Parasite fauna diversity in Red Fox (Vulpes Vulpes) from natural and anthropized ecosystems of the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

The study of the diversity of the parasite fauna in the investigated foxes showed a high level of infestation (100%). The taxonomy of parasitofauna in foxes includes 12 parasitic invasions (Isospora canis – 14,3%, Alaria alata – 51,0%, Mesocestoides lineatus – 21,7%, Taeniidae spp – 27,0%, Syphacia obvelata – 17,0%, Strongyloides stercoralis – 13,3%, Toxocara canis – 59,0%, Toxascaris leonina – 65,5%, Ancylostoma caninum – 8,7%, Trichuris vulpis – 26,1%, Trichuris muris – 4,4%, Capilaria hepatica – 35,0%), which belong to 5 classes, 10 families, 11 genera and about 12 species. The share of species from the Sporozoa class is 8.3%, from the Trematoda class - 8.3%, from the Cestoda class - 16.7%, from the Secernentea class - 41.7% and from the Adenophorea class - 25.0%. Analyzing the parasitic species on epidemiological criterion, it was found that 10 species (83.3%) with large spread have zoonotic impact (A. alata, M. lineatus, Taenia spp., S. obvelata, S. ratti, T. canis, T. leonina, A. caninum, C. hepatica, T. vulpis) with a major risk to public health, and the identified invasions (100%) can parasitize domestic animals, as well as game fauna.