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. 2023 Mar;37(1):86-95.
doi: 10.1111/mve.12611. Epub 2022 Sep 20.

Predictive factors for flea occurrence in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from semi-arid Mediterranean environments

Roberto Perez  1 , Pedro Pérez-Cutillas  2 , Moisés Gonzálvez  1 , Clara Muñoz-Hernández  1 , Irene Arcenillas-Hernández  1 , Rocío de Ruiz de Ybáñez  1 , Fernando Escribano  3 , Carlos Martínez-Carrasco  1
Affiliations

Predictive factors for flea occurrence in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from semi-arid Mediterranean environments

Roberto Perez et al. Med Vet Entomol. 2023 Mar.

Abstract

The role of red fox as host for a wide range of parasites, particularly fleas and other arthropods causing vector-borne diseases, in combination with its capability to adapt to anthropized environments, makes this wild canid an epidemiologically remarkable species at the wildlife-domestic-human interface, especially in the present time of rise of emerging and re-emerging diseases. This study evaluated the prevalence and parasite intensity of fleas in 88 foxes from Murcia Region (Southeastern Spain) and determined the geographic distribution of areas with the highest potential risk of flea presence. Pulex irritans, Ctenocephalides felis, Spilopsyllus cuniculi and Nosopsyllus fasciatus were identified. The overall prevalence was 76.13%. This is the first time that N. fasciatus has been reported in foxes from Murcia Region. The predictive model established a certain pattern to determine the areas with the highest risk of acquiring fleas. Positive correlation of daily potential evapotranspiration (ET0 ) in winter and the opposite effect occurring for ET0 in summer were obtained, as well as positive correlations for mean daily temperature (Tmean ) in summer and mean precipitation (Pmean ) in winter and summer. The model was also found positively correlated in the forest habitat ecotone areas and the anthropized areas.

Keywords: GIS; Spain; ecotone; fleas; red fox; semi-arid Mediterranean environments.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no competing interests.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Geographical distribution of the foxes studied in Murcia Region (SE Spain). Red dots indicate the place of origin of each fox (N = 88)
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Flea species identified: a) Pulex irritans (♂); b) P. irritans (♀); c) P. irritans, head detail; d) Ctenocephalides felis (♂); e) Ct. Felis (♀); f) Ct. Felis, head detail; g) Spillopsyllus cuniculi (♂); h) S. cuniculi (♀); i) S. cuniculi, head detail; j) Nosopsyllus fasciatus (♂); k) N. fasciatus (♀);and l) N. fasciatus, head detail. 4×, 10× optical microscope. All photos at different scales
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Intensity of fleas according to the sex, age, and body condition of the host. Number of fleas in log scale. Body condition (BC) categories: 1.‐ cachectic, 2.‐ thin, 3.‐ good BC, 4.‐ very good BC, and 5.‐ excellent BC
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Predictive map indicating the geographic distribution of areas with the highest potential risk of flea presence in Murcia Region (SE Spain). Each point corresponds to the origin of the foxes studied; the intense blue indicates the foxes with the highest parasite intensity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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