Molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Central Italy

Acta Tropica
Valentina Virginia EbaniFrancesca Mancianti

Abstract

Spleen samples from 153 red foxes, shot during regular hunting season in the province of Pisa (Central Italy), were examined to detect DNA of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, Hepatozoon canis and Babesia sp./Theileria sp. DNA of vector-borne pathogens was detected in 120 (78.43%; 95% CI: 71.06-84.66%) foxes. Specifically, 75 (49%; 95% CI: 40.86-57.22%) animals scored PCR-positive per H. canis, 68 (44.44%; 95% CI: 36.42-52.69%) for E. canis, 35 (22.88%; 95% CI: 16.48-30.35%) for piroplasms (Theileria annae), 3 (1.96%; 95% CI: 0.41-5.62%) for C. burnetii and 1 (0.65%; 95% CI: 0.02-3.59%) for A. phagocytophilum. No positive reaction was observed for F. tularensis. Fifty-six animals (36.6%; 95% CI: 28.97-44.76%) were positive for two or three pathogens. Red foxes result to be involved in the cycle of vector-borne pathogens that are associated to disease in dogs and humans.

Citations

Dec 1, 2017·Experimental & Applied Acarology·Dario PistonePaolo Lanfranchi
Mar 21, 2018·Parasites & Vectors·Maayan Margalit LeviGad Baneth
May 14, 2020·Journal of Wildlife Diseases·Hacène MedkourOleg Mediannikov
May 20, 2018·Parasitology Research·Angel Criado-FornelioJ Pérez-Serrano
Feb 11, 2020·Frontiers in Veterinary Science·Elena BattistiEzio Ferroglio
Oct 9, 2019·Parasites & Vectors·Tomasz SzewczykGrzegorz Karbowiak
Mar 12, 2020·Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI·Lisa GuardoneFrancesca Mancianti
Sep 29, 2020·Transboundary and Emerging Diseases·Giovanni SgroiDomenico Otranto
Feb 12, 2021·Pathogens·Cristoforo GuccioneAntonio Cascio
Dec 12, 2020·Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI·Valentina Virginia EbaniFrancesca Mancianti

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