Helminths of foxes and other wild carnivores from rural areas in Greece

• Published in: Journal of Helminthology
• Main Authors: Papadopoulos, H., Himonas, C., Papazahariadou, M., Antoniadou-Sotiriadou, K.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1997
• Subjects: Canis lupus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022149x00015960; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022149X00015960

Abstract Twenty species of helminth parasites were identified from fox, wolf, jackal and wild cat material collected in Greece. Of the 314 foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) examined, 18 helminth species were recovered comprising one trematode, eight cestodes, seven nematodes and two acanthocephalans, with the cestode species Mesocestoides sp. (73.2%), Joyeuxiella echinorhynchoides (24.5%) and the nematode species Uncinaria stenocephala (43.9%), and Toxocara canis (28.6%) being the most prevalent. Five cestode and three nematode species were reported from six wolves ( Canis lupus ), together with one trematode, three cestode and four nematode species from five jackals ( Canis aureus ) and two cestode and three nematode species from four wild cats ( Felis silvestris ) examined. The species J. echinorhynchoides, Taenia crassiceps and Onicola canis and the genera Spirometra, Rictularia and Pachysentis are reported here for the first time in Greece. The results are discussed in the light of the feeding characteristics of wild carnivores in rural areas of Greece.