Submitted Successfully!
To reward your contribution, here is a gift for you: A free trial for our video production service.
Thank you for your contribution! You can also upload a video entry or images related to this topic.
Version Summary Created by Modification Content Size Created at Operation
1 -- 2098 2023-02-10 14:32:16 |
2 format -44 word(s) 2053 2023-02-13 02:45:11 |

Video Upload Options

Do you have a full video?

Confirm

Are you sure to Delete?
Cite
If you have any further questions, please contact Encyclopedia Editorial Office.
Garcês, A.;  Pires, I. Secrets of the Astute Red Fox. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/41098 (accessed on 01 July 2024).
Garcês A,  Pires I. Secrets of the Astute Red Fox. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/41098. Accessed July 01, 2024.
Garcês, Andreia, Isabel Pires. "Secrets of the Astute Red Fox" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/41098 (accessed July 01, 2024).
Garcês, A., & Pires, I. (2023, February 10). Secrets of the Astute Red Fox. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/41098
Garcês, Andreia and Isabel Pires. "Secrets of the Astute Red Fox." Encyclopedia. Web. 10 February, 2023.
Secrets of the Astute Red Fox
Edit

An ecosystem’s health is based on a delicate balance between human, nonhuman animal, and environmental health. Any factor that leads to an imbalance in one of the components results in disease. There are several bioindicators that allow people to evaluate the status of ecosystems. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes, Linnaeus, 1758) has the widest world distribution among mammals. It is highly adaptable, lives in rural and urban areas, and has a greatly diverse diet. Being susceptible to environmental pollution and zoonotic agents, red foxes may act as sentinels to detect environmental contaminants, and climatic changes and to prevent and control outbreaks of emerging or re-emerging zoonosis. This entry present the information that is related to the red fox as a sentinel of human, animal, and environmental health.

sentinel bioindicator health contaminant pollution zoonosis antibiotic resistance

1. Introduction

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes, Linnaeus, 1758) is the medium-size canid with the widest world distribution [1]. This species is present throughout the northern hemisphere and regions of North Africa and has been introduced into Australia, where it is considered a plague [1][2]. It is listed as least concern by the International Union Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and in some countries is hunted by its fur and meat [1]. It is highly adaptable to local environmental conditions so that this animal can be found in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Red foxes live in small family groups and are more active at night [2]. They are opportunist predators who can adjust their diet to seasonal and local availability. Their heterogeneous diet can include fruits, invertebrates, small mammals, birds, and even rubbish [2][3]. Their main predators are large carnivores (e.g., wolves, bears), large birds of prey (e.g., golden eagles), and humans [2][4]. The major cause of the admission of these animals to wildlife rehabilitation centers is traffic accidents and poisoning [5][6]. Foxes also harbor a number of pathogens, including some zoonotic [2].
Because the red fox is one of the most widely distributed wild mammals, feeds on a broad range of food resources, and lives in close contact with humans, it has been proposed as a sentinel species in several studies (Figure 1). A sentinel species is used to detect and monitor the presence and effects of contaminants in the animals introduced or living in their habitat [3][7][8]. It also allows the identification of threats, namely infectious agents (e.g., viruses, bacteria), or other anthropogenic hazards, that represent a risk to the fauna and flora of the ecosystem and potentially to humans [9].
Figure 1. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) as bioindicator sentinel of environmental ecosystem health: zoonotic diseases, environmental contamination, antibiotic resistance, zoonotic diseases, climate changes, and anthropogenic changes.
A sentinel species, in a One Health context, can give people the tools to predict environmental changes and disease outbreaks. As a result, early actions could be taken to prevent catastrophic consequences, as you saw in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the aim is to compile the studies that use the red fox (V. vulpes) as a sentinel species.

2. Research Methods

Researchers conducted a literature search through the main web search engines, which included Google Web, Google Scholar, Web of Knowledge, Re-search Gate, and PubMed, as well as in the more relevant ecological ecology, chemistry, veterinary, and similar themed journals. To collect articles related to red fox (V. vulpes) as environmental sentinel bioindicators, the search terms included combinations of fox, red fox, Vulpes vulpes, bioindicator, environmental sentinel, one health, pollution, toxics, antimicrobial resistance, environmental contaminants, heavy metals, disease, poison, morbidity, mortality, persistent organic pollutants, zoonosis, infectious diseases, parasites, organochlorides. As inclusion criteria, only works that describe information regarding Vulpes vulpes as environmental sentinels were included.

