Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in red foxes in Slovakia

Abstract

Sera or meat juices of 177 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) originated from the localities of a human-influenced landscape (Group 1) and 126 foxes from the protected mountain region (Group 2) of Slovakia, collected during 2010-2014 were tested for the presence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii using indirect ELISA and Neospora caninum by competitive ELISA. The tissue and uncoagulated blood samples were examined for the presence of the parasite's DNA. The total seropositivity to T. gondii was 62.7% (190/303) and to N. caninum 26.4% (80/303). In the Group 1 antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 74.0% (131/177) and to N. caninum in 38.9% (69/177). In the Group 2 significantly lower seropositivity of 46.8% (59/126) to T. gondii antigens (P = 0.0218) and 8.7% (11/126) to N. caninum (P = 0.0001) was detected, respectively. However, by using molecular method, the presence of both parasites, was recorded less frequently. While in Group 1 T. gondii DNA was detected in 10.0% and N. caninum DNA in 18.3% of examined samples, in Group 2 T. gondii DNA was not detected at all and N. caninum was detected in 9.1% samples only. Results indicate that examined infections are highly common in the red foxes in Slovakia and are widespread in the locations of Eastern Slovakia bordering Poland, Ukraine and Hungary. The high infection rate in foxes representing reservoir hosts, presumably originates from their infected prey, ungulate carcasses, or from residual infected tissues in the hunting grounds after evisceration of shot animals during a hunting season.

Occurrence of Bacterial and Protozoan Pathogens in Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Central Italy

“…Foxes are considered as natural intermediate hosts for the protozoon, while fail to excrete oocysts [ 54 ] and rarely develop clinical signs [ 55 ]. Seroprevalences in Europe range from 0% [ 56 , 57 ] to 26.4% [ 58 ]. In surveys similar to the present study parasite DNA was not recovered from red foxes in Saxony [ 59 ] nor in Czech Republic [ 60 ], while was identified in 4.6% animals in a previous study in Czech Republic [ 61 ], in 4.8% from United Kingdom [ 62 ], in 9% to 18% from Slovakia [ 58 ], and 10% from Spain [ 54 ].…”

“…Seroprevalences in Europe range from 0% [ 56 , 57 ] to 26.4% [ 58 ]. In surveys similar to the present study parasite DNA was not recovered from red foxes in Saxony [ 59 ] nor in Czech Republic [ 60 ], while was identified in 4.6% animals in a previous study in Czech Republic [ 61 ], in 4.8% from United Kingdom [ 62 ], in 9% to 18% from Slovakia [ 58 ], and 10% from Spain [ 54 ]. Our results are also supported by the lack of seropositivity in 253 foxes living in the same area (unpublished data), examined by IFAT in the last 10 years.…”

Türkiye’de kızıl tilki beyin (Vulpes vulpes) örneğinde Neospora caninum’un ilk moleküler tespiti

“…They spread parasites to animal and human settlements. Therefore, it is very important to determine which parasites red foxes act as both intermediate and final hosts (11,12,15).…”