Apicomplexan parasites of red foxes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vulpes vulpes</Emphasis>) in northeastern Poland |
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Authors: | Grzegorz Karbowiak Viktória Majláthová Joanna Hapunik Branislav Pet’ko Irena Wita |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA |
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Abstract: | Molecular detection of apicomplexan parasites in splenic samples of red foxes collected from northeastern Poland was conducted
by PCR amplification of a fragment of the 18S rRNA spanning the V4 gene region of Apicomplexa. Positive PCR products were
further analysed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequencing to identify species. One hundred and eleven
red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were acquired from 15 localities in the Mazovian Province and 27 foxes were acquired from the Mazurian Lakeland. Apicomplexan
18S rDNA was detected in 15.9% of 138 fox spleens examined. Three apicomplexan species were identified: Hepatozoon canis was detected in 11.6% of the spleen samples, Toxoplasma gondii was detected in 3.6% of the spleen samples and a Babesia sp. was sequenced from 1 sample (0.7%). This data represent the first record of H. canis, T. gondii and a B. sp. from naturally infected red foxes in Poland. Infected foxes may act as sylvatic reservoirs of these apicomplexan parasites
as well as serving as a source of infection for arthropod definitive hosts and vectors. |
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