin province, eastern poland, by eggs of toxocara spp., ancylostoma spp. and trichuris spp.while using recreational areas, people take with them accompanying animals (dogs, cats). these animals are the main source and reservoir of dangerous zoonoses, including parasitoses caused by genera of nematodes, also called roundworms, toxocara spp., trichuris spp. and ancylostoma spp. attention should also be paid to the possibility of contamination of recreational areas with the eggs of intestinal parasites by wild animals (e.g. red fox).201830260190
food quality and quantity are more important in explaining foraging of an intermediate-sized mammalian herbivore than predation risk or competition.during times of high activity by predators and competitors, herbivores may be forced to forage in patches of low-quality food. however, the relative importance in determining where and what herbivores forage still remains unclear, especially for small- and intermediate-sized herbivores. our objective was to test the relative importance of predator and competitor activity, and forage quality and quantity on the proportion of time spent in a vegetation type and the proportion of time spent foragin ...201830250712
collection and frozen storage of semen for artificial insemination in red foxes (vulpes vulpes).this study was conducted on red foxes to determine the appropriate voltage in electroejaculation for semen collection from stud males, and to confirm whether frozen semen with bovine semen extender can be used for artificial insemination. the proper load voltage for electroejaculation was 3-4 v based on semen collection rates and concentrations of spermatozoa. frozen semen was prepared according to the known procedure for cows. in frozen-thawed semen, a relatively high conception rate (81.3%) wa ...201830249927
genomic responses to selection for tame/aggressive behaviors in the silver fox (vulpes vulpes).animal domestication efforts have led to a shared spectrum of striking behavioral and morphological changes. to recapitulate this process, silver foxes have been selectively bred for tame and aggressive behaviors for more than 50 generations at the institute for cytology and genetics in novosibirsk, russia. to understand the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms underlying the phenotypic changes, we profiled gene expression levels and coding snp allele frequencies in two brain tissue specimens ...201830228118
exposure to neospora spp. and besnoitia spp. in wildlife from israel.neosporosis and besnoitiosis, caused by cyst-forming protozoa neospora caninum and besnoitia besnoiti, respectively, are parasitic infestations of livestock in israel. these parasites cause significant economic losses in cattle due to reproductive and productive disorders. both parasites have been detected in several wild ruminant species throughout other regions of the world, while the existence of a sylvatic life cycle in israel remains uncertain. thus, a wide panel of 871 sera from two wild c ...201830175044
the importance of wildlife in the ecology and epidemiology of the tbe virus in sweden: incidence of human tbe correlates with abundance of deer and hares.tick-borne encephalitis (tbe) is one tick-transmitted disease where the human incidence has increased in some european regions during the last two decades. we aim to find the most important factors causing the increasing incidence of human tbe in sweden. based on a review of published data we presume that certain temperature-related variables and the population densities of transmission hosts, i.e. small mammals, and of primary tick maintenance hosts, i.e. cervids and lagomorphs, of the tbe viru ...201830153856
author correction: red fox genome assembly identifies genomic regions associated with tame and aggressive behaviours.in the version of this article originally published, there were some errors in the affiliations: stephen j. o'brien's affiliations were incorrectly listed as 8,9; they should have been 7,9. affiliation 3 was incorrectly named the institute of cytology and genetics of the russian academy of sciences; it should have read institute of cytology and genetics of the siberian branch of the russian academy of sciences. affiliation 4 was incorrectly named the institute of molecular and cell biology of th ...201830104754
sequencing of supernumerary chromosomes of red fox and raccoon dog confirms a non-random gene acquisition by b chromosomes.b chromosomes (bs) represent a variable addition to the main karyotype in some lineages of animals and plants. bs accumulate through non-mendelian inheritance and become widespread in populations. despite the presence of multiple genes, most bs lack specific phenotypic effects, although their influence on host genome epigenetic status and gene expression are recorded. previously, using sequencing of isolated bs of ruminants and rodents, we demonstrated that bs originate as segmental duplications ...201830103445
motion-triggered video cameras reveal spatial and temporal patterns of red fox foraging on carrion provided by mountain lions.carrion is a rich, ephemeral resource vital to biodiversity and ecosystem health. in temperate ecosystems in which cold temperatures and snowfall influence the accessibility and availability of small prey and seasonal mast crops, carrion may also be a limiting resource for mesocarnivores like red foxes (vulpes vulpes), which are too small to predate ungulates. using motion-triggered video cameras and generalized linear mixed models, we studied the spatial and temporal patterns of red fox scaveng ...201830083459
respiratory and cardiopulmonary nematode species of foxes and jackals in serbia.as part of routine monitoring of foxes (vulpes vulpes) and jackals (canis aureus) on the territory of vojvodina province (northern serbia), an analysis of respiratory and cardiopulmonary parasitic nematodes was conducted. both host species harbored eucoleus aerophilus, e. boehmi and crenosoma vulpis, whereas angiostrongylus vasorum was found only in foxes. a high prevalence of infection (72.6 %) was noted for e. aerophilus in foxes. the remaining parasite species occurred less frequently in both ...201831662649
