A case report of visceral leishmaniasis in red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Abstract

A survey of 52 red foxes, a single two year old male weighing about 6 kg showed clinical signs including hair loss, impotence, local or general lymphadenopathy, keratitis, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, hair shedding, dermal lesions, onychogriposis and cachexia. The studied fox IFA titer was larger or equal to 1:1280 and light absorption in enzyme liked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was equal to 2.127. In the slides prepared from impression smear of the liver and spleen, Leishman body was observed. The culture results were positive. Parasites isolated from seropositive fox with specific primers K-DNA and ITS-18sRNA was tested and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identification of parasites isolated from seropositive fox were 99% homologous with Donovani complex (Leishmania infantum, Leishmania donovani, Leishmania chagasi).

Key words: Visceral leishemanisis, Leishmania infantum, ELISA, IFAT, fox, sarab.