Gastrointestinal parasites of two populations of Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) from north-east Greenland

Abstract

Parasitological examination of 275 faecal samples from Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) collected at Zackenberg Valley and Karupelv Valley in north-east Greenland from 2006 to 2008 was conducted using sieving and microscopy. Overall, 125 (45.5%) samples contained parasite eggs of Taenia crassiceps, Taenia serialis, Toxascaris leonina, Eucoleus boehmi, Physalopteridae and Ancylostomatidae, and Strongyloides-like larvae. As long-term ecological studies are conducted at both sampling locations, the present findings constitute a baseline data set for further parasitological monitoring.

Keywords

• Arctic parasites
• coprological examination
• Taenia
• Toxascaris leonina
• Eucoleus boehmi
• faecal analysis