multiple components of environmental change drive populations of breeding waders in seminatural grasslands.environments are rapidly changing due to climate change, land use, intensive agriculture, and the impact of hunting on predator populations. here, we analyzed long-term data recorded during 1928-2014 on the size of breeding populations of waders at two large nature reserves in denmark, vejlerne and tipperne, to determine the effects of components of environmental change on breeding populations of waders. environmental variables and counts of waders were temporally autocorrelated, and we used gen ...201830464821
methods for assessing small-scale variation in the abundance of a generalist mesopredator.estimating animal abundance is essential for research, management and conservation purposes. although reliable methods exist to estimate absolute density for populations with individually marked animals, robust relative abundance indices (rais) may allow to track changes in population size when individual identification is not possible. their performance, however, needs be thoroughly evaluated. we investigated the relative performance of several common faeces-based and camera-based rais for esti ...201830462707
liver and fecal samples suggest differential exposure of red fox (vulpes vulpes) to trans- and cis-bromadiolone in areas from france treated with plant protection products. 201829227943
identification and genetic characterization of sarcocystis arctica and sarcocystis lutrae in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) from baltic states and spain.typically, carnivores serve as definitive hosts for sarcocystis spp. parasites; currently, their role as intermediate hosts is being elucidated. the present study aimed to identify and molecularly characterize sarcocystis cysts detected in striated muscle of red foxes from different populations in latvia, lithuania and spain.201829530098
first four oral rabies vaccination campaigns of the red foxes in greece: evaluating factors and assessment.following the last animal rabies outbreak in greece in 2012, oral rabies vaccination (orv) campaigns of red foxes (vulpes vulpes) were conducted in order to halt the spread of the disease, as widely and effectively have also been implemented in other countries. the present study aims to report the main outcomes following the first greek orv campaigns during autumn 2013, 2014, 2015 and spring 2016, to assess their effectiveness and to investigate factors potentially related to their success. bloo ...201829519504
environmental factors influencing the distribution of "theileria annae" in red foxes, vulpes vulpes in romania.red foxes, vulpes vulpes are among the most widely spread carnivores in the world, invading also urban areas and are often parasitized by various ticks and directly exposed to several vector-borne pathogens, including the commonly present "theileria annae". considering the paucity of data on the possible vectors of this pathogen and the presence of the infection in various locations across the globe, the aim of our study was to understand the potential role of various environmental factors on th ...201829475743
detection of rickettsia massiliae/bar29 and rickettsia conorii in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) and their rhipicephalus sanguineus complex ticks.to determine the prevalence of exposure to rickettsia massiliae/bar29 and rickettsia conorii in wild red foxes, we collected blood samples and ticks from 135 foxes shot in different game reserve areas in catalonia. to detect sfg rickettsia in rhipicephalus sanguineus complex ticks collected from the foxes, we used real-time polymerase chain reaction (pcr) to screen for ompa gene and a tick-borne bacteria flow chip technique based on multiplex pcr. serum samples were positive for antibodies again ...201829433817
the concentration of fear: mice's behavioural and physiological stress responses to different degrees of predation risk.predation is an unavoidable and dangerous fact in the lifetime of prey animals and some sign of the proximity of a predator may be enough to trigger a response in the prey. we investigated whether different degrees of predation risk by red foxes (vulpes vulpes) evoke behavioural and physiological stress responses in wood mice (apodemus sylvaticus). we examined the variation in mice responses due to individual factors (sex and reproductive status) and related them to the concentration of the vola ...201829387946
anterior pituitary transcriptome suggests differences in acth release in tame and aggressive foxes.domesticated species exhibit a suite of behavioral, endocrinological, and morphological changes referred to as "domestication syndrome." these changes may include a reduction in reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (hpa) axis and specifically reduced adrenocorticotropic hormone release from the anterior pituitary. to investigate the biological mechanisms targeted during domestication, we investigated gene expression in the pituitaries of experimentally domesticated foxes (vulpes vulp ...201829378821
nematode thelazia callipaeda is spreading across europe. the first survey of red foxes from slovakia.canine thalaziosis caused by the spirurid nematode thelazia callipaeda has started to spread across western and central europe during the last decade. in slovakia, the first autochthonous cases of this infection were recorded in 2016 in four dogs from the south-eastern part of the country. in august 2017 other autochthonous case, again from the same locality, was reported. seeing that red foxes are considered the main reservoir hosts for t. callipaeda, their examination could provide an integrat ...201829351059
