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Contamination of fox hair with eggs of Toxocara canis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2008

G. Roddie ,
C. Holland ,
P. Stafford  and
A. Wolfe
G. Roddie
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
C. Holland*
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
P. Stafford
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
A. Wolfe
Affiliation:
Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
*
*Fax +353 1 6778094 E-mail: cholland@tcd.ie
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Abstract

Eighty-seven red foxes were investigated for the presence of Toxocara eggs on a sample of their hair from the peri-anal region. The worm burden of Toxocara in each fox intestine was also assessed and the relationship between eggs on the hair and worms in the intestine explored. Twenty-eight per cent of the foxes were found to have Toxocara eggs on their hair, with an average of 1.31 ± 3.21 eggs per gram of hair ( ± SD). Sixty-one per cent of foxes harboured Toxocara worms within their intestines, with a mean worm burden ( ± SD) of 4 ± 8. Host age and sex did not significantly influence the observed eggs on the hair or the worm burden. No significant correlation was found between the numbers of eggs on the hair and the worm burden within the intestine. These data collected from foxes are explored in the context of data from stray dogs and the possible epidemiological differences are discussed.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 82 , Issue 4 , December 2008 , pp. 293 - 296
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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