Gray Wolf (<i>Canis lupus italicus</i>) and Red Fox (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) Parasite Survey in Anthropized and Natural Areas of Central Italy

Abstract

Gastrointestinal nematodes and protozoa and other parasite occurrences were evaluated in free-ranging wolf (Canis lupus italicus) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) populations from natural and anthropized areas of Central Italy. Analyzed fecal samples were collected from 60 foxes and 40 wolves in the anthropized areas, and 41 foxes and 39 wolves in the natural areas. In foxes, hookworm infections (p p Cryptosporidium spp. (p p p p Cryptosporidium (p Giardia duodenalis (p p p < 0.0001). The obtained data are indicative of a different diffusion of specific parasite taxa in wolves and foxes living in the natural and/or anthropized environments examined herein.

Keywords

• wild canids
• endoparasites
• anthropized area
• natural area
• central Italy