HELMINTH FAUNA OF THE FOX (VULPES VULPES) IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF THE EUROPEAN PART OF RUSSIA

Wild carnivores are involved in the maintenance of natural foci of helminth infections, and among their pathogens there are species of zoonotic significance. The purpose of the research was the study of helminth distribution in the fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the Central Region of the European part of Russia. Thirty foxes were examined by the method of complete helminthological dissections. Twenty three helminth species were recorded including the following 17 species in the digestive tract: Aonchotheca putorii (23.3%), Gnathostoma spinigerum (3.3%), Uncinaria stenocephala (66.6%), Toxascaris leonina (53.3%), Toxocara canis (23.3%), Molineus patens (13.3%), Ancylostoma caninum (3.3%), Taenia sp. (40%), Echinococcus multilocularis (30.0%), Mesocestoides sp. (10.0%), Macracanthorhynchus catulinus (13.3%), Alaria alata (66.6%), Apophallus donicus (50.0%), Isthmiophora melis (23.3%), Metorchis bilis (23.3%), Opisthorchis felineus (13.3%), and Echinochasmus perfoliatus (6.6%). The following three nematode species were found in the respiratory system: Eucoleus boehmi (26.6%), Eucoleus aerophilus (63.3%), and Crenosoma vulpis (46.6%). The nematode Dirofilaria immitis (3.3%) was found in the heart of one fox. Half of the animals had Pearsonema plica (syn. Capillaria plica) (50%) in the bladder. Trichinella sp. (6.6%) were found in the muscle tissue. We identified 6 nematode species, 1 cestode species and 5 trematode species which are pathogens of zoonosis.