Marks C A, Bloomfield T E
Vertebrate Pest Research Department, Victorian Institute of Animal Science, Frankston, Australia.
Vet Parasitol. 1998 Jul 31;78(2):147-54. doi: 10.1016/s0304-4017(98)00131-9.
Canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) was detected by antigen ELISA in 8 (6.4%) of 125 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) captured in the Melbourne (Australia) metropolitan area. Circulating microfilariae were also detected by whole blood filtration in six of these foxes. Cursory sampling of mosquitos at two of the sites where positive foxes were captured revealed the existence of two known mosquito vectors of Dirofilaria. The existence of widespread fox populations in Melbourne, together with known mosquito vectors may offer the potential for a sylvatic cycle of canine heartworm within the urban area.
在澳大利亚墨尔本市区捕获的125只赤狐（赤狐属）中，通过抗原酶联免疫吸附测定法检测到8只（6.4%）感染了犬心丝虫（犬恶丝虫）。其中6只狐狸通过全血过滤也检测到了循环微丝蚴。在捕获阳性狐狸的两个地点对蚊子进行的粗略采样显示，存在两种已知的犬恶丝虫蚊子传播媒介。墨尔本广泛分布的狐狸种群以及已知的蚊子传播媒介可能为城市地区犬心丝虫的自然疫源地循环提供了可能性。
