Epidemiological studies on intestinal helminth parasites of the patagonian grey fox ( Pseudalopex griseus) in Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia Argentina

• Published in: Veterinary parasitology Vol. 136; no. 3; pp. 329 - 334
• Main Authors: Zanini, Fabián, Laferrara, Miguel, Bitsch, Matías, Pérez, Héctor, Elissondo, Maria Celina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 31.03.2006
• Subjects: Animals; Argentina - epidemiology; Canidae; disease reservoirs; Disease Reservoirs - veterinary; echinococcosis; Echinococcosis - epidemiology; Echinococcosis - veterinary; Echinococcus granulosus; Echinococcus granulosus - isolation & purification; epidemiological studies; Female; foxes; Foxes - parasitology; gastrointestinal nematodes; Grey fox; Helminthiasis, Animal - epidemiology; helminths; Hydatidosis; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - epidemiology; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - veterinary; Intestinal helminths; life cycle (organisms); Male; prevalence; Pseudalopex griseus; tapeworms; Argentina; Grey fox; Hydatidosis; Pseudalopex griseus; Intestinal helminths; Echinococcus granulosus
• ISSN: 0304-4017; 1873-2550
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.11.014

The present work was performed to study the intestinal helminths of the patagonian grey fox ( Pseudalopex griseus) and to obtain information about its possible role in the sylvatic life cycle of Echinococcu granulosus in Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia Argentina. Eighty-one foxes were captured and subject to post-mortem analysis. Thirty-one foxes (38.3%) harboured helminths. A total of six helminth species were recovered. Only one adult of E. granulosus was found in the studied samples. The current study is the first report of the intestinal helminths of the patagonian grey fox in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina and showed that this specie is probably not an important reservoir host for E. granulosus.