detecting rare carnivores using scats: implications for monitoring a fox incursion into tasmania.the ability to detect the incursion of an invasive species or destroy the last individuals during an eradication program are some of the most difficult aspects of invasive species management. the presence of foxes in tasmania is a contentious issue with recent structured monitoring efforts, involving collection of carnivore scats and testing for fox dna, failing to detect any evidence of foxes. understanding the likelihood that monitoring efforts would detect fox presence, given at least one is ...201829321909
gis-based environmental analysis of fox and canine lungworm distribution: an epidemiological study of angiostrongylus vasorum and crenosoma vulpis in red foxes from slovakia.over a period of intervening years, the distribution of two canine cardiopulmonary metastrongylid nematodes, angiostrongylus vasorum and crenosoma vulpis, has been recognised in central europe. here, we report the first epidemiological research conducted in red foxes from slovakia and the potential influence of selected environmental variables on the parasites' occurrence, quantified by logistic regression. the environmental models revealed that distribution of c. vulpis is not significantly inf ...201829297093
first detection of echinococcus multilocularis in croatia.echinococcus multilocularis has been spreading through europe but has not yet been reported in croatia. we report the results of a surveillance programme to detect e. multilocularis in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in different parts of croatia. pcr-based screening of faecal samples from 238 red foxes in 2015 and 150 in 2016 indicate prevalences of 7.5% in 2015 and 6.6% in 2016 (overall 7.2%, ci 4.9 to 10.3). positive samples were confirmed by sequencing parts of the nad1 gene and the gene encoding ...201829280073
the role of modelling in predicting rabies and understanding the impact of control measures.rabies is probably the most commonly modelled disease as both its epidemiology and host dynamics are well understood. models are simplifications of reality and there are different approaches to achieving these representations. over time, modelling has moved from simple mathematical methods towards more realistic biological models that incorporate spatial and individual variation. in this article, the author reviews models that have increased our understanding of actions taken to manage disease. ...201830747126
hepatozoon canis in turkish red foxes and their ticks.hepatozoon canis infection is a tick-borne protozoan disease that manifests clinically as a moderate-to-severe disease in domestic dogs. although the presence of h. canis has been reported in dogs, the wildlife component of the infection is not currently known in turkey. in this study, we report the presence of h. canis infection in turkish foxes and their ticks, haemaphysalis parva. we emphasize that the role of the fox must be considered in the ecology of the disease in turkey and detailed stu ...201831014885
spirocercosis in red fox (vulpes vulpes) in a natural reserve located in a meso-mediterranean area.spirocerca lupi rudolphi 1809 (nematoda spirocercidae) has an indirect cycle involving intermediate and paratenic hosts, having domestic or wild canids as the main definitive hosts. the most frequent pathology affecting dogs is a granulomatous tumor-like growth containing adults in the oesophagus and aorta. there are very few references about the presence of nodules in the stomach. there is scant information about the epidemiology of this disease in wild red foxes in meso-mediterranean areas. in ...201831014857
ticks are more suitable than red foxes for monitoring zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in northeastern italy.northeastern italy is a hotspot for several tick-borne pathogens, transmitted to animals and humans mainly by ixodes ricinus. here we compare the results of molecular monitoring of ticks and zoonotic tbps over a six-year period, with the monitoring of red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in an endemic area.201829554970
first molecular identification of kobuviruses in wolves (canis lupus) in italy.canine kobuviruses (cakovs) were first identified in diarrhoeic and asymptomatic dogs in 2011 in the usa. subsequent studies have demonstrated a worldwide distribution of these viruses, but it is not clear if cakovs play a role as enteric pathogens of dogs. more recently, cakov rna has been detected in wild carnivores, including red fox, golden jackal, side-striped jackal and spotted hyena. in this study, we addressed the hypothesis that wolves are susceptible to cakov infections. a total of 185 ...201829101539
an assessment of shedding with the oral rabies virus vaccine strain spbn gasgas in target and non-target species.a safety requirement for live vaccines is investigating possible shedding in recipients since the presence of replication competent vaccine in secretions could result in direct and indirect horizontal transmission. this is especially relevant for oral rabies vaccine baits that are deliberately distributed into the environment. in the current study, survival of an oral rabies virus vaccine, spbn gasgas, was examined in excretions from different target and non-target species; red fox, raccoon dog, ...201829325820
development of a genotype-by-sequencing immunogenetic assay as exemplified by screening for variation in red fox with and without endemic rabies exposure.pathogens are recognized as major drivers of local adaptation in wildlife systems. by determining which gene variants are favored in local interactions among populations with and without disease, spatially explicit adaptive responses to pathogens can be elucidated. much of our current understanding of host responses to disease comes from a small number of genes associated with an immune response. high-throughput sequencing (hts) technologies, such as genotype-by-sequencing (gbs), facilitate expa ...201829321894
