Bait uptake by foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in urban Melbourne: the potential of oral vaccination for rabies control

1999 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive A. Marks ◽  
Tim E. Bloomfield
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Contingency Planning ◽  
First Year ◽  
Field Site ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Oral Vaccination ◽  
Density Estimates ◽  
Rabies Control

Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are widely distributed throughout the Melbourne metropolitan area. Density estimates indicate that fox populations would be capable of maintaining the endemic persistence of rabies. Oral vaccination of foxes by baiting is a technique that has been used successfully overseas to manage rabies epizootics. This study assessed the uptake by foxes of baits containing biomarkers in three urban field sites in winter 1993 and summer 1993/94. Baits were dosed with 200 mg of tetracycline in the winter trial and 5 mg of iophenoxic acid in the summer trial, and distributed at a density of 8 baits ha −1 in open areas within each field site. In the winter trial, 8 of 11 (72.7%) radio-collared foxes known to be in the field sites during the distribution of baits were marked. In the summer trial, 45 of the 49 foxes (92%) recovered from the combined field sites had consumed at least a single bait, resulting in bait acceptance of 80–97% for each field site. No bias existed between plasma iodine levels due to sex, although first-year foxes had a significantly higher level than older age groups combined. There were no significant differences in mean age of foxes collected at the three field sites, yet significant differences existed in mean plasma iodine concentrations between all three sites. These results are discussed with reference to rabies contingency planning. The high rates of bait uptake in this study are encouraging and suggest that oral vaccination may be a viable strategy for rabies containment in urban areas and is worthy of further assessment at reduced baiting densities.

scholarly journals The Ecology of Red Foxes, Vulpes vulpes, in Metropolitan Toronto, Ontario: Disease Management Implications

2009 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rick Rosatte ◽  
Mike Allan
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Dispersal Distance ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Rabies Control

During 1989-1992, 33 Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were fitted with radio-collars in metropolitan Toronto to study their behaviour which would provide data to assist with the design of a rabies control strategy for urban areas of Ontario. Annual home range size for adult foxes (avg = 325 ha, SD = 207) was significantly larger than that of juvenile foxes (avg = 165 ha, SD = 176), but we could not detect any seasonal differences in home range size for foxes. Mean (SD) nightly ranges were 38.3 ha (48.3) in spring, 97.4 ha (115.4) in summer, 26.8 ha (28.5) in fall, and 16.3 ha (13.6) in winter. Movements by foxes during the period from June to November averaged 3.5 km (2.89). Eleven of the foxes were known to have dispersed (? 3 km from their home range), but we could not detect a mean direction of dispersal. Thirty-six percent (4/11) of the foxes dispersed in December and 18% (2/11) dispersed in August, with the remainder dispersing between February and November. Average dispersal distance was 19.3 km (15.6), and a significant negative correlation was detected between initial home range size and dispersal distance of foxes. Mortality of radio-collared foxes was caused by collisions with automobiles, predation, and shooting. Foxes made extensive use of ravines and other greenbelt areas, such as parks and golf courses. Residential areas were also used by some foxes. Knowledge of the habitats frequented by foxes as well as their movement potential assisted researchers in determining where vaccine baits should be placed for the control of rabies in Red Foxes in metropolitan Toronto.

scholarly journals Adaptations of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) to urban environments in Sydney, Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarita Gil-Fernández ◽  
Robert Harcourt ◽  
Thomas Newsome ◽  
Alison Towerton ◽  
Alexandra Carthey
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Canis Lupus Familiaris ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Sydney Australia ◽  
Site Types

Abstract With urban encroachment on wild landscapes accelerating globally, there is an urgent need to understand how wildlife is adapting to anthropogenic change. We compared the behaviour of the invasive red fox (Vulpes vulpes) at eight urban and eight peri-urban areas of Sydney, Australia. We observed fox behaviour around a lure and compared fox activity patterns to those of potential prey and to two domestic predators (dogs—Canis lupus familiaris and cats—Felis catus). We assessed the influence of site type, vegetation cover, and distance from habitation on fox behaviour, and compared the temporal activity patterns of urban and peri-urban red foxes. Urban red foxes were marginally more nocturnal than those in peri-urban areas (88% activity overlap). There was greater overlap of red fox activity patterns with introduced mammalian prey in urban areas compared with peri-urban areas (90% urban vs 84% peri-urban). Red fox temporal activity overlapped 78% with cats, but only 20% with dogs, across both site types. The high degree of overlap with cats and introduced mammalian prey is most likely explained by the nocturnal behaviour of these species, while pet dogs are generally kept in yards or indoors at night. The behavioural differences we documented by urban red foxes suggest they may adapt to human modifications and presence, by being more nocturnal and/or more confident in urban areas.

