Molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Central Italy

作者：Ebani Valentina Virginia; Rocchigiani Guido; Nardoni Simona; Bertelloni Fabrizio; Vasta Violetta; Papini Roberto Amerigo; Verin Ranieri; Poli Alessandro; Mancianti Francesca

来源：Acta Tropica, 2017, 172: 197-200.

DOI：10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.05.014

• Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
• Vector-borne pathogens
• Zoonoses
• Ticks

Spleen samples from 153 red foxes, shot during regular hunting season in the province of Pisa (Central Italy), were examined to detect DNA of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia cants, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, Hepatozoon cants and Babesia sp./Theileria sp.
DNA of vector-borne pathogens was detected in 120 (78.43%; 95% CI: 71.06-84.66%) foxes. Specifically, 75 (49%; 95% CI: 40.86-57.22%) animals scored PCR-positive per H. cants, 68 (44.44%; 95% CI: 36.42-52.69%) for E. cants, 35 (22.88%; 95% CI: 16.48-30.35%) for piroplasms (Theileria annae), 3 (1.96%; 95% CI: 0.41-5.62%) for C. burnetii and 1 (0.65%; 95% CI: 0.02-3.59%) for A. phagocytophilum. No positive reaction was observed for F. tularensis. Fifty-six animals (36.6%; 95% CI: 28.97-44.76%) were positive for two or three pathogens. Red foxes result to be involved in the cycle of vector-borne pathogens that are associated to disease in dogs and humans.

• 出版日期2017-8