Gastrointestinal helminth parasites of urban and rural foxes around Melbourne, Australia

TL;DR

This study found that most foxes in Melbourne are infected with parasites that could pose health risks to humans and pets.

Contribution

The study reports high helminth parasite prevalence in urban and rural foxes and identifies specific zoonotic risks.

Findings

92.2% of foxes had at least one gastrointestinal helminth parasite.

Common parasites included Toxocara canis, Uncinaria stenocephala, and Dipylidium caninum.

Parasite crossover between foxes, humans, and domestic animals poses a health risk.

Abstract

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is an introduced species to Australia whose population and spatial distribution have grown irreversibly. Due to their opportunistic feeding habits, extensive populations of foxes now inhabit urban and rural environments, where they coexist with humans and domesticated animals. The proximity of these predators presents public and animal health concerns as they harbour diseases that can cross between species. Accordingly, monitoring potential disease risk and prevalence in urban foxes is warranted. This study investigated the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in urban and rural foxes around Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The gastrointestinal tracts of 51 opportunistically collected foxes were thoroughly examined to collect adult helminth (i.e., nematode and cestode) parasites from the stomach as well as from the small and large intestines. The results showed that 92.2 % of foxes were infected with at least one gastrointestinal helminth parasite. Based on a morphological identification of worms, the detected nematode parasites were Toxocara canis (66.7 %) and Uncinaria stenocephala (56.9 %), while the identified tapeworms included Dipylidium caninum (39.2 %), Taenia spp. (11.8 %) and Spirometra mansoni (5.9 %). Single cases of Trichuris vulpis and Physalopetra sp. infections were detected. This study highlights a human and domestic animal health risk, as a crossover of parasitic infections is possible in areas where these parasites coexist.

Image 1

•Urban foxes can pose public and animal health risks.•Examination of 51 fox guts showed that 92 % were infected with at least one helminth parasite.•Common parasites detected were Toxocara canis (67 %), Uncinaria stenocephala (57 %) and Dipylidium caninum (39 %).•Parasite crossover between foxes, humans, and domestic animals poses a health risk in shared habitats.

Urban foxes can pose public and animal health risks.

Examination of 51 fox guts showed that 92 % were infected with at least one helminth parasite.

Common parasites detected were Toxocara canis (67 %), Uncinaria stenocephala (57 %) and Dipylidium caninum (39 %).

Parasite crossover between foxes, humans, and domestic animals poses a health risk in shared habitats.

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