title: Cercopithifilaria sp. II in Vulpes vulpes: new host affiliation for an enigmatic canine filarioid.
abstract: Cercopithifilaria bainae and Cercopithifilaria grassii (Spirurida, Onchocercidae) are filarioids inhabiting the skin of dogs worldwide. The microfilariae of a third species namely, Cercopithifilaria sp. II sensu Otranto et al. 2013, have been morphologically and molecularly characterized but scientific knowledge of this parasite is minimal. The first case of infection of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) with the filarioid Cercopithifilaria sp. II is herein described in Castro Marim, Portugal. Microfilariae from skin sediment of the fox's ear were morphological characterized, and the identification was confirmed molecularly in samples from skin sediment, skin samples, and from Rhipicephalus sanguineus group ticks collected from the animal (99% homology with Cercopithifilaria sp. II). Studies should evaluate if red foxes might play a role in the maintenance and distribution of Cercopithifilaria sp. II infection in dog populations.
authors.affiliation: Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua de Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal. carlamaia@ihmt.unl.pt.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.affiliation: RIAS Wildlife Rehabilitation and Research Centre, Apartado 1009, 8700-282, Olhão, Portugal.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casero
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Str. Prov. Per Casamassima km 3, 70010, Valenzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Annoscia
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Str. Prov. Per Casamassima km 3, 70010, Valenzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Stefania
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Latrofa
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Str. Prov. Per Casamassima km 3, 70010, Valenzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colella
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande, 376, 1749-024, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: RIAS Wildlife Rehabilitation and Research Centre, Apartado 1009, 8700-282, Olhão, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fábia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Str. Prov. Per Casamassima km 3, 70010, Valenzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Otranto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005589:Foxes / Q000469:parasitology*; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012876:Skin Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D017174:Spirurida; D017205:Spirurida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Cercopithifilaria sp. II; Portugal; Vulpes vulpes