The Fox (Vulpes vulpes) as a Reservoir for Canine Angiostrongylosis in Denmark

Abstract

Until recently, Angiostrongylus vasorum was not considered to be an endogenous Danish parasite, since demonstration of this worm had been confined to necropsy findings in 2 dogs, both of which had visited France. During the last 2 years, however, clinical cases have been diagnosed among a considerable number of Danish dogs, none of which had ever been outside Denmark. All these cases have occurred north of Copenhagen, where an endemic focus seems to exist. In this field survey A. vasorum was found for the first time in wild Danish red foxes. Furthermore, experimental infections showed that the parasite can be transferred between foxes and dogs. Consequently, the wild fox population must be considered a potential reservoir for transfer of A. vasorum to domestic dogs.

Sammendrag

I Danmark havde Angiostrongylus vasorum indtil for få år siden kun været påvist ved sektion af to danske hunde, som begge havde været i Frankrig forinden. Inden for de sidste to år er imidlertid konstateret et betydeligt antal kliniske tilfælde hos danske hunde, som aldrig har været i udlandet. Alle disse tilfælde er forekommet nord for København, hvor et endemisk focus synes at eksistere. Ved feltundersøgelser påvistes A. vasorum for første gang hos danske ræve. Ved eksperimentelle infektioner blev det bekræftet, at parasitten kan overføres mellem ræve og hunde. Rævebestanden i det endemiske focus må derfor betragtes som et potentielt reservoir for smitte til hunde.