SEROSURVEY FOR SELECTED PARASITIC AND BACTERIAL PATHOGENS IN DARWIN'S FOX (LYCALOPEX FULVIPES): NOT ONLY DOG DISEASES ARE A THREAT

• DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-21-00024
• Publication Date: 2022-01-04T11:51:35Z
• Authors: Ezequiel Hidalgo-...; Javier Cabello; Juan Verasay; Dario Moreira-Arce; Marcos Hidalgo; Pedro Abalos; Consuelo Borie; Nicolas Galarce; Constanza Napolitano; Irene Sacristán; Aitor Cevidanes; Galia Ramírez-Toloza; Ariel Farias; Sophia Di Cataldo; Rocio Lagos; Javier Millán
• Keywords: Seroprevalence; Leptospira interrogans; Coxiella burnetii

The Darwin's fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) is one of the most endangered carnivores worldwide, with risk disease spillover from domestic dogs being a major conservation threat. However, lack epidemiologic information about generalist, non–dog-transmission-dependent protozoal and bacterial pathogens may be barrier for prevention management. To determine exposure some these agents in populations, 54 serum samples were collected 47 foxes Southern Chile during 2013–18 assessed presence antibodies against Brucella abortus, canis, Coxiella burnetii, pathogenic Leptospira (serovars Grippotyphosa, Pomona, Canicola, Hardjo, Copehageni), Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum. highest seroprevalence was detected T. gondii (78%), followed by (14%). All studied serovars confirmed at least animal. Two seroconverted to study period. No seroconversions observed other pathogens. factors, either intrinsic (sex, age) or extrinsic (season, year, degree landscape anthropization), associated probability exposed gondii. Our results indicate that widespread population, including areas minimal anthropization, might neglected threats species. Further studies identifying causes morbidity mortality are needed if having individual population-wide effects this