Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and distribution of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis among free-living red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For this purpose, a total of 123 fecal samples fromred foxes, shot during hunting seasons between January 2011 and March 2012 were examined using immunofluorescent microscopy. Overall, observed prevalences of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis were 3.2 % (4/123) and 7.3% (9/123), respectively. The results show that foxes might play the role of potential reservoirs of Cryptosporidium and Giardia parasites, but further molecular analysis are necessary to elucidate the source of infection, routes of transmission and zoonotic potential of these two pathogens.

Keywords

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Cryptosporidium spp.
• Giardia duodenalis
• immunofluorescence
• red fox