Determination of helminths of red fox (vulpes vulpes) by fecal examination in Middle Anatolia and Thrace

Kızıl tilkiler insanların yaşadığı alanlara yakın bölgelere adapte olmuş, dünyada en yoğun popülasyona sahip olan yabani karnivorlardır. Birçok helmint türü için sonkonak olan tilkilerde, zoonoz helmintler başta olmak üzere, çok sayıda araştırma yapıldığı görülür. Ülkemizde ise konu ile ilgili bilgi oldukça sınırlıdır. Bu çalışmada tilkilerde dışkı bakısıyla tespit ettiğimiz helmintlerin bildirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırma süresince Orta Anadolu'yu temsilen Kayseri ve Nevşehir illerinden ve Trakya'yı temsilen Kırklareli, Tekirdağ ve Edirne illerinden toplanan 409 tilki dışkısı fuelleborn-flotasyon yöntemi ile incelenmiştir. İncelen örneklerin %65,8'inde 16 grup içinde 20 farklı helmint yumurtasına rastlanmıştır; Dicrocoelid, diplostomid, echinostomid, heterophyid, anoplocephalid, Joyeuxiella sp., Mesocestoides sp., Taenia sp. Capillaria sp., rictularid, strongyl, strongyloid, Trichuris sp., Toxascaris leonina, ve Toxocara sp. Bu yumurtalardan trematodlar, taenid tip ve Toxocara sp. yumurtaları zoonotik önemlerinden dolayı ön plana çıkmıştır. Ayrıca Trichuris sp. tilkilerden ülkemizde ilk bildirim olmuştur.Red foxes, which are wild carnivores with the densest population in the world, live in areas close to where people live. There are numerous studies on parasites, especially about zoonotic helminths, in red foxes are definitive hosts for various parasite species. Limited numbered of researches have been conducted in Turkey. The purpose of this study was to investigate the helminths of red fox by fecal examination. In total, 409 fox feces were examined by fulleborne-flutation method and 20 different helminth eggs in 16 groups were detected on 65,8% of samples; Dicrocoelid, diplostomid, echinostomid, heterophyid, anoplocephalid, Joyeuxiella sp., Mesocestoides sp., Taenia sp. Capillaria sp., rictularid, strongyl, strongyloid, Trichuris sp., Toxascaris leonina, ve Toxocara sp. Trematod eggs, taenid type eggs and Toxocara sp. had more importance, because of their zoonotic importance. Additionally, Trichuris sp. was the first report from red foxes in Turkey

Investigation of Echinococcus multilocularis in environmental definitive host feces in the Asian and the European parts of Turkey

A study was carried out to investigate the presence of Echinococcus multilocularis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in two regions of Turkey-central Anatolia (in Asia Minor) and Thrace (in the European part of Turkey). A total of 405 putative fox feces were collected from central Anatolia (186 specimens in 59 locations) and from Thrace (219 specimens in 114 locations). All samples were examined by the flotation and sieving method for taeniid eggs, and positive and putative samples were further analyzed by multiplex PCR. In seven samples from three locations in central Anatolia (5.1%) and in one (0.9%) from Thrace, E. multilocularis DNA was amplified, and this result was confirmed with another PCR specific for E. multilocularis. In addition, Echinococcus granulosus s.l. was found in two (0.5%) of the samples. Although alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is known as a serious zoonosis in Turkey, this is the first field study detecting E. multilocularis in collected fecal samples documenting the environmental contamination with eggs of this zoonotic parasite

Role of cat and dog faeces in the contamination of sand playgrounds in public parks by Toxocara spp.

Toxocariasis is one of the most important parasitic zoonoses affecting human health. The main source of toxocariasis in humans is dog and cat faeces, which are primarily responsible for the contamination of urban areas with Toxocara spp. eggs. In this study, the relationship between dog or/and cat faeces and contamination of sand playgrounds in public parks with Toxocara spp. eggs was investigated. A total of 596 sand and 276 faecal samples (148 dog and 128 cat faeces samples) were collected from 52 public parks in Samsun. Toxocara spp. eggs were identified in 7% of sand samples, 33% of cat faeces samples and 9.5% and dog faeces samples. A positive correlation was found between the presence of faeces and the contamination of sand samples. The incidence of sand contamination was increased 8.3 times if a park contained dog or/and cat faeces, and the incidence was much greater if the faeces were infected with Toxocara spp. ova. Cat faeces had a greater effect on the contamination of sand than did dog faeces. The risk was 12.5 and 27 times greater if a park contained only cat faeces and infected cat faeces, respectively. However, no Toxocara spp. eggs were found in sand samples from parks that contained only dog faeces

Investigating intermediate hosts of Echinococcus multilocularis throughout Turkey: Focus on voles

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE), caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, is one of the most important zoonotic diseases. The parasite has a heterogeneous life cycle; more than 40 small mammal species have been determined to be potential intermediate hosts worldwide. Turkey is one of the highest endemic countries for AE, but only limited information is available concerning the transmission biology of E. multilocularis. The study aimed to provide data on potential intermediate host species (focus on genus Microtus) across Turkey involved in E. multilocularis transmission to foxes, which is a risk for public health. Trapping sites have been specially selected considering field voles' habitats and ecological requirements. In total, 843 rodents were collected from 141 locations. The metacestodes and lesions of AE were identified as macroscopy and microscopy and confirmed by PCR and DNA sequencing. Seventeen (2.0%) small mammals from 13 (9.2%) locations were found infected with E. multilocularis. Infected individuals were identified as Microtus irani, Microtus mystacinus, Microtus hartingi, Microtus guentheri, Cricetulus migratorius and Mus macedonicus. M. hartingi and M. macedonicus are documented for the first time as intermediate hosts of E. multilocularis. In conclusion, 15 of 17 infected small mammals were found in the Microtus genus. Therefore, the genus Microtus, which inhabits fields near villages and is potential prey for foxes, could be considered an important intermediate host for E. multilocularis across Turkey