3. Results Obtained from the Consulted Papers

Overall, researchers analyzed a total of 112 research works published between the years 1963 to 2021. To facilitate the description of the studies, they were grouped under an integrated One Health vision, taking into consideration the main threats to environmental, human, and animal health.

3.1. Red Fox as a Sentinel of Environmental Contamination

Organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated di-phenyl ethers (PBDEs), and heavy metals are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that originated from human activities, such as agriculture, burning of fossil fuels, industrial activities, and transportation [3][10][11]. They are toxic and have the potential to persist in ecosystems. Due to high lipophilia, they can accumulate in the adipose tissues of vertebrates and bio magnify in food chains [10].
Foxes are significant elements in the food chain [12]. Carnivores, such as foxes, tend to have higher levels of polluting residues than herbivorous animals as a result of bioaccumulation effects between trophic levels. It is, therefore, necessary to trace the presence and the number of chemical substances, such as heavy metals and pesticides, in their tissues. Contaminants studies make it possible to understand the organic changes in the animal, but also the potential dangers for human health [13][14]. Contaminants’ exposition, during long times and at low doses, can alter physiological processes (e.g., metabolism, hormonal changes), decrease animal body condition (e.g., small and weak animals), immunotoxic effects, decrease reproductive success (e.g., infertility, abortion, malformations), and can result in genotoxic and mutagenic effects (cancer) [8][15][16].
Table 1 presents the published works associated with environmental contaminants studies in V. vulpes. The majority of the studies (out of 35) were conducted in Europe (n = 34), with the largest number in Poland (n = 12) and Italy (n = 7). The research focused on wild foxes, with the exception of two cases where red foxes were raised on farms for fur [17].
Table 1. Review of articles that evaluated environmental contaminates in red fox (Vulpes vulpes) regarding the number of animals substance type, year, sample type analyzed, country, the origin of the animals (wild or fur farm).
Substance Number of Animals Origin Animal Sample Country Year Reference
Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn 20 Wild and Fur farm Hair and skin Poland 2011 [17]
Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn 48 Wild Small intestines Czech Republic 2010–2011 [18]
Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn 87 Wild Kidney and liver Switzerland 1997–1998 [19]
Pb, Cd, Hg 30 Fur Farm Kidney Poland 2008 [20]
Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, Cd, Pb 10 Wild Kidney Hungary 2008 [21]
Hg 37 Fur farm Hair and skin Poland 2014 [17]
Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, As 18 Wild Liver, kidneys, and muscles Slovak Republic 1998–1999 [12]
Cd, Pb, Zn 250 Wild Kidney Spain 2003–2011 [22]
Cd, Pb, Zn. 36 Wild Kidney, liver and muscle Poland 2002–2003 [23]
Hg 6 Wild Liver and kidney Russia 2007–2011 [14]
Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb 56 Wild Liver Romania May–September 2014 [24]
Hg 200 Wild Liver, muscle, kidney, hair, bone Alaska 2010–2011 [25]
Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Hg 30 Wild Cartilage, compact bone, and spongy bone Poland 2008–2009 [26]
Pb, Cu 42 Wild Muscle and skin Italy 2010 [13]
Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni 27 Wild Intestine Czech Republic 2009 to 2010 [27]
Hg 27 Wild Liver, muscle, and kidney Poland 2004–2006 [28]
Mn, Fe, Sr 38 Wild Bone Poland 2008–2009 [29]
Hg, Cd, Pb 46 Wild Liver Italy 1992 [30]
As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg 28 Wild Liver, kidney and muscle Croatia 2008–2009 [31]
Pb, Cd, Cr, Hg Unknown Wild Heart, liver, diaphragm, kidney, muscle, and adipose tissue Italy 1994–1995 [10]
PCB, DDE Unknown Wild Heart, liver, diaphragm, kidney, muscle, and adipose tissue Italy 1994–1995 [10]
