VERMINOUS PNEUMONIA AND TRACHEOBRONCHITIS IN FOXES AND THEIR ZOONOTIC POTENTIAL

Summary An increase of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) population has been documented in Europe after the success of the oral vaccination against rabies, and this trend is now becoming evident in Serbia as well. The role of the red fox as reservoir for zoonotic parasites becomes very important in suburban areas, especially for Echinococcus multilocularis and other parasitic diseases. Foxes (N = 90) were collected during the hunt from every part of Vojvodina, northern province of Serbia, over a period from winter 2008 to January 2012. At the necropsy, carcasses were opened and the trachea from the larynx to the bifurcation was collected and preserved in 30% ethanol. Tracheas were opened on the anterior side by scissors and parasites were collected under a stereomicroscope and wet-mounted in glicerine-ethanol or lactophenol. Nasal cavity was opened through the palate, and the nasal mucosa was scrapped off and conserved in 30% ethanol. Pulmonary parenchyma are compressed and examined as wet-mount slides. Sections of lungs and trachea were also histologically examined. Faecal samples and urine were collected and then tested using the glycerin flotation method and wet-mount slides, respectively. Collected parasites were counted, and measured in the ―Image J‖ free programme. The estimated prevalence of the infection with Capillaria aerophila, Capillaria boehmi and Crenosoma vulpis was 84.3%, 90%, and 13.15%, respectively. Zoonotic potential of pulmonary capillariasis for humans and pet animals and crenosomosis for domestic and stray dogs are discussed. Identification of pulmonary capillariasis in one human patient increased interest for this zoonosis in Serbia.