title: A molecular survey of vector-borne pathogens in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have recently been recognized as potential reservoirs of several vector-borne pathogens and a source of infection for domestic dogs and humans, mostly due to their close vicinity to urban areas and frequent exposure to different arthropod vectors. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and distribution of Babesia spp., Hepatozoon canis, Anaplasma spp., Bartonella spp., 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis', Ehrlichia canis, Rickettsia spp. and blood filaroid nematodes in free-ranging red foxes from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spleen samples from a total of 119 red foxes, shot during the hunting season between October 2013 and April 2014 throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, were examined for the presence of blood vector-borne pathogens by conventional PCRs and sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present study, three species of apicomplexan parasites were molecularly identified in 73 red foxes from the entire sample area, with an overall prevalence of 60.8%. The DNA of B. canis, B. cf. microti and H. canis was found in 1 (0.8%), 38 (31.9%) and 46 (38.6%) spleen samples, respectively. In 11 samples (9.2%) co-infections with B. cf. microti and H. canis were detected and one fox harboured all three parasites (0.8%). There were no statistically significant differences between geographical region, sex or age of the host in the infection prevalence of B. cf. microti, although females (52.9%; 18/34) were significantly more infected with H. canis than males (32.9%; 28/85). The presence of vector-borne bacteria and filaroid nematodes was not detected in our study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report of B. canis, B. cf. microti and H. canis parasites in foxes from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the data presented here provide a first insight into the distribution of these pathogens among the red fox population. Moreover, the relatively high prevalence of B. cf. microti and H. canis reinforces the assumption that this wild canid species might be a possible reservoir and source of infection for domestic dogs.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria. adnan.hodzic@vetmeduni.ac.at.
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hodžić
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. amer.alic@vfs.unsa.ba.
authors.forename: Amer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alić
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria. hans-peter.fuehrer@vetmeduni.ac.at.
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Fuehrer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria. josef.harl@vetmeduni.ac.at.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harl
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria. walpurga.wille-piazzai@vetmeduni.ac.at.
authors.forename: Walpurga
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wille-Piazzai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria. georg.duscher@vetmeduni.ac.at.
authors.forename: Georg Gerhard
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Duscher
mesh_terms: D000709:Anaplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001473:Bartonella / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004199:Disease Vectors; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005589:Foxes / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D009348:Nematoda / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*