Virulence Genes of Pathogenic in Wild Red Foxes ().

Different pathotypes of can cause severe diseases in animals and humans. Wildlife may contribute to the circulation of pathogenic pathotypes, including enteropathogenic (EPEC), Shiga toxin-producing (STEC), and enterohemorrhagic (EHEC). This study analyzed 109 DNA samples previously extracted from fecal specimens collected from red foxes () to detect virulence genes , , , and , that characterize the EPEC, STEC, and EHEC strains. Thirty-one (28.4%) samples were positive for at least one investigated virulence gene: gene was detected in 21 (19.2%) samples, in 10 (9.1%), in 6 (5.5%), and in 4 (3.6%). Nine DNA samples resulted positive for two or three virulence genes: five (4.6%) samples were positive for and genes, two (1.8%) for and , one (0.9%) for and , one (0.9%) for , and . Red foxes seem to be involved in the epidemiology of these infections and their role could be relevant because they may be source of pathogenic for other wild animals, as well as domestic animals and humans.