prevalence survey on lungworm (angiostrongylus vasorum, crenosoma vulpis, eucoleus aerophilus) infections of wild red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in central germany.angiostrongylus vasorum, crenosoma vulpis and eucoleus aerophilus are a source of increasing concern, potentially causing significant pulmonary and severe cardiac/systemic diseases in domestic dogs and wild canids, especially red foxes (vulpes vulpes). to investigate the prevalence and geographical distribution of these parasites in central germany, a total of 569 foxes were examined by dissection.201829409523
native reptiles alter their foraging in the presence of the olfactory cues of invasive mammalian predators.invasive mammalian predators are linked to terrestrial vertebrate extinctions worldwide. prey naïveté may explain the large impact invasive predators have on native prey; prey may fail to detect and react appropriately to the cues of novel predators, which results in high levels of depredation. in australia, the feral cat (felis catus) and the red fox (vulpes vulpes) are implicated in more than 30 animal extinctions and the naïveté of native prey is often used to explain this high extinction rat ...201830473801
molecular surveillance of piroplasms in ticks from small and medium-sized urban and peri-urban mammals in australia.natural landscape alterations as a consequence of urbanisation are one of the main drivers in the movements of wildlife into metropolitan and peri-urban areas. worldwide, these wildlife species are highly adaptable and may be responsible for the transmission of tick-borne pathogens including piroplasms (babesia, theileria and cytauxzoon spp.) that cause piroplasmosis in animals and occasionally in humans. little is known about piroplasms in the ticks of urban wildlife in australia. ticks from lo ...201829988853
gongylonema infection of wild mammals in japan and sardinia (italy).the gullet worms, classical gongylonema pulchrum and newly differentiated gongylonema nepalensis, are prevalent in various mammals in japan and sardinia, italy, respectively. the former species is cosmopolitan in distribution, dwelling in the mucosa of the upper digestive tract of a variety of domestic and wild mammals, and also humans. at present, the geographical distribution of g. nepalensis is known in nepal and sardinia, with the nematode having been recorded from the oesophagus of water bu ...201830457072
assessment of bias in morphological identification of carnivore scats confirmed with molecular scatology in north-eastern himalayan region of pakistan.scats are often used to study ecological parameters of carnivore species. however, field identification of carnivore scats, based on their morphological characteristics, becomes difficult if many carnivore species are distributed in the same area. we assessed error rates in morphological identification of five sympatric carnivores' scats in north-eastern himalayan region of pakistan during 2013-2017. a sample of 149 scats were subjected to molecular identification using fecal dna. we used a conf ...201830038872
diversity of anaplasma and ehrlichia/neoehrlichia agents in terrestrial wild carnivores worldwide: implications for human and domestic animal health and wildlife conservation.recently, the incidence and awareness of tick-borne diseases in humans and animals have increased due to several factors, which in association favor the chances of contact among wild animals and their ectoparasites, domestic animals and humans. wild and domestic carnivores are considered the primary source of tick-borne zoonotic agents to humans. among emergent tick-borne pathogens, agents belonging to family anaplasmataceae (order rickettsiales) agents stand out due their worldwide distribution ...201830533417
fox sightings in a city are related to certain land use classes and sociodemographics: results from a citizen science project.red foxes (vulpes vulpes l.) have become successful inhabitants of urban areas in recent years. however, our knowledge about the occurrence, distribution and association with land uses of these urban foxes is poor, partly because many favoured habitats are on private properties and therefore hardly accessible to scientists. we assumed that citizen science, i.e. the involvement of the public, could enable researchers to bridge this information gap. we analysed 1179 fox sightings in the city of vi ...201830497463
foxes (vulpes vulpes) as sentinels for parasitic zoonoses, toxoplasma gondii and trichinella nativa, in the northeastern canadian arctic.outbreaks of toxoplasma gondii and trichinella spp. have been recurring for decades among inuit of nunavik, northeastern canada. contact with wildlife has been identified as a risk factor for inuit exposure to t. gondii, but reservoirs have yet to be confirmed based on direct detection of dna or organism. similarly, little is known about the occurrence of trichinella spp. in wildlife species of nunavik other than walrus (odobenus rosmarus) and bears (ursus americanus, ursus maritimus). foxes (vu ...201830370219
red fox genome assembly identifies genomic regions associated with tame and aggressive behaviours.strains of red fox (vulpes vulpes) with markedly different behavioural phenotypes have been developed in the famous long-term selective breeding programme known as the russian farm-fox experiment. here we sequenced and assembled the red fox genome and re-sequenced a subset of foxes from the tame, aggressive and conventional farm-bred populations to identify genomic regions associated with the response to selection for behaviour. analysis of the re-sequenced genomes identified 103 regions with ei ...201830082739
prevalence of intestinal helminths of red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in central europe (poland): a significant zoonotic threat.the red fox (vulpes vulpes) is widely distributed in the world; in central europe, it is the most numerous wild species of the family canidae. it can play the role of a definitive host for many intestinal parasites, including zoonotic helminths. poland, with its geographical location (central europe), is an interesting area for parasitological investigations of this species. the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the prevalence of intestinal helminths in red foxes in different regions ...201830055657