scholarly journals Population Structure of Harvested Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and Coyotes (Canis latrans) on Prince Edward Island, Canada

2013 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendela Wapenaar ◽  
Fiep De Bie ◽  
David Johnston ◽  
Ryan M. O'Handley ◽  
Herman W. Barkema
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Wildlife Management ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Wild Canids ◽  
Agricultural Areas

An understanding of the population dynamics and habitat of wild Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and Coyotes (Canis latrans) is a prerequisite to wildlife management. This information is also important in assessing the risk these wild canids pose to the public and domestic animals. On Prince Edward Island, information on age, sex, reproductive activity, and habitat use of 271 Red Foxes and 201 Coyotes was collected in the hunting and trapping season of 2004–2005. The estimated age of Red Foxes and Coyotes ranged from 0.5 to 13.5 years. A large proportion of harvested Red Foxes and Coyotes (58% and 48%, respectively) consisted of juveniles. The sex ratio was not significantly different from 1:1 for either species. Average litter size was 5.0 and 5.2 for Red Foxes and Coyotes, respectively. Number of placental scars ranged from 0 to 7 in Red Foxes and from 0 to 11 in Coyotes. Agricultural areas were the main habitat type (52%) of harvested Red Foxes. For harvested Coyotes, forest was the main habitat (44%), followed closely by agricultural areas (43%). Urban areas were a significant part (13%) of the habitat of Red Foxes. These data can be used to monitor population dynamics over time, provide information for wildlife management, and provide information on potential risk areas for disease transmission by wild canids.

Epidemiology of Toxocara canis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from urban areas of Bristol

Parasitology ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. T. Richards ◽  
S. Harris ◽  
J. W. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Urban Environment ◽  
Reproductive Cycle ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Toxocara Canis ◽  
Epidemiological Survey ◽  
In Utero ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Autumn And Winter

SUMMARYA descriptive epidemiological survey was undertaken of the ascarid nematode Toxocara canis in 521 red foxes (vulpes, vulpes) during the period January 1986 to July 1990. Age–prevalence and age–intensity profiles show that worm are significantly higher in cubs than in subadult or adult foxes and higher in subadult than in adult foxes. variations in worm burdens occur, with the highest prevalences and intensities being found during the spring, when are born, and in the summer months. Prevalences and intensities then decrease during the autumn and winter months both subadult and adult foxes, but, during this period, prevalences are significantly higher in male than in female Variations in worm burdens in the fox population are likely to be related to the reproductive cycle of the fox, with proportion of cubs becoming infected in utero. The role of the fox in the transmission of T. canis in the urban environment is discussed.

Morphological change and fat accumulation in juvenile red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 525
Author(s):  
Roy K. Winstanley
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
First Year ◽  
Male Body ◽  
Energy Reserves ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
South Wales

Juvenile red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) reach sexual maturation within 10 months of parturition. During this time juveniles need to manage their energy reserves to fuel maintenance metabolism, growth and reproduction. To determine juvenile growth rates and body energy reserves, I measured body mass, morphology, and estimated body fat, in free-living red foxes from approximately 8 weeks of age through to 1 year old. Foxes (n = 163) were sampled monthly from August 1995 to July 1996 in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. Mean body mass of male and female juvenile foxes was indistinguishable from adult body mass by February, at 16 weeks of age (males 4500 g, females 4200 g). Skeletal measurements of body and forelimb length in both sexes also attained adult proportions by February. Further changes in morphology were minimal in first-year foxes. Total body fat was estimated indirectly using a kidney fat index. Estimated juvenile body fat remained low and stable (6%) in both sexes from December through March. Male body fat peaked in August (11%) but was low in July during mating and also September and October whilst females were denning. Estimated body fat of females peaked in August–September (13%) but declined sharply in October after parturition. In addition, 73% of first-year females sampled during August–October were either pregnant or had recently given birth.

Host-specific serological response to Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes): implications for parasite epidemiology

Parasitology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 144 (9) ◽  
pp. 1144-1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. GILLIS-GERMITSCH ◽  
C. M. O. KAPEL ◽  
S. M. THAMSBORG ◽  
P. DEPLAZES ◽  
M. SCHNYDER
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Angiostrongylus Vasorum ◽  
Antibody Detection ◽  
Post Inoculation ◽  
Serological Response ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Challenge Inoculation ◽  
Circulating Antigens

