A Unique Case of Fatal Coinfection Caused by <i>Leptospira</i> spp. and <i>Hepatozoon canis</i> in a Red Fox Cub (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>)
Amer Alić,
Jovana Šupić,
Teufik Goletić,
Emina Rešidbegović,
Ismar Lutvikadić,
Adnan Hodžić
Affiliations
Amer Alić
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jovana Šupić
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Teufik Goletić
Department of Avian Diseases and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Emina Rešidbegović
Department of Avian Diseases and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ismar Lutvikadić
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Adnan Hodžić
Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Red foxes are the most abundant wild carnivore species in Europe commonly exposed to pathogenic Leptospira and Hepatozoon canis. Despite high seroprevalence, the clinical disease caused by these pathogens in red foxes has never been reported. Herein, we report the first-ever case of a fatal Leptospira spp. and H. canis coinfection in a two-month-old red fox cub with acute haemolytic anaemia, mild bronchopneumonia, intraalveolar haemorrhage, and tubulonephrosis. The presence of pathogenic Leptospira spp. DNA was detected in the kidney and lung tissues of the infected animal. In contrast to our previous knowledge, we believe that such fatal cases due to concomitant infection by Leptospira spp. and H. canis, especially in young animals, may commonly occur in nature. However, further studies are required to identify other factors that possibly contribute to the severity and the pathogenic effect of Leptospira spp. and H. canis infections in red foxes.
