Helminth parasites of the fox (Vulpes vulpes) in New South Wales

A total of 930 foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from New South Wales were examined for the presence of gastro-intestinal helminth parasites. The cestodes were represented by Taenia pisiformis with a prevalence of 15.7%, T. serialis (22.6%), T. taeniaeformis (0.1%), Spirometra erinacei (28.7%) and Dipylidium caninum (8.3%). No specimens of T. ovis, T. hydatigena or Echinococcus granulosus were encountered. Toxocara canis was the most prevalent nematode and occurred in 35.2% of foxes. Other nematodes encountered were Uncinaria stenocephala with a prevalence of 30.6%, Ancylostoma caninum (7.5%), Trichuris vulpis (2.7%) and Cyathospirura dasyuridis (0.3%). Oncicola sp was found in 1 fox. The prevalence of various parasites in foxes varied between different regions of New South Wales. All parasites, except S. erinacei and D. caninum were less prevalent in the western regions of the State. T. serialis and T. canis were more prevalent in male than female foxes. Of the parasites found T. serialis had the highest average burden per infected fox (17.9) and T. pisiformis had the lowest (2.8).