first identification of echinococcus multilocularis in golden jackals in croatia.alveolar echinococcosis, caused by the tapeworm echinococcus multilocularis, is one of the world's most dangerous zoonosis and an emerging disease with growing incidence in humans. the disease has been reported in new areas and host species in the last two decades, and the primary hosts of the parasite - red fox, golden jackal and grey wolf - are expanding their distribution in europe. here we report the morphological and molecular identification of echinococcus multilocularis tapeworms in one o ...201829975650
seroprevalence of 12 serovars of pathogenic leptospira in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in poland.leptospira spp. infect humans and a wide range of domestic and wild animals, but certain species such as small rodents and red foxes (vulpes vulpes) play a particular role as reservoirs and transmission of leptospirosis as they easily adapt to many habitats including human environments. to investigate the significance of red foxes in the epidemiology of leptospirosis in poland, a seroprevalence survey was conducted. during the 2014-2015 hunting season, blood samples of 2134 red foxes originating ...201829855374
what does the fox say? monitoring antimicrobial resistance in the environment using wild red foxes as an indicator.the objective of this study was to estimate and compare the occurrence of amr in wild red foxes in relation to human population densities. samples from wild red foxes (n = 528) included in the norwegian monitoring programme on antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from food, feed and animals were included. all samples were divided into three different groups based on population density in the municipality where the foxes were hunted. of the 528 samples included, 108 (20.5%), 328 (62.1%) and 92 (1 ...201829799852
a citizen science based survey method for estimating the density of urban carnivores.globally there are many examples of synanthropic carnivores exploiting growth in urbanisation. as carnivores can come into conflict with humans and are potential vectors of zoonotic disease, assessing densities in suburban areas and identifying factors that influence them are necessary to aid management and mitigation. however, fragmented, privately owned land restricts the use of conventional carnivore surveying techniques in these areas, requiring development of novel methods. we present a met ...201829787598
the golden jackal (canis aureus) as an indicator animal for trichinella britovi in iran.nematodes of the genus trichinella are zoonotic parasites causing trichinellosis. in iran, these parasites occur in several animal species and rare cases have been recorded in humans. to monitor the epidemiological pattern of these parasites in the khorasan-e-razavi province, northeastern iran, muscle tissues were collected from the tongues of roadkill animals between 2016 and 2017: 295 stray dogs, one red fox (vulpes vulpes), 12 golden jackals (canis aureus), and one wild boar (sus scrofa). tri ...201829745365
the eyeworm thelazia callipaeda in portugal: current status of infection in pets and wild mammals and case report in a beech marten (martes foina).ocular thelaziosis is caused by nematodes of the genus thelazia (spirurida, thelaziidae), which inhabit the surface of the eyes and associated tissues. thelazia callipaeda affects a range of mammal species, including humans, and in the last two decades has been reported in multiple european countries, being classified as an emergent vector-borne pathogen. in portugal t. callipaeda is endemic in north-eastern areas, where it has been reported in domestic dogs, cats, red foxes (vulpes vulpes) and ...201829559141
consumption of big game remains by scavengers: a potential risk as regards disease transmission in central spain.understanding the role that facultative scavenger species may play in spreading infectious pathogens, and even becoming reservoirs for humans, domestic and wild ungulates or, on the contrary, preventing the spread of disease, requires a prior understanding of the pattern of carrion scavenging in specific scenarios. the objectives of this paper are (i) to describe the guild of vertebrate scavengers and (ii) to study the species-specific, habitat, and management-related factors involved in the usa ...201829552564
high density of fox and cat faeces in kitchen gardens and resulting rodent exposure to echinococcus multilocularis and toxoplasma gondii.the faeces of the red fox, vulpes vulpes (linnaeus), and the domestic cat, felis catus (linnaeus), can be responsible for spreading eggs of echinococcus multilocularis leuckart, 1863 and oocysts of toxoplasma gondii (nicolle et manceaux, 1908) into the environment. the accidental ingestion of these eggs or oocysts, through consumption of raw fruits or vegetables grown in or in contact with contaminated soil, can lead to alveolar echinococcosis (ae) or toxoplasmosis in humans. the present study p ...201829528299
first record of the tick ixodes (pholeoixodes) kaiseri in turkey.nymphs and larvae belonging to ixodes spp. were collected from a red fox in turkey. the ticks were identified morphologically and molecularly (16s rdna pcr and phylogenetic analysis) as i. kaiseri. sequence and phylogenetic analyses show that our i. kaiseri isolate is very similar to i. kaiseri isolates collected from germany, serbia, romania, and hungary. therefore, the existence of i. kaiseri has been demonstrated for the first time in turkey. more studies relating to the regional distribution ...201829374844
trypanosoma cruzi strain tciv infects raccoons from illinois.the northern limits of trypanosoma cruzi across the territory of the united states remain unknown. the known vectors triatoma sanguisuga and t. lecticularia find their northernmost limits in illinois; yet, earlier screenings of those insects did not reveal the presence of the pathogen, which has not been reported in vectors or reservoir hosts in this state.201829211106
