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The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is one of the most common species of wild Canidae and is relatively abundant in Iran. Foxes (Vulpes spp.) transmit many zoonotic diseases, the most important of which are visceral leishmaniasis, rabies, hydatidosis, toxocariasis, and trichinellosis. In this study, visceral leishmaniasis, rabies, ectoparasites, canine gastrointestinal helminths, dermatophytosis, distemper, parvovirus infection, and heartworm infections were evaluated among live-trapped and rescued foxes injured by traffic road accidents referred to the teaching hospital of Kerman, Iran, veterinary faculty. Skin scraping and direct microscopic examination were used to detect ectoparasites and dermatophytosis. Immunochromatography rapid kits were used to detect dirofilariasis, parvovirus infection, and distemper. Necropsy was used to check for gastrointestinal parasites. Rabies and visceral leishmaniosis were screened for with direct fluorescent antibody test and ELISA methods, respectively. Gastrointestinal helminth infections, including Toxocara canis, Taenia taeniaeformis, Dipylidium caninum, Joyeuxiella echinorhyncoids, Toxascaris leonina, Taenia hydatigena, Echinococcus granulosus, Rictolaria spp., Oxynema spp., Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus, and Physaloptera spp., were detected. Skin scrapings showed dermatophytosis and various ectoparasites, including Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Ctenocephalides canis and Ctenocephalides felis, and Sarcoptes scabiei, in foxes with dermal lesions. Distemper and parvovirus infection (26.66%) were the common viral diseases, and rabies infection rate was quite high (16.66%). Dirofilariasis and leishmaniasis were detected in 10% of the population. This study showed that urban foxes which often cohabit with humans and domestic animals are carriers of many different pathogens. This interaction may facilitate indirect cross-species transmission of zoonotic disease. Periodic health monitoring and multidisciplinary cooperation for the diagnosis, control, and prevention of these zoonoses is highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hedgehogs are synanthropic mammals, reservoirs of several vector-borne pathogens and hosts of ectoparasites. Arthropod-borne pathogens (i.e., Rickettsia spp. , Borrelia spp. , and Anaplasmataceae) were molecularly investigated in ectoparasites collected on hedgehogs (n = 213) from Iran (161 Hemiechinus auritus , 5 Erinaceus concolor) and Italy (47 Erinaceus europaeus). In Iran, most animals examined (n = 153; 92.2%) were infested by ticks (Rhipicephalus turanicus , Hyalomma dromedarii), and 7 (4.2%) by fleas (Archeopsylla erinacei , Ctenocephalides felis). Of the hedgehogs infested by arthropods in Italy (i.e., 44.7%), 18 (38.3%) were infested by fleas (Ar. erinacei), 7 (14.9%) by ticks (Haemaphysalis erinacei , Rh. turanicus , Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato), and 6 (12.8%) by mites (Caparinia tripilis , Acarus nidicolous , Ornithonyssus spp.). Phoretic behavior of C. tripilis on Ar. erinacei was detected in two flea specimens from Italy. At the molecular analysis Rickettsia spp. was detected in 93.3% of the fleas of Italy. In Iran, Rickettsia spp. was detected in 8.0% out of 212 Rh. turanicus ticks, and in 85.7% of the Ar. erinacei fleas examined. The 16S rRNA gene for Ehrlichia / Anaplasma spp. was amplified in 4.2% of the 212 Rh. turanicus ticks. All sequences of Rickettsia spp. from fleas presented 100% nucleotide identity with Rickettsia asembonensis , whereas Rickettsia spp. from Rh. turanicus presented 99.84%–100% nucleotide identity with Rickettsia slovaca , except for one sequence, identical to Rickettsia massiliae. The sequences of the 16S rRNA gene revealed 99.57%–100% nucleotide identity with Anaplasma spp., except for one, identical to Ehrlichia spp. A new phoretic association between C. tripilis mites and Ar. erinacei fleas has been herein reported, which could be an important route for the spreading of this mite through hedgehog populations. Additionally, spotted fever group rickettsiae were herein detected in ticks and fleas, and Anaplasma / Ehrlichia spp. in ticks, suggesting that hