<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Introduction:</bold> The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of respiratory capillariosis in red foxes (<italic>Vulpes vulpes</italic>) in some regions of Serbia.<bold>Material and Methods:</bold> The study was conducted on 102 foxes in six epizootiological regions of Serbia, during the hunting season between 2008 and 2012.<bold>Results:</bold> The presence of respiratory capillariosis in all tested epizootiological regions was confirmed. The <italic>E. aerophilus</italic> nematode was detected with overall prevalence of 49.02%. The diagnosis of <italic>E. aerophilus</italic> infection was confirmed by the determination of morphological characteristics of adult parasites found at necropsy and the trichurid egg types collected from the bronchial lavage and the content of the intestine.<bold>Conclusion:</bold> The presented results contribute to better understanding of the epidemiology of this nematodosis in Serbia. However, the high prevalence of capillaries in tested foxes, demonstrated in all explored areas, might suggest that foxes from other regions in Serbia may also be infected. The fact that domestic carnivores and humans can also be infected enhances the importance of the overall epidemiological status. To establish the relevant prevalence of respiratory capillariosis, further investigations and continous monitoring of parasitic fauna of carnivores are needed in the whole country.</abstract>

Introduction: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of respiratory capillariosis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in some regions of Serbia.Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 102 foxes in six epizootiological regions of Serbia, during the hunting season between 2008 and 2012.Results: The presence of respiratory capillariosis in all tested epizootiological regions was confirmed. The E. aerophilus nematode was detected with overall prevalence of 49.02%. The diagnosis of E. aerophilus infection was confirmed by the determination of morphological characteristics of adult parasites found at necropsy and the trichurid egg types collected from the bronchial lavage and the content of the intestine.Conclusion: The presented results contribute to better understanding of the epidemiology of this nematodosis in Serbia. However, the high prevalence of capillaries in tested foxes, demonstrated in all explored areas, might suggest that foxes from other regions in Serbia may also be infected. The fact that domestic carnivores and humans can also be infected enhances the importance of the overall epidemiological status. To establish the relevant prevalence of respiratory capillariosis, further investigations and continous monitoring of parasitic fauna of carnivores are needed in the whole country.

Red foxes (<italic>Vulpes vulpes</italic>) as reservoirs of respiratory capillariosis in Serbia

Department for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

Department for Animal Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

Public Health Institute “Niš“, 18000 Niš, Serbia

Department for Equine, Small Animal, Poultry and Wild Animal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

Department of Animal Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

Veterinary Directorate, Regional Veterinary Inspection Office of Braničevo District, 12222 Braničevo, Serbia

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Red foxes () as reservoirs of respiratory capillariosis in Serbia

Introduction: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of respiratory capillariosis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in some regions of Serbia.Material...

Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) as reservoirs of respiratory capillariosis in Serbia

Published Online: May 28, 2016

Page range: 153 - 157

Received: Oct 28, 2015

Accepted: May 16, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jvetres-2016-0022

Keywords
foxes, epidemiology, Serbia

© 2016 Tamara Ilić et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) as reservoirs of respiratory capillariosis in Serbia

Published Online: May 28, 2016

Page range: 153 - 157

Received: Oct 28, 2015

Accepted: May 16, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jvetres-2016-0022

Keywordsfoxes, epidemiology, Serbia

© 2016 Tamara Ilić et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
foxes, epidemiology, Serbia