PCB, Dieldrin, DDT, Endosulfan, HCB, Heptachlor 192 Wild Perirenal adipose tissue, Kidney Switzerland 1999–2000 [32]
PCB 80 Wild Muscle Germany 1983–1991. [33]
PCBs, DDT 23 Wild Adipose tissue Italy 1991–1992 [3]
HCB, DDT, PBC 57 Wild Muscle and adipose tissue Italy 1992–1993 [3]
PBDEs 33 Wild Adipose tissue, liver, and muscle Belgium 2003–2004 [34]
HCB, DDT, PCB 36 Wild Adipose tissues and muscle Italy 1992 [30]
PCB 20 Wild Liver, lungs Poland 2008–2009 [35]
Aldrin, cis-chlordane, trans-chlordane, DDE, DDD, DDT, dieldrin, endosulfan, endrin, HCB, heptachlor, heptachlor-exo-epoxide, iso-drin, methoxychlor, mirex, PBC 18 Wild Plasma, liver, and adipose tissue Spain 2004–2006 [36]
Fluoride 32 Wild Bone Poland 2014 [37]
Fluoride 34 Wild Teeth Poland Unknown [38]
Fluoride 182 Wild Mandible Great Britain Unknown [38]
Fluoride 35 Wild Teeth Poland 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 [7]
90Sr, 238,239+240Pu, 241Am and 137Cs 183 Wild Jaw bones Poland 2008 [39]
With respect to the type of contaminant, 20 studies were performed on heavy metals, 14 on pesticides/PCBs/PBDEs, and one on radioactive compounds.
Research works on pesticides using the fox as a sentinel are more common for the Arctic fox than the red fox [40][41][42][43][44]. Acute toxicity probably appears to be more common in these animals than the non-lethal chronic effects of pesticides [2]. Indeed, accidental or deliberate poisoning by organochlorine pesticides, biocides, and rodenticides is one of the main causes of red fox admission to wildlife rehabilitation centers [45]. Contrary to expectations, since these animals live near farms and agricultural fields, the pesticides levels in red foxes’ tissues seem to be low, and probably are not associated with adverse health effects. In a study performed in Germany, the investigation of samples from 1983, 1987, and 1991 showed a reduction in the levels of the highly chlorinated biphenyls 138, 153, and 180 [33]. A similar study conducted in Zurich showed a general reduction in exposure to PCBs, with lower levels of PCBs in samples obtained from 1999 to 2000 [32]. In Poland, the ΣPCBs (sum of PCBs: 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180) levels in the liver and lungs were 389.99 ng/g and 110.57 ng/g of lipid weight [35]. In Italy, the investigators found in muscle concentrations of 20.2 µg g µ1 lipid in muscle and 7.2 µg g µ1 lb in adipose tissue [46]. While the levels were found to be low, ongoing studies are important for monitoring pesticides environmental pollution.
Several studies have been carried out to determine heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) in red foxes. Mercury (Hg) is one of the most studied and presents variations according to the geographic location of the animals. Wild foxes living near water sources have naturally higher levels of mercury in their tissues, possibly as a result of feeding higher up the food chain [25]. Studies in Slovakia [14], Russia [14], Poland [28], and Spain [30] have shown toxic levels of mercury in red fox fever, which appear to increase with age. Wild foxes have elevated levels of mercury in their tissues, even in populations living in isolated areas as Alaska [25].
Fluoride (F−) pollution has been increasing over the last several decades. In excess, fluoride can cause toxic effects on living organisms, such as dental and bone fluorosis and bone tumors [7]. In Poland, two different studies detected concentrations from 176 to 3668 mg/kg dw in bone [7][38] and 230 and 296 mg/kg dw in mandibular first molars. The interpretation of these values reflects moderate fluoride contamination in the area and makes red foxes a promising sentinel to access industrial pollution [7][37][38].
The study of radioactivity was carried out in the Ukraine, where the Chernobyl nuclear accident occurred. Fox bones did not show a high level of contamination in comparison to the results obtained on the bones of small animals (rodents or insectivorous mammals) previously determined. This suggests that there is no accumulation of bone isotopes at the top of the food chain [39].

