Richards D T, Harris S, Lewis J W
Department of Biology, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey.
Parasitology. 1993 Aug;107 ( Pt 2):167-73. doi: 10.1017/s0031182000067275.
A 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 burdens are significantly higher in cubs than in subadult or adult foxes and higher in subadult than in adult foxes. Seasonal variations in worm burdens occur, with the highest prevalences and intensities being found during the spring, when cubs are born, and in the summer months. Prevalences and intensities then decrease during the autumn and winter months in both subadult and adult foxes, but, during this period, prevalences are significantly higher in male than in female foxes. Variations in worm burdens in the fox population are likely to be related to the reproductive cycle of the fox, with a high proportion of cubs becoming infected in utero. The role of the fox in the transmission of T. canis in the urban environment is discussed.
1986年1月至1990年7月期间，对521只赤狐（赤狐属）体内的犬弓首蛔虫这种蛔虫类线虫进行了描述性流行病学调查。年龄患病率和年龄感染强度曲线表明，幼狐体内的蠕虫负荷明显高于亚成年狐或成年狐，且亚成年狐体内的蠕虫负荷高于成年狐。蠕虫负荷存在季节性变化，在春季（幼狐出生时）和夏季月份患病率和感染强度最高。然后，亚成年狐和成年狐体内的患病率和感染强度在秋季和冬季月份下降，但在此期间，雄狐的患病率明显高于雌狐。狐种群中蠕虫负荷的变化可能与狐的繁殖周期有关，有很大比例的幼狐在子宫内就受到感染。本文讨论了狐在城市环境中犬弓首蛔虫传播中的作用。
