Contribution to the knowledge of selected parasitic infections in red-foxes (Vulpes vulpes) of the Alentejo area

Abstract

Esta dissertação foi desenvolvida no âmbito do mestrado em Biologia da Conservação e resultou da ligação entre a Biologia e a vigilância sanitária. Durante a época de caça foram capturadas vinte e cinco raposas-vermelhas na região do Alentejo, tendo sido submetidas a provas serológicas para detecção de presença de Leishmania infantum, Toxoplasma gondii e Neospora caninum. Este estudo de vigilância permitirá inferir sobre a saúde do ecossistema e sobre reservatórios de doença tanto para animais silvestres ameaçados, como o lince ibérico, assim como para mamíferos domésticos e para o próprio Homem. Foram detectados, com ELISA, anticorpos anti-L infantum em 5.6% dos animais, anticorpos anti-T. gondii em 50% dos animais, com IFAT e MATe finalmente anticorpos anti-N. caninum em 16.7% das raposas, com IFAT. - ABSTRACT: The present project was developed as an investigation for a master's dissertation in Biology Conservation, a study that links Biology and health surveillance. Twenty-five foxes were obtained during hunting season and serological tests were used to assess the presence of Leishmania infantum, Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in the red-fox from the Alentejo area; this descriptive surveillance study provides a first insight into the health of the ecosystem and reservoirs of diseases both to endangered sympatric wild species, such as the lberian lynx, and to domestic mammals and even humans. lt's important to better understand the threat and potential impact that disease agents might pose for the conservation of endangered species. Anti-L infantum antibodies were detected by ELISA in 5.6% of the animals, anti-T. gondii antibodies were identified by IFAT and MAT in 50% of the animals; finally, anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected by IFAT in 16.7% of the foxes.