3.2. Red Foxes as a Sentinel of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health problem of modern times and has increased worldwide, not only in humans but also in animals, due to a continued spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in the environment through different pathways [47][48]. The production of extended-spectrum b-lactamases (ESBLs) by Enterobacteriaceae, in particular by Escherichia coli, vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudointermedius (MRSP), and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been some of the main public health concerns in the last years [49][50].
Some red fox populations are urban and may therefore acquire antimicrobial-resistant bacteria directly from man and other animals or indirectly through reservoirs, such as food waste, garbage, sewage, and wastewater [47]. Consequently, the red fox can be a hopeful sentinel for monitoring the occurrence of AMR, providing a better understanding of resistance dynamics and factors [49][50].
The studies of AMR conducted in foxes are still scarce. Escherichia coli displaying carbapenem or colistin resistance was isolated in 387 out of 528 samples of wild red foxes evaluated in Denmark. In addition, the total occurrence of AMR was significantly higher in areas where the population density was higher [51].
In a Portuguese study, cefotaxime-resistant E. coli was isolated from 2 of the 52 fecal samples (4%), being both ESBL producers. The b-lactamase genes found in the two isolates were blaSHV-12+blaTEM-1b. The tet (A) and sul2 genes were also detected in these isolates, together with the non-classical class 1 integrin (intI1-dfrA12-orfF-aadA2-cmlA1- aadA1-qacH-IS440-sul3) with the PcH1 promoter [49]. In other study, 14 VRE were detected in 7 of 52 fecal samples (13.5%) [50][52].
In an investigation carried out in the United Kingdom, including 38 foxes (Vulpes vulpes) samples from rural and semirural areas, 35 presented isolates of coagulase-negative Staphilococcus sciuri group (35%), S. equorum (27%), and S. capitis (22%). All were phenotypically resistant to methicillin, and mecA was detected in 33 (89%) of the isolates and 10 (27%) showed broad b-lactam antibiotic resistance [53]. Resistance/intermediate resistance to at least one class of antibiotics and the highest resistance values were observed in the tetracycline class, with 33 strains being MDR.

