Helminthes intestinaux du Renard commun (Vulpes vulpes L.) dans le Massif central (France)

Abstract

In the course of an epidemiological survey of Echinococcus multilocularis (Leuckart, 1863), causative agent of alveolar hydatid disease, the autopsy of 154 red foxes, Vulpes vulpes (L.), captured in the Department of Cantal between November 1984 and February 1985 disclosed 144 cases of intestinal helminthiases. Helminths consisted of cestodes and nematodes; no trematodes were found. Multiple infestations were very frequent. Cestoda recorded consisted of the following species: Mesocestoides litteratus (Batsch, 1786) (40 cases; 26%), Taenia crassiceps (Zeder, 1800) (36 cases, 24%), Echinococcus multilocularis Leuckart, 1863 (23 cases, 14.9%), Taenia polyacantha Leuckart, 1856 (17 cases, 11.4%), Amoebotaenia paradoxa (Rudolphi, 1802) (8 cases, 5.2%), and Taenia pisiformis (Bloch, 1780) (2 cases, 1.3%). The following Nematoda were recovered: Uncinaria stenocephala (Railliet, 1884) (90 cases, 58.4%), Toxocara canis (Werner, 1782) (79 cases, 51.3%), Toxascaris leonina (Linstow, 1902) (39 cases, 25.3%), Trichuris vulpis (Froelich, 1789) (25 cases, 16%), Pterygodermatites affinis (Jaegerskioeld, 1904) (6 cases, 4%), and undetermined Trichostrongylidae (4 cases, 2.7%). Hosts were not examined for Trichinella sp. The cartography of each helminthiase revealed propitious areas of maintenance of the parasite. Echinococcus multilocularis had a very limited distribution compared with other taeniid species with a near-identical life cycle. Unknown ecological factors may have an adverse effect on the free stage (egg) of the cestode. The nematode Pterygodermatites affinis is reported here for the first time in France.