high diversity of hemotropic mycoplasmas in iberian wild carnivores.two-hundred and thirty-one wild carnivores belonging to 10 species of in spain were analyzed for the presence of dna of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) by means of a universal real-time pcr targeting a 16s rrna gene fragment. positive reactions were found for wolf (canis lupus: 6/37), fox (vulpes vulpes: 1/41), eurasian badger (meles meles: 49/85), pine marten (martes martes: 11/23), stone marten (martes foina: 6/9), least weasel (mustela nivalis: 4/4), european wildcat (felis s. silvestris ...201830396424
australian native mammals recognize and respond to alien predators: a meta-analysis.prey naiveté is a failure to recognize novel predators and thought to cause exaggerated impacts of alien predators on native wildlife. yet there is equivocal evidence in the literature for native prey naiveté towards aliens. to address this, we conducted a meta-analysis of australian mammal responses to native and alien predators. australia has the world's worst record of extinction and declines of native mammals, largely owing to two alien predators introduced more than 150 years ago: the feral ...201830135153
nuclear genetic analysis of the red fox across its trans-pacific range.the red fox (vulpes vulpes) occurs on multiple continents in diverse habitats, making it an informative system for evolutionary genomic research. however, its phylogeography remains unclear. previously, mitochondrial dna and small numbers of nuclear loci provided discordant views. both markers indicated deep divergence (~ 0.5 million years [my]) between eurasian and southern north american populations but differed in the apparent continental affinity of alaskan red foxes, implying some degree of ...201829889225
fear, foraging and olfaction: how mesopredators avoid costly interactions with apex predators.where direct killing is rare and niche overlap low, sympatric carnivores may appear to coexist without conflict. interference interactions, harassment and injury from larger carnivores may still pose a risk to smaller mesopredators. foraging theory suggests that animals should adjust their behaviour accordingly to optimise foraging efficiency and overall fitness, trading off harvest rate with costs to fitness. the foraging behaviour of red foxes, vulpes vulpes, was studied with automated cameras ...201829654482
recolonizing gray wolves increase parasite infection risk in their prey.the recent recolonization of central europe by the european gray wolf (canis lupus) provides an opportunity to study the dynamics of parasite transmission for cases when a definitive host returns after a phase of local extinction. we investigated whether a newly established wolf population increased the prevalence of those parasites in ungulate intermediate hosts representing wolf prey, whether some parasite species are particularly well adapted to wolves, and the potential basis for such adapta ...201829468033
echinococcus multilocularis in a wild free-living eastern chipmunk (tamias striatus) in southern ontario: a case report and subsequent field study of wild small mammals.southern ontario has recently been identified as a risk area for echinococcus multilocularis, based on surveys of foxes (vulpes vulpes) and coyotes (canis latrans) which act as definitive hosts of the parasite. in this manuscript, we describe the first detection of e. multilocularis in an eastern chipmunk (tamias striatus) in north america. this case, submitted to the canadian wildlife health cooperative (cwhc) in august 2016 as part of ongoing wildlife disease surveillance activities, represent ...201831014882
detecting co-infections of echinococcus multilocularis and echinococcus canadensis in coyotes and red foxes in alberta, canada using real-time pcr.the continued monitoring of echinococcus species in intermediate and definitive hosts is essential to understand the eco-epidemiology of these parasites, as well to assess their potential impact on public health. in canada, co-infections of echinococcus canadensis and echinococcus multilocularis based on genetic characterization have been recently reported in wolves, but not yet in other possible hosts such as coyotes and foxes. in this study, we aimed to develop a quantitative real-time pcr ass ...201829988802
coexistence of coyotes (canis latrans) and red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in an urban landscape.urban environments are increasing worldwide and are inherently different than their rural counterparts, with a variety of effects on wildlife due to human presence, increased habitat fragmentation, movement barriers, and access to anthropogenic food sources. effective management of urban wildlife requires an understanding of how urbanization affects their behavior and ecology. the spatial activity and interactions of urban wildlife, however, have not been as rigorously researched as in rural are ...201829364916
occurrence of tongue worm,linguatula cf. serrata(pentastomida: linguatulidae) in wild canids and livestock in south-eastern australia.pentastomids are obligate zoonotic arthropod parasites utilising canids and vulpids as their definitive hosts and several herbivorous species as their intermediate hosts. reported only 10 times in australia over the last 150 years as incidental findings, adult pentastomids referred to aslinguatula serratahave been encountered in nasal cavities of domestic and wild dogs, and foxes. nymphs have been reported in cattle and rabbits. in the present study, a number of potential definitive hosts, inclu ...201728971014