References

  1. Hoffmann, M.; Sillero-Zubiri, C. Vulpes vulpes (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T23062A193903628. 2021. Available online: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/23062/193903628 (accessed on 10 August 2021).
  2. Brash, M. Foxes. In BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties; British Small Animal Veterinary Association: Gloucester, UK, 2003; pp. 154–166.
  3. Corsolini, S.; Burrini, L.; Focardi, S.; Lovari, S. How Can We Use the Red Fox as a Bioindicator of Organochlorines? Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 2000, 39, 547–556.
  4. Harris, S.; Yalden, D. Mammals of the British Isles: Handbook, 4th ed.; Mammal Society: Southampton, UK, 2008; ISBN 0906282659.
  5. Kelly, T.R.; Sleeman, J.M.; Box, P.O. Morbidity and Mortality of Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and Gray Foxes (Urocyon Ciner-eoargenteus) Admitted to the Wildlife Center of Virginia, 1993–2001. J. Wildl. Dis. 2003, 39, 467–469.
  6. Turnover, A. Annual Turnover of Fox Populations in Europe *. Zbl. Vet. Med. 1976, 589, 580–589.
  7. Kalisińska, E.; Palczewska-Komsa, M. Teeth of the red fox Vulpes vulpes (L., 1758) as a bioindicator in studies on fluoride pollution. Acta Thériol. 2011, 56, 343–351.
  8. A LeBlanc, G.; Bain, L.J. Chronic toxicity of environmental contaminants: Sentinels and biomarkers. Environ. Heal. Perspect. 1997, 105, 65–80.
  9. National Research Council (US) Committee on Animals as Monitors of Environmental Hazards. Animals as Sentinels of Environmental Health Hazards; National Academies Press (US): Washington, DC, USA, 1991; ISBN 0-309-59489-8.
  10. Alleva, E.; Francia, N.; Pandolfi, M.; De Marinis, A.M.; Chiarotti, F.; Santucci, D. Organochlorine and Heavy-Metal Contaminants in Wild Mammals and Birds of Urbino-Pesaro Province, Italy: An Analytic Overview for Potential Bioindicators. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 2006, 51, 123–134.
  11. Wang-Andersen, G.; Skaare, J.U.; Prestrud, P.; Steinnes, E. Levels and congener pattern of PCBs in arctic fox, Alopex lagopus, in Svalbard. Environ. Pollut. 1993, 82, 269–275.
  12. Piskoroyá, L.; Vasilková, Z.; Krupicer, I. Heavy Metal Residues in Tissues of Wild Boar (Sus Scrofa) and Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the Central Zemplin Region of the Slovak Republic. Czech J. Anim. Sci. 2003, 48, 134–138.
  13. Naccari, C.; Giangrosso, G.; Macaluso, A.; Billone, E.; Cicero, A.; D’Ascenzi, C.; Ferrantelli, V. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) bioindicator of lead and copper pollution in Sicily (Italy). Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 2013, 90, 41–45.
  14. Komov, V.T.; Ivanova, E.S.; Gremyachikh, V.A.; Poddubnaya, N.Y. Mercury Content in Organs and Tissues of Indigenous (Vulpes vulpes L.) and Invasive (Nyctereutes procyonoides Gray.) Species of Canids from Areas Near Cherepovets (North-Western Industrial Region, Russia). Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 2016, 97, 480–485.
  15. Köhler, H.-R.; Triebskorn, R.; Meierbachtol, T.; Harper, J.; Humphrey, N. Wildlife Ecotoxicology of Pesticides: Can We Track Effects to the Population Level and Beyond? Science 2013, 341, 759–765.
  16. Jayaraj, R.; Megha, P.; Sreedev, P. Review Article. Organochlorine pesticides, their toxic effects on living organisms and their fate in the environment. Interdiscip. Toxicol. 2016, 9, 90–100.
  17. Filistowicz, A.; Dobrzański, Z.; Przysiecki, P.; Nowicki, S.; Filistowicz, A. Concentration of heavy metals in hair and skin of silver and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Environ. Monit. Assess. 2011, 182, 477–484.
  18. Sedláková, J.; Řezáč, P.; Fišer, V.; Hedbávný, J. Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes L., as a Bioindicator of Environmental Pollution in the Countryside of Czech Republic. Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendel. Brun. 2019, 67, 447–452.
  19. Dip, C.S.R.; Stieger, C.; Deplazes, P.; Hegglin, D.; Müller, U.; Dafflon, O.; Koch, H.; Naegeli, H.; Dip, R. Comparison of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Tissues of Red Foxes from Adjacent Urban, Suburban, and Rural Areas. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 2001, 40, 551–556.
  20. Cybulski, W.; Andrzej, J. Content of lead, cadmium, and mercury in the liver and kidneys of silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes ) in relation to age and reproduction disorders. Bull Vet Inst Pulawy 2009, 53, 63–69.
