A helminthological survey of wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from the metropolitan area of Copenhagen.
Sixty-eight red foxes were collected from the metropolitan area of Copenhagen and examined for helminth infections. Standard faecal flotations for intestinal parasites gave the following results: Strongyle eggs (75.0%), Capillaria eggs (36.8%), Toxocara eggs (23.5%), Taenia eggs (1.5%), and coccidia oocysts (2.9%). Gastrointestinal helminths were collected from 21 of the 68 foxes with the following specimens found: Uncinaria stenocephala (85.7%), Toxocara canis (81.0%), Taenia spp. (38.1%), Mesocestoides lineatus (23.8%) and Polymorphus spp. (9.5%). Faeces of 39 foxes were examined by the Baermann method for larvae of cardiopulmonary worms with 20 foxes (51.3%) being infected. Fourteen foxes (35.9%) were infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum, 11 (28.2%) were infected with Crenosoma vulpis, and 5 foxes (12.8%) were infected with both species. Muscle digestion of diaphragms from the 68 foxes indicated that none harboured larvae of Trichinella spiralis.
Willingham
A L
AL
Danish Centre for Experimental Parasitology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Ockens
N W
NW
Kapel
C M
CM
Monrad
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005589:Foxes / Q000469:parasitology*; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal; D006376:Helminths / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014504:Urban Health