Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-2lccl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-28T17:59:28.228Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Contamination of fox hair with eggs of Toxocara canis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2008

G. Roddie ,
C. Holland ,
P. Stafford  and
A. Wolfe
G. Roddie
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
C. Holland*
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
P. Stafford
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
A. Wolfe
Affiliation:
Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
*
*Fax +353 1 6778094 E-mail: cholland@tcd.ie
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Eighty-seven red foxes were investigated for the presence of Toxocara eggs on a sample of their hair from the peri-anal region. The worm burden of Toxocara in each fox intestine was also assessed and the relationship between eggs on the hair and worms in the intestine explored. Twenty-eight per cent of the foxes were found to have Toxocara eggs on their hair, with an average of 1.31 ± 3.21 eggs per gram of hair ( ± SD). Sixty-one per cent of foxes harboured Toxocara worms within their intestines, with a mean worm burden ( ± SD) of 4 ± 8. Host age and sex did not significantly influence the observed eggs on the hair or the worm burden. No significant correlation was found between the numbers of eggs on the hair and the worm burden within the intestine. These data collected from foxes are explored in the context of data from stray dogs and the possible epidemiological differences are discussed.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 82 , Issue 4 , December 2008 , pp. 293 - 296
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Dubinsky, P., Havasiova-Reiterova, K., Petko, B., Hovorka, I. & Tomasovicova, O. (1995) Role of small mammals in the epidemiology of toxocariasis. Parasitology 110, 187–193.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Epe, C. (2006) Current and future options for the prevention and treatment of canids. pp. 239–252in Holland, C.V. & Smith, H.V. (Eds) Toxocara the enigmatic parasite. Wallingford, CABI Publishing.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holland, C.V. & Smith, H.V. (2006) Toxocara the enigmatic parasite. 301 pp. Wallingford, CABI Publishing.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mizgajska-Wiktor, H. & Uga, S. (2006) Exposure and environmental contamination. pp. 211–227in Holland, C.V. & Smith, H.V. (Eds) Toxocara the enigmatic parasite. Wallingford, CABI Publishing.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Papadopoulus, H., Himonas, C., Papazahariadou, M. & Antoniadou-Sotiriadou, K. (1997) Helminths of foxes and other wild carnivores from rural areas in Greece. Journal of Helminthology 71, 227–231.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richards, D.T., Harris, S. & Lewis, J.W. (1993) Epidemiology of Toxocara canis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from the urban areas of Bristol. Parasitology 107, 167–173.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Richards, D.T., Harris, S. & Lewis, J.W. (1995) Epidemiological studies on intestinal helminth parasites of rural and urban red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the United Kingdom. Veterinary Parasitology 59, 39–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roddie, G., Stafford, P., Holland, C. & Wolfe, A. (2008) Contamination of dog hair with eggs of Toxocara canis. Veterinary Parasitology 152, 82–93.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saeed, I. & Kapel, C.M. (2006) Population dynamics and epidemiology of Toxocara canis in Danish red foxes. Journal of Parasitology 92, 1196–1201.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Taylor, M.R.H. & Holland, C.V. (2001) Toxocariasis. pp. 501–520in Gillespie, S. & Pearson, R.D. (Eds) Principles and practice of clinical parasitology. Chichester, UK, Wiley.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Willingham, A.L., Ockens, N.W., Kapel, C.M. & Monrad, J. (1996) A helminthological study of wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from the metropolitan area of Copenhagen. Journal of Helminthology 70, 259–263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wolfe, A. & Wright, I.P. (2003) Human toxocariasis and direct contact with dogs. Veterinary Record 152, 419–422.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wolfe, A., Hogan, S., Fitzpatrick, C., Wall, D., Hayden, T.J. & Mulcahy, G. (2001) Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Ireland as hosts for parasites of potential zoonotic and veterinary significance. Veterinary Record 149, 759–763.CrossRefGoogle Scholar