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1 July 2017 Occurrence of Giardia in Swedish Red Foxes ( Vulpes vulpes)
John J. Debenham, Hanne Landuyt, Karin Troell, Kristoffer Tysnes, Lucy J. Robertson
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Abstract

Giardia duodenalis is an intestinal protozoan capable of causing gastrointestinal disease in a range of vertebrate hosts. It is transmitted via the fecal-oral route. Understanding the epidemiology of G. duodenalis in animals is important, both for public health and for the health of the animals it infects. We investigated the occurrence of G. duodenalis in wild Swedish red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), with the aim of providing preliminary information on how this abundant predator might be involved in the transmission and epidemiology of G. duodenalis. Fecal samples (n=104) were analysed for G. duodenalis using a commercially available direct immunofluorescent antibody test. Giardia duodenalis cysts were found in 44% (46/104) of samples, with foxes excreting 100 to 140,500 cysts per gram of feces (mean, 4,930; median, 600). Molecular analysis, using PCR with sequencing of PCR amplicons, was performed on 14 samples, all containing over 2,000 cysts per gram feces. Amplification only occurred in four samples at the tpi gene, sequencing of which revealed assemblage B in all four samples. This study provides baseline information on the role of red foxes in the transmission dynamics of G. duodenalis in Sweden.

© Wildlife Disease Association 2017
John J. Debenham, Hanne Landuyt, Karin Troell, Kristoffer Tysnes, and Lucy J. Robertson "Occurrence of Giardia in Swedish Red Foxes ( Vulpes vulpes)," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 53(3), 649-652, (1 July 2017). https://doi.org/10.7589/2017-01-002
Received: 3 January 2017; Accepted: 1 February 2017; Published: 1 July 2017
KEYWORDS
Anthropozoonotic
carnivore
disease
parasite
pathogen
protozoa
transmission
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