serum concentration of macro-, micro-, and trace elements in silver fox (vulpes vulpes) and their interrelationships with morphometric, densitometric, and mechanical properties of the mandible.the optimal content of macro-, micro-, and trace elements in tissues ensures proper systemic growth and development and optimal health status in animals and humans. however, very little is known on the elemental content in the plasma compartment in silver fox. the aim of this study was to determine the content of selected elements in serum obtained from 8-month-old female (n = 8) and male (n = 7) silver foxes. moreover, relationships of the evaluated elements with the morphological, densitometri ...201729264823
latent class models for echinococcus multilocularis diagnosis in foxes in switzerland in the absence of a gold standard.in europe the principal definitive host for echinococcus multilocularis, causing alveolar echinococcosis in humans, is the red fox (vulpes vulpes). obtaining reliable estimates of the prevalence of e. multilocularis and relevant risk factors for infection in foxes can be difficult if diagnostic tests with unknown test accuracies are used. latent-class analysis can be used to obtain estimates of diagnostic test sensitivities and specificities in the absence of a perfect gold standard. samples fro ...201729258612
molecular characterization of enterocytozoon bieneusi in wild carnivores in spain.microsporidia comprises a diverse group of obligate intracellular parasites that infect a broad range of invertebrates and vertebrates. among microsporidia, enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most frequently detected species in humans and animals worldwide bringing into question the possible role of animal reservoirs in the epidemiology of this pathogen. although e. bieneusi is an emerging zoonotic pathogen able to infect many domestic and wild mammals that could act as reservoir of infection for hu ...201729230898
trichinella spiralis a new alien parasite in italy and the increased risk of infection for domestic and wild swine.in europe, trichinella spiralis, the most dangerous species for humans of the genus trichinella, has a patchy distribution with important foci in eastern countries and spain. this zoonotic pathogen was apparently not circulating among wild and domestic animals of italy. in 2016, muscle larvae belonging to this nematode species were detected in a red fox (vulpes vulpes) shot in the piacenza province (northern italy). this parasite may have been introduced into northern italy from eastern europe b ...201728969769
introduction of canine parvovirus 2 into wildlife on the island of newfoundland, canada.canine parvovirus-2 (cpv-2) and feline panleukopenia virus (fpv) (species carnivore protoparvovirus 1, family parvoviridae) cause a severe gastrointestinal disease associated with immune depression in a broad range of terrestrial carnivores. we report here the first molecular epidemiological investigation of protoparvoviruses on the island of newfoundland, canada. in particular, we investigated red foxes (vulpes vulpes deletrix) and lynx (lynx canadensis subsolanus), two autochthonous species, a ...201728935611
potential role of wolf (canis lupus) as passive carrier of european brown hare syndrome virus (ebhsv).european brown hare syndrome virus (ebhsv) was detected in a faecal swab collected from a wolf carcass in northern italy. the full-length genome of the ebhsv wolf/17/2016/ita strain was determined. in the vp60 capsid gene, the wolf strain displayed the highest genetic identity (99.2-99.1% nucleotide and 99.6-99.7% amino acid) with two ebhsv strains recently found in the intestinal content of a red fox and in the spleen and liver of a hare in northern italy. this finding poses interrogatives on t ...201729195228
assessment of dose rate to terrestrial biota in the area around coal fired power plant applying erica tool and resrad biota code.this paper presents the environmental radiation risk assessment based on two software program approaches erica tool (version 1.2) and resrad biota (version 1.5) to estimate dose rates to terrestrial biota in the area around the largest coal fired power plant in serbia. for dose rate assessment software's default reference animals and plants and the best estimated values of activity concentrations of 238u, 234u, 234th, 232th, 230th, 226ra, 210pb, 210po, 137cs in soil were used. both approaches re ...201728964597
humans identify negative (but not positive) arousal in silver fox vocalizations: implications for the adaptive value of interspecific eavesdropping.the ability to identify emotional arousal in heterospecific vocalizations may facilitate behaviors that increase survival opportunities. crucially, this ability may orient inter-species interactions, particularly between humans and other species. research shows that humans identify emotional arousal in vocalizations across multiple species, such as cats, dogs, and piglets. however, no previous study has addressed humans' ability to identify emotional arousal in silver foxes. here, we adopted low ...201729492004
meerkats (suricata suricatta), a new definitive host of the canid nematodeangiostrongylus vasorum.angiostronglyus vasorumis a cardiopulmonary nematode infecting mainly canids such as dogs (canis familiaris) and foxes (vulpes vulpes). natural infections have also been reported in mustelids and red pandas (ailurus fulgens fulgens). we report the occurrence of naturala. vasoruminfections in a group of captive meerkats (suricata suricatta), housed at a university facility in switzerland.a. vasorumfirst-stage larvae (l1) were initially identified in a pooled faecal sample. individual samples, inv ...201729379713
prey selection and dietary flexibility of three species of mammalian predator during an irruption of non-cyclic prey.predators often display dietary shifts in response to fluctuating prey in cyclic systems, but little is known about predator diets in systems that experience non-cyclic prey irruptions. we tracked dietary shifts by feral cats (felis catus), red foxes (vulpes vulpes) and dingoes (canis dingo) through a non-cyclic irruption of small mammalian prey in the simpson desert, central australia. we predicted that all three predators would alter their diets to varying degrees as small mammals declined pos ...201728989739
