Infestation Diagnosis of Ectoparasitism in Red Foxes and Jackals in Southwest Iran
January 2013
TLDR About 19% of foxes and 18% of jackals in southwest Iran have at least one type of ectoparasite, mainly fleas.
In a study conducted in 2011-2012 in Ilam province, Iran, the prevalence of ectoparasites was investigated in 118 samples from 62 foxes and 56 jackals. The animals were examined for ectoparasites by combing their bodies and using ether-soaked cotton to remove the parasites. Mites were collected from areas showing hair loss, alopecia, or swelling. The results showed that 12 (19.35%) of the foxes and 10 (17.85%) of the jackals were infested with at least one ectoparasite. The most common ectoparasite found was Ctenocephalides canis, with an infestation rate of 12.9% in foxes and 10.81% in jackals. The intensity of infestation varied, with some animals having 1-5 fleas, others having 5-10, and a few having more than 10-15 fleas. This study highlights the need for parasite control in carnivores in the region, which is near the Iran and Iraq border.