  21. Heltai, M.; Markov, G. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758) as Biological Indicator for Environmental Pollution in Hungary. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 2012, 89, 910–914.
  22. Pérez-López, M.; Rodríguez, F.S.; Hernández-Moreno, D.; Rigueira, L.; Fidalgo, L.E.; Beceiro, A.L. Bioaccumulation of cadmium, lead and zinc in liver and kidney of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) from NW Spain: Influence of gender and age. Toxicol. Environ. Chem. 2016, 98, 109–117.
  23. Ziętara, J.; Wierzbowska, I.A.; Gdula-Argasińska, J.; Gajda, A.; Laskowski, R. Concentrations of cadmium and lead, but not zinc, are higher in red fox tissues than in rodents—pollution gradient study in the Małopolska province (Poland). Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2019, 26, 4961–4974.
  24. Farkas, A.; Bidló, A.; Bolodár-Varga, B.; Jánoska, F. Accumulation of Metals in Liver Tissues of Sympatric Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) and Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the Southern Part of Romania. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 2017, 98, 513–520.
  25. Dainowski, B.; Duffy, L.; McIntyre, J.; Jones, P. Hair and bone as predictors of tissular mercury concentration in the western Alaska red fox, Vulpes vulpes. Sci. Total. Environ. 2015, 518-519, 526–533.
  26. Lanocha-Arendarczyk, N.; Kalisinska, E.; Kosik-Bogacka, D.I.; Budis, H.; Noga-Deren, K. Trace metals and micronutrients in bone tissues of the red fox Vulpes vulpes (L., 1758). Acta Thériol. 2012, 57, 233–244.
  27. Borkovcova, M.; Fiser, V.; Bednarova, M.; Havlicek, Z.; Adámková, A.; Mlcek, J.; Jurikova, T.; Balla, S.; Adámek, M. Effect of Accumulation of Heavy Metals in the Red Fox Intestine on the Prevalence of Its Intestinal Parasites. Animals 2020, 10, 343.
  28. Kalisinska, E.; Lisowski, P.; Kosik-Bogacka, D.I. Red Fox Vulpes vulpes (L., 1758) as a Bioindicator of Mercury Contamination in Terrestrial Ecosystems of North-Western Poland. Biol. Trace Element Res. 2012, 145, 172–180.
  29. Budis, H.; Kalisinska, E.; Lanocha-Arendarczyk, N.; Kosik-Bogacka, D.I. The Concentration of Manganese, Iron and Strontium in Bone of Red Fox Vulpes vulpes (L. 1758). Biol. Trace Element Res. 2013, 155, 361–369.
  30. Corsolini, S.; Focardi, S.; Leonzio, C.; Lovari, S.; Monaci, F.; Romeo, G. Heavy Metals and Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Concentrations in the Red Fox in Relation to Some Biological Paramaters. Environ. Monit. Assess. 1999, 54, 87–100.
  31. Bilandžić, N.; Dežđek, D.; Sedak, M.; Đokić, M.; Solomun, B.; Varenina, I.; Knežević, Z.; Slavica, A. Concentrations of Trace Elements in Tissues of Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Stone Marten (Martes foina) from Suburban and Rural Areas in Croatia. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 2010, 85, 486–491.
  32. Dip, R.; Hegglin, D.; Deplazes, P.; Dafflon, O.; Koch, H.; Naegeli, H. Age- and sex-dependent distribution of persistent organochlorine pollutants in urban foxes. Environ. Heal. Perspect. 2003, 111, 1608–1612.
  33. Georgii, S.; Bachour, G.; Failing, K.; Eskens, U.; Elmadfa, I.; Brunn, H. Polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in Foxes in Germany from 1983 to 1991. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 1994, 26, 1–6.
  34. Voorspoels, S.; Covaci, A.; Lepom, P.; Escutenaire, S.; Schepens, P. Remarkable Findings Concerning PBDEs in the Terres-trial Top-Predator Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes). Environ. Sci. Technol. 2006, 40, 2937–2943.
  35. Tomza-Marciniak, A.; Pilarczyk, B.; Bakowska, M.; Tylkowska, A.; Marciniak, A.; Ligocki, M.; Udala, J. Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCBS) Residues in Suburban Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes)-Preliminary Study. Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2012, 21, 193–199.
  36. Mateo, R.; Millán, J.; Rodríguez-Estival, J.; Camarero, P.R.; Palomares, F.; Ortiz-Santaliestra, M.E. Levels of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in the critically endangered Iberian lynx and other sympatric carnivores in Spain. Chemosphere 2012, 86, 691–700.
  37. Palczewska-Komsa, M.; Kalisinska, E.; Kosik-Bogacka, D.I.; Lanocha-Arendarczyk, N.; Budis, H.; Baranowska-Bosiacka, I.; Gutowska, I.; Chlubek, D. Fluoride in the Bones of Foxes (Vulpes vulpes Linneaus, 1758) and Raccoon Dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides Gray, 1834) from North-Western Poland. Biol. Trace Element Res. 2014, 160, 24–31.