microtus arvalis and arvicola scherman: key players in the echinococcus multilocularis life cycle.a broad range of rodent species are described as potential intermediate hosts for echinococcus multilocularis, a wide-spread zoonotic cestode causing alveolar echinococcosis. however, little is known about the relative contribution of these species for parasite reproduction and the maintenance of its life cycle. in a comparative study in a high endemic region in zurich, switzerland, we investigated prevalence rates and fertility of e. multilocularis in the most abundant vole species as well as t ...201729326950
trichinella spp. biomass has increased in raccoon dogs (nyctereutes procyonoides) and red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in estonia.raccoon dogs and red foxes are well-adapted hosts for trichinella spp. the aims of this study were to estimate trichinella infection prevalence and biomass and to investigate which trichinella species circulated in these indicator hosts in estonia.201729246168
first report of pneumonia caused by angiostrongylus vasorum in a golden jackal.angiostrongylosis caused by metastrongyloid nematode angiostrongylus vasorum is an emerging parasitic disease in europe and the red fox (vulpes vulpes) is considered as a main reservoir species for this parasite. little is known about the role of other wild canids in the epidemiology of angiostrongylosis. the present paper provides the first description of pathomorphological lesions caused by a. vasorum in a golden jackal (canis aureus). the paper describes a case of co-infection with a. vasorum ...201729035862
human-modified habitats facilitate forest-dwelling populations of an invasive predator, vulpes vulpes.invasive and over-abundant predators pose a major threat to biodiversity and often benefit from human activities. effective management requires understanding predator use of human-modified habitats (including resource subsidies and disturbed environments), and individual variation within populations. we investigated selection for human-modified habitats by invasive red foxes, vulpes vulpes, within two predominantly forested australian landscapes. we predicted that foxes would select for human-mo ...201728947832
trichinella infections in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) and golden jackals (canis aureus) in six districts of serbia.wild animals, including red foxes (vulpes vulpes) and golden jackals (canis aureus), are the most important reservoirs of trichinella spp. although the red fox is considered one of the main reservoirs of trichinella spp. in europe, only a few animals have been examined in serbia. the present study assessed trichinella spp. infection in red foxes and golden jackals from the six districts in serbia. thirty-seven carcasses of red foxes and 13 carcasses of golden jackals shot during the official hun ...201728920804
mesopredator management: effects of red fox control on the abundance, diet and use of space by feral cats.apex predators are subject to lethal control in many parts of the world to minimize their impacts on human industries and livelihoods. diverse communities of smaller predators-mesopredators-often remain after apex predator removal. despite concern that these mesopredators may be 'released' in the absence of the apex predator and exert negative effects on each other and on co-occurring prey, these interactions have been little studied. here, we investigate the potential effects of competition and ...201728068378
the eurasian otter (lutra lutra) as a potential host for rickettsial pathogens in southern italy.canine monocytic ehrlichiosis and rickettsiosis are zoonotic tick-borne diseases of canids caused by the intracellular obligate bacteria ehrlichia canis and rickettsia species respectively. in this study, we investigated using standard and real-time pcr and sequencing, the occurrence and molecular characterization of e. canis and rickettsia species in the eurasian otter (lutra lutra) from the southern italian population. samples were screened by using molecular assays also for neospora caninum, ...201728267780
the effect of host age and inoculation dose on infection dynamics of angiostrongylus vasorum in red foxes (vulpes vulpes).infections and clinical cases of angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs are found increasingly across europe, thus rendering knowledge on its infection biology more important. we used red foxes as a carnivore model to examine the effect of host age and infection dose on the establishment of adult a. vasorum in single experimental infections.201728049507
the prevalence and impact of babesia canis and theileria sp. in free-ranging grey wolf (canis lupus) populations in croatia.babesia spp. and theileria spp. are important emerging causes of disease in dogs. alongside these domesticated hosts, there is increasing recognition that these piroplasms can also be found in a range of wild animals with isolated reports describing the presence of these pathogen in foxes (vulpes vulpes) and captive grey wolves (canis lupus). the prevalence and impact of these infections in free-ranging populations of canids are unknown. to gain a better insight into the epidemiology and pathoge ...201728376903
genetic diversity of echinococcus multilocularis in red foxes in poland: the first report of a haplotype of probable asian origin.the aim of the present study was to estimate the genetic diversity of the cestode echinococcus multilocularis leuckart, 1863 in poland based on sequence analysis of the mitochondrial genes of worms isolated from red foxes, vulpes vulpes (linnaeus). overall, 83 adults of e. multilocularis from the same number of foxes in different parts of poland were used for analysis. sequences of the three mitochondrial genes, cytochrome b (cob), nadh dehydrogenase subunit 2 (nad2) and cytochrome c oxidase sub ...201728360380
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