First report of Crenosoma vulpis in Africa and Eucoleus aerophilus in Algeria.

Abstract

Crenosoma vulpis and Eucoleus aerophilus are widely distributed lungworms infecting carnivores, mainly red foxes, and are localized in the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles. There are no reports from Africa regarding the presence of C. vulpis. The aim of the present study was to report a co-infection with C. vulpis and E. aerophilus in a red fox from Algeria. In January 2022, a road-killed male juvenile red fox (Vulpes vulpes) was collected from Bouhadjar-Tarf locality and was submitted for a complete parasitological necropsy. Detected nematodes were collected and preserved in ethanol for morphological and molecular identification. Tissue samples were also collected and analyzed by histopathological methods. Collected nematodes were identified as a male C. vulpis and several Eucoleus aerophilus. The histological techniques of the lung tissue did not reveal the presence of any larvae, or lung inflammation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of C. vulpis infecting a carnivore in this continent, highlighting the importance of further studies to update the geographical distribution of C. vulpis. E. aerophilus was first reported in Algeria. Red foxes are important spreaders of parasitic diseases. Further studies are required for a better understanding of its epidemiology across North Africa and other areas overlapping the range of the red fox.