<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><italic>Giardia</italic> and <italic>Cryptosporidium</italic> are common protozoan parasites affecting several animal species and humans. The aim of this survey was to investigate, for the first time, their prevalence in red fox (<italic>Vulpes vulpes</italic>) faecal samples in central Italy. Seventy-one red foxes of different ages and sexes were examined for antigenic detection of <italic>Giardia</italic> and <italic>Cryptosporidium</italic> in fecal samples by means of a commercial rapid immunochromatographic test. The sample was randomly selected from foxes culled during a population control program. They were divided into groups based on sex and age (≤1-year-old and >1-year-old). Five (7%) and one (1.4%) out of 71 fecal samples were positive for the <italic>Giardia</italic> or <italic>Cryptosporidium</italic> antigens by immunochromatographic assay, respectively, and no coinfections were observed. The present prevalence rates of <italic>Giardia</italic> and <italic>Cryptosporidium</italic> antigens in faeces from <italic>V. vulpes</italic> suggest that this host species is likely to play only a limited role in the spread of the two protozoa in the study area. A concise review of the literature related to <italic>Giardia</italic> and <italic>Cryptosporidium</italic> in <italic>V. vulpes</italic> is presented.</p></abstract>

Giardia and Cryptosporidium are common protozoan parasites affecting several animal species and humans. The aim of this survey was to investigate, for the first time, their prevalence in red fox (Vulpes vulpes) faecal samples in central Italy. Seventy-one red foxes of different ages and sexes were examined for antigenic detection of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in fecal samples by means of a commercial rapid immunochromatographic test. The sample was randomly selected from foxes culled during a population control program. They were divided into groups based on sex and age (≤1-year-old and >1-year-old). Five (7%) and one (1.4%) out of 71 fecal samples were positive for the Giardia or Cryptosporidium antigens by immunochromatographic assay, respectively, and no coinfections were observed. The present prevalence rates of Giardia and Cryptosporidium antigens in faeces from V. vulpes suggest that this host species is likely to play only a limited role in the spread of the two protozoa in the study area. A concise review of the literature related to Giardia and Cryptosporidium in V. vulpes is presented.

<italic>Giardia</italic> and <italic>Cryptosporidium</italic> in Red Foxes (<italic>Vulpes Vulpes</italic>): Screening for Coproantigens in a Population of Central Italy and Mini-Review of the Literature

Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health

Macedonian Veterinary Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

 and  in Red Foxes (): Screening for Coproantigens in a Population of Central Italy and Mini-Review of the Literature

Giardia and Cryptosporidium are common protozoan parasites affecting several animal species and humans. The aim of this survey was to investigate, for the...

Giardia and Cryptosporidium in Red Foxes (Vulpes Vulpes): Screening for Coproantigens in a Population of Central Italy and Mini-Review of the Literature

Published Online: Mar 28, 2019

Page range: 101 - 106

Received: Apr 16, 2018

Accepted: Jan 29, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/macvetrev-2019-0013

Keywords
coproantigens, red fox,

© 2018 Roberto Amerigo Papini et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Giardia and Cryptosporidium in Red Foxes (Vulpes Vulpes): Screening for Coproantigens in a Population of Central Italy and Mini-Review of the Literature

Published Online: Mar 28, 2019

Page range: 101 - 106

Received: Apr 16, 2018

Accepted: Jan 29, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/macvetrev-2019-0013

Keywordscoproantigens, red fox,

© 2018 Roberto Amerigo Papini et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
coproantigens, red fox,