[Parasites present in foxes (Vulpes vulpes) of the province of Forli]

In the period March 1983 - March 1984 a parasitological survey was carried out on 103 foxes killed in the Forli province (Italy). The parasites identified were: Toxocara canis (45.6%); Uncinaria stenocephala (14.6%); Mesocestoides lineatus (9.7%); Dipylidium caninum (2.9%); Taenia crassiceps (2.9%); Trichuris vulpis (2.9%). Out of all the cestodes found in 7 animals the authors identified only genus Taenia since their preservation conditions were not optimal. Other 13 subjects contained many cestodes similar to T. hydatigena, but considerably shorter in the mean length (20 cm vs 200). In a fecal sample the authors found a species of coccidium whose features do not correspond to any of those described in foxes, therefore it was called Eimeria sp. Finally, the autopsies' results were compared with coprological ones in order to asses their reliability.