  38. Palczewska-Komsa, M.; Wilk, A.; Stogiera, A.; Chlubek, D.; Buczkowska-Radlińska, J.; Wiszniewska, B. Animals in Bio-monitoring Studies of Environmental Fluoride Pollution. Fluoride 2016, 49, 279–292.
  39. Mietelski, J.W.; Kitowski, I.; Tomankiewicz, E.; Gaca, P.; Blażej, S. Plutonium, americium, 90Sr and 137Cs in bones of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) from Eastern Poland. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 2007, 275, 571–577.
  40. Rogstad, T.W.; Sonne, C.; Villanger, G.D.; Øystein, A.; Fuglei, E.; Muir, D.C.; Jørgensen, E.; Jenssen, B.M. Concentrations of vitamin A, E, thyroid and testosterone hormones in blood plasma and tissues from emaciated adult male Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus ) dietary exposed to persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Environ. Res. 2017, 154, 284–290.
  41. Bocharova, N.; Treu, G.; Czirják, G.Á.; Krone, O.; Stefanski, V.; Wibbelt, G.; Unnsteinsdóttir, E.R.; Hersteinsson, P.; Schares, G.; Doronina, L.; et al. Correlates between Feeding Ecology and Mercury Levels in Historical and Modern Arctic Foxes (Vulpes lagopus). PLoS ONE 2013, 8, e60879.
  42. Pedersen, K.E.; Styrishave, B.; Sonne, C.; Dietz, R.; Jenssen, B.M. Accumulation and potential health effects of organohalogenated compounds in the arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)—A review. Sci. Total. Environ. 2015, 502, 510–516.
  43. Andersen, M.S.; Fuglei, E.; König, M.; Lipasti, I.; Pedersen, Å.Ø.; Polder, A.; Yoccoz, N.; Routti, H. Levels and temporal trends of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) from Svalbard in relation to dietary habits and food availability. Sci. Total. Environ. 2015, 511, 112–122.
  44. Bolton, J.L.; White, P.A.; Burrows, D.G.; Lundin, J.I.; Ylitalo, G.M. Food resources influence levels of persistent organic pollutants and stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in tissues of Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) from the Pribilof Islands, Alaska. Polar Res. 2017, 36, 12.
  45. Mullineaux, E.; Best, D.; Cooper, J.E. BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties; British Small Animal Veterinary Association: Gloucester, UK, 2003; ISBN 0905214633.
  46. Corsolini, S.; Focardi, S.; Kannan, K.; Tanabe, S.; Tatsukawa, R. Isomer-specific analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQs) in red fox and human adipose tissue from central Italy. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 1995, 29, 61–68.
  47. Plaza-Rodríguez, C.; Alt, K.; Grobbel, M.; Hammerl, J.A.; Irrgang, A.; Szabo, I.; Stingl, K.; Schuh, E.; Wiehle, L.; Pfefferkorn, B.; et al. Wildlife as Sentinels of Antimicrobial Resistance in Germany? Front. Vet. Sci. 2021, 27, 627821.
  48. Caprioli, A.; Busani, L.; Martel, J.L.; Helmuth, R. Monitoring of antibiotic resistance in bacteria of animal origin: Epidemiological and microbiological methodologies. Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents 2000, 14, 295–301.
  49. Radhouani, H.; Igrejas, G.; Gonçalves, A.; Estepa, V.; Sargo, R.; Torres, C.; Poeta, P. Molecular characterization of extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolates from red foxes in Portugal. Arch. Microbiol. 2013, 195, 141–144.
  50. Lineages, C.; Resistance, A. Clonal Lineages, Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence Factors in Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci Isolated from Fecal Samples of Red Foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ). J. Wildl. Dis. 2011, 47, 769–773.
  51. Mo, S.S.; Urdahl, A.M.; Madslien, K.; Sunde, M.; Nesse, L.L.; Slettemeås, J.S.; Norström, M. What does the fox say? Monitoring antimicrobial resistance in the environment using wild red foxes as an indicator. PLoS ONE 2018, 13, e0198019.
  52. Radhouani, H.; Igrejas, G.; Gonçalves, A.; Pacheco, R.; Monteiro, R.; Sargo, R.; Brito, F.; Torres, C.; Poeta, P. Antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in Escherichia coli and enterococci from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Anaerobe 2013, 23, 82–86.
  53. Carson, M.; Meredith, A.; Shaw, D.J.; Giotis, E.S.; Lloyd, D.H.; Loeffler, A. Foxes As a Potential Wildlife Reservoir formecA-Positive Staphylococci. Vector-Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2012, 12, 583–587.
More
Information
Contributors MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register : ,
View Times: 655
Entry Collection: Environmental Sciences
Revisions: 2 times (View History)
Update Date: 13 Feb 2023
1000/1000
Video Production Service