Abstract
Serum samples collected from red foxes in the city of Berlin between 1996 and 1999 were analysed for the presence of antibodies against Opisthorchis felineus and Metorchis bilis using an indirect ELISA. Out of 1,000 specimens, 30.6% and 46.5% reacted positively with specific O. felineus and M. bilis antigens, respectively. Seroprevalence in adult foxes was always higher than in juveniles. While no significant differences were observed in adult foxes throughout the period, in juvenile specimens seroprevalence declined from 1996 to 1997, then stayed at a comparable level in 1998 and increased in 1999. A varying availability of fresh cyprinid fish in different years seems to be the reason for changes in seroprevalence. By grouping the samples from juvenile foxes by season, antibodies against both Metorchis and Opisthorchis antigens started to appear between April and June , increased between July and Septemberand reached a level comparable to adult foxes in the October to December quarter. The lowest seroprevalence was found in Pankow, which is the district with the lowest share of the surface water.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Krone O, Schuster R (2002) The liver fluke Metorchis bilis—a new threat for the white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicolle) in Middle Europe? In: Proceedings of the Joint Meeting of the European Association of Zoo- and Wildlife Veterinarians and the European Wildlife Disease Association. Heidelberg, 8–12 May 2002, pp 47–48
Nöckler K, Dell K, Schuster R, Voigt W-P (2003) Indirect ELISA for the detection of antibodies against Opisthorchis felineus (Rivolta, 1884) and Metorchis bilis (Braun, 1790) in foxes. Vet Parasitol 110:207–215
Schuster R, Wanjek K (2001) Cyprinid fish as a source for trematode infections. International Conference of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology. Stresa, 26–30 August 2001, abstract D5p
Schuster R, Bonin J, Staubach C, Heidrich R (1999) Liver fluke (Opisthorchiidae) findings in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the eastern part of the Federal State Brandenburg, Germany—a contribution to the epidemiology of opisthorchiidosis. Parasitol Res 85:142–146
Schuster R, Bonin J, Staubach C, Nitschke B (2000) Zur Verbreitung opisthorchiider Leberegel bei Rotfüchsen (Vulpes vulpes) in Westbrandenburg. Berl Münch Tierärztl Wochenschr 113:407–411
Schuster R, Wanjek K, Bartnik C, Wittstatt U, Baumann M, Schein E (2001) Leberegelbefall und Räude beim Rotfuchs in Berlin. Berl Münch Tierärztl Wochenschr 114:193–196
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schuster, R., Gregor, B., Heidrich, J. et al. A sero-epidemiological survey on the occurrence of opisthorchiid liver flukes in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Berlin, Germany. Parasitol Res 90, 400–404 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-003-0868-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-003-0868-8