SUMMARYAngiostrongylus vasorum is a cardiovascular nematode increasingly found in dogs and foxes in endemic foci throughout Europe. The present study evaluates ELISAs for detection of circulating antigens and specific antibodies against A. vasorum in foxes. Blood and worm burdens (WBs) from carcasses of 215 Swiss wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and from 75 farmed foxes of different age groups experimentally inoculated once or repeatedly with infective doses of 50, 100 or 200 third-stage larvae were obtained. Antigen detection in the naturally infected Swiss foxes had 91·2% sensitivity and 89·4% specificity, whereas the corresponding figures for antibody detection were 42·2 and 92·0%. The experimentally infected foxes became positive for circulating antigens 5–10 weeks post-inoculation (wpi) and remained highly positive up to 22 wpi, irrespectively of further challenge inoculation. The antibody responses in the same foxes were highly variable: high optical density (OD) values were reached 5–7 wpi in all animals, followed by a decrease in over half of the animals despite accumulating and consequently high WBs resulting in persistent infections. After each challenge, a slight increase of OD values was observed 7 weeks later. We hypothesize that infected foxes develop a variable and non-protective immunity. Such parasite tolerance allows long-term survival of A. vasorum in the animals, and may explain why the parasite appears to spread rapidly within a fox population, an epidemiological dynamic that is evident in many parts of Europe where A. vasorum has been found over the last decades.

scholarly journals Spatial distribution of sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei) in urban foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Great Britain as determined by citizen science

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 1127-1140
Author(s):  
Dawn M. Scott ◽  
Rowenna Baker ◽  
Alexandra Tomlinson ◽  
Maureen J. Berg ◽  
Naomi Charman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Great Britain ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Sarcoptes Scabiei ◽  
Sarcoptic Mange ◽  
Private Land ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Fragmented Habitat ◽  
Shape Complexity

Abstract Urban areas may support high densities of wild carnivores, and pathogens can strongly influence carnivore populations. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are hosts of sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei), which infects numerous species, and transmission can be density dependent. In Great Britain, urban red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have recently increased in population density and undergone range expansions. Here we investigate corresponding changes in urban fox mange prevalence. We predicted a higher prevalence closer to historic epi/enzootics and lower prevalence where urban features reduce fox density and movements, i.e. large areas of public green space, and fragmented habitat, as measured by road length and urban perimeter shape complexity. We visually assessed mange symptoms from georeferenced images of urban foxes submitted online by the public, thus surveying private land on a national scale. We measured the proportion of foxes apparently showing mange and used SATSCAN to identify spatial clusters of high infection risk. Landscape features were extracted from urban layers in GIS to determine associations. Although mange was widespread, we identified a single cluster of high prevalence (37.1%) in Northwest and Central England, which exceeded double mean prevalence overall (15.1%) and mirrors the northward expansion of urban fox distribution. Prevalence was positively correlated with perimeter shape complexity and negatively correlated with distance to the nearest city with mange, although the latter association was weak. Our findings show that citizen science can effectively monitor diseases with highly visible symptoms and suggest that fox movements are influential in explaining spatial patterns of prevalence.

scholarly journals Serological and Molecular Survey of Serious Intracellular Coccidia in Red Foxes in Eastern Slovakia

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 47-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Reiterová ◽  
S. Špilovská ◽  
A. Čobádiová
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
High Infection Rate ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Muscle Tissues ◽  
High Infection ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Infected Prey

Abstract We tested the sera or meat juices of 215 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), collected during 2009-2014 at different localities of Eastern Slovakia for the presence of anti- Toxoplasma and anti-Neospora antibodies. We also examined the brains or muscle tissues and uncoagulated blood samples for the presence of both parasite’s DNA. The mean seropositivity to T. gondii was 72.6% (95% Confidence Interval CI 66.1-78.4) and to N. caninum 33.9% (95% CI 27.7-40.7). We observed higher Toxoplasmaseropositivity in adults (71.1%) than in juveniles (60.0%). Neospora-seropositivity was almost the same in both age groups about of 30%. In general, we observed less frequently the DNA of parasites, T. gondii (14.5%) and N. caninum (20.3%) in the tissue samples and uncoagulated blood samples. Coccidioses are considerably common in red foxes and circulate in locations of Eastern Slovakia. The high infection rate in foxes is probably due to their infected prey. On the other hand, the contamination of the environment with oocysts and their subsequent transfer to other farm and wild animals is also possible.

Oral vaccination and protection of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) against rabies using ONRAB®, an adenovirus-rabies recombinant vaccine

Vaccine ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 984-989 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.J. Brown ◽  
R.C. Rosatte ◽  
C. Fehlner-Gardiner ◽  
P. Bachmann ◽  
J.A. Ellison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Recombinant Vaccine ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Oral Vaccination

scholarly journals Differences in the capture rate of cage-trapped red foxes Vulpes vulpes and an evaluation of rabies control measures in Britain

2001 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 823-835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip J. Baker ◽  
Stephen Harris ◽  
Charles P.J. Robertson ◽  
Glen Saunders ◽  
Piran C.L. White
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Capture Rate ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Rabies Control
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