Epizootological situation on particular helminthosis of the carnivores (Canidae) - Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) in the territory of Arctic Yakutia

Abstract

In this article, the authors present the results of a helminthological study of the Vulpes lagopus in the Arctic territory of Yakutia. On the territory of Yakutia, three species of representatives of the Canidae family live in a wild state - the wolf, the red fox and the Arctic fox. Representatives of the Canidae family are among the most important commercial animals whose fur is highly valued. Over the last decade, the number of fur-bearing animals in the tundra zone of Yakutia has increased significantly. As the authors point out, monitoring of the epizootic situation for especially dangerous Helminthiasis is an integral part of a set of measures to preserve the health of animals and the population in the Arctic zone. The objects of the study are Arctic foxes. Materials for the study were brought from December to March in 2020 from 26, 2021 - 36, 2022 - 162, 2023 - 121 Arctic foxes, carcasses, internal organs and tissues. According to the results of helminthological studies, the composition of helminths was represented by 16 species. The main components of the helminth fauna, in terms of frequency of occurrence and very high rates of invasion intensity, are: the cestode Alveococcus multilocularis, found in 98.1% of the studied Arctic foxes, up to 18,000 ind. of mature Alveococcus in one animal, the nematode Toxascaris leonine occurs in 92.1%, on average up to 34.8±1.6 ind. for one Arctic fox. Also, it was found that the infection of arctic foxes with larvae of Trichinella spiralis is 3%, high intensity of invasion, the cestode Diphyllobothrium latum were infected with up to 5.5% of the examined, on average, 3.5 sp. for one Arctic fox.