ORIGINAL_ARTICLE 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. https://macvetrev.mk/Files/Article/2020/10.2478/macvetrev-2019-0013/macvetrev-2019-0013.pdf 2019-03-15T09:00:00 101 106 10.2478/macvetrev-2019-0013 Giardia Cryptosporidium coproantigens red fox Vulpes vulpes Roberto Amerigo Papini roberto.amerigo.papini@unipi.it false 1 Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy LEAD_AUTHOR Ranieri Verin false 2 Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Institute of Veterinary Science, Leahurst Campus, University of Liverpool, Chester High Road, CH64 7TE, Neston, United Kingdom AUTHOR Feng, Y., Xiao, L. (2011). Zoonotic potential and molecular epidemiology of Giardia species and giardiasis. Clin Microbiol Rev. 24(1):110-140. PMid:21233509 PMCid:PMC3021202 1 10.1128/CMR.00033-10 Leitch, G. J., He, Q. (2011). Cryptosporidiosis–an overview. J Biomed Res. 25(1):1-16. 2 10.1016/S1674-8301(11)60001-8 Thomson, S., Hamilton, C. A., Hope, J. C., Katzer, F., Mabbott, N. A., Morrison, L. J., Innes, E. A. (2017). Bovine cryptosporidiosis:impact, hostRSparasite interaction and control strategies. Vet Res. 48(1):42. PMid:28800747 PMCid:PMC5553596 3 10.1186/s13567-017-0447-0 Hoffmann, M., Sillero-Zubiri, C. (2016). Vulpes vulpes. [Internet]. The IUCN red list of threatened species 2016:e.T23062A46190249. [cited April 5, 2018]. 4 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T23062A46190249.en Freuling, C. M., Hampson, K., Selhorst, T., Schröder, R., Meslin, F. X., Mettenleiter, T. C., Müller T. (2013). The elimination of fox rabies from Europe:determinants of success and lessons for the future. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 368 (1623):20120142. PMid:23798690 PMCid:PMC3720040 5 10.1098/rstb.2012.0142 Sartore, S., Mulatti, P., Trestini, S., Lorenzetto, M., Gagliazzo, L., Marangon, S., Bonfanti, L. (2018). The economic implications of sylvatic rabies eradication in Italy. Zoonoses Public Health 65(1):147–157. PMid:28795513 6 10.1111/zph.12383 Reperant, L. A., Hegglin, D., Fischer, C., Kohler, L., Weber, J. M., Deplazes, P. (2007). Influence of urbanization on the epidemiology of intestinal helminths of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Geneva, Switzerland. Parasitol Res. 101(3):605-611. PMid:17393184 7 10.1007/s00436-007-0520-0 Karamon, J., Dabrowska, J., Kochanowski, M., Samorek-Pieróg, M., Sroka, J., et al. (2018). Prevalence of intestinal helminths of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in central Europe (Poland):a significant zoonotic threat. Parasit Vectors. 11, 436. PMid:30055657 PMCid:PMC6064108 8 10.1186/s13071-018-3021-3 Zhou, L., Fayer, R., Trout, J. M., Ryan, U. M., Schaefer, F. W., Xiao, L. (2004). Genotypes of Cryptosporidium species infecting fur-bearing mammals differ from those of species infecting humans. Appl Environ Microbiol. 70(12):7574–7577. PMid:15574965 PMCid:PMC535153 9 10.1128/AEM.70.12.7574-7577.2004 Hamnes, I. S., Gjerde, B. K., Forberg, T., Robertson, L. J. (2007). Occurrence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in Norwegian red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Vet Parasitol. 143(3-4):347-353. PMid:17045400 10 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.08.032 Nagano, Y., Finn, M. B., Lowery, C. J., Murphy, T., Moriarty, J., Power, E., et al. (2007). Occurrence of Cryptosporidium parvum and bacterial pathogens in faecal material in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) population. Vet Res Comm. 31(5):559–564. PMid:17225081 11 10.1007/s11259-007-3519-1 Beck, R., Sprong, H., Lucinger, S., Pozio, E., CaccióS. M. (2011). A large survey of Croatian wild mammals for Giardia duodenalis reveals a low prevalence and limited zoonotic potential. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 11(8):1049-1055. PMid:21142957 12 10.1089/vbz.2010.0113 Ng, J., Yang, R., Whiffin, V., Cox, P., Ryan, U. (2011). Identification of zoonotic Cryptosporidium and Giardia genotypes infecting animals in Sidney's water catchments. Exp Parasitol. 128(2):138-144. PMid:21334325 13 10.1016/j.exppara.2011.02.013 Robinson, G., Chalmers, R. M., Stapleton, C., Palmer, S. R., Watkins, J., Francis, C., Kay, D. (2011). A whole water catchment approach to investigating the origin and distribution of Cryptosporidium species. J Appl Microbiol. 111(3):717–730. PMid:21649804 14 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2011.05068.x Ravaszova, P., Halanova, M., Goldova, M., Valencakova, A., Malcekova, B., Hurníková, Z., Halan, M. (2012). Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in red foxes and brown bear in the Slovak Republic. Parasitol Res. 110(1):469–471. PMid:21744018 15 10.1007/s00436-011-2523-0 Nolan, M. J., Jexa, A. R., Koehlera, A. V., Haydon, S. R., Stevens, M. A., Gasser, R. B. (2013). Molecular-based investigation of Cryptosporidium and Giardia from animals in water catchments in southeastern Australia. Water Res. 47(5):1726-1740. PMid:23357792 16 10.1016/j.watres.2012.12.027 Debenham, J. J., Landuyt, H., Troell, K., Tysnes, K., Robertson, L. J. (2017). Occurrence of Giardia in Swedish red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). J Wildl Dis. 53(3):649-652. PMid:28362140 17 10.7589/2017-01-002 Mateo, M., de Mingo, M. H., de Lucio, A., Morales, L., Balseiro, A., Espí, A., et al. (2017). Occurrence and molecular genotyping of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in wild mesocarnivores in Spain. Vet Parasitol. 235, 86-93. PMid:28215875 18 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.01.016 Otranto, D., Cantacessi, C., Pfeffer, M., Dantas-Torres, F., Brianti, E., Deplazes, P., et al. (2015). The role of wild canids and felids in spreading parasites to dogs and cats in Europe. Part I:Protozoa and tick-borne agents. Vet Parasitol. 213(1-2):24-37. PMid:26049678 19 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.04.020 Cavallini, P., Santini, S. (1995). Age determination in the red fox in the Mediterranean habitat. Z Siiugetierk. 60, 136-142. 20 Mekaru, S. R., Marks, S. L., Felley, A. J., Chouicha, N., Kass, P. H. (2007). Comparison of direct immunofluorescence, immunoassays, and fecal flotation for detection of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in naturally exposed cats in 4 Northern California animal shelters. J Vet Intern Med. 21(5):959-965. PMid:17939549 21 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2007.tb03049.x D'Ovidio, D., Rinaldi, L., Ianniello, D., Donnelly, T. M., Pepe, P., Capasso, M., Cringoli, G. (2014). FLOTAC for diagnosis of endo-parasites in pet squirrels in southern Italy. Vet Parsitol. 200(1-2):221-224. PMid:24389007 22 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.11.021 Perec-Matysiak, A., Buńkowska-Gawlik, K., Zaleśny, G., Hildebrand, J. (2015). Small rodents as reservoirs of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in south-western Poland. Ann Agric Environ Med. 22(1):1-5. PMid:25780818 23 10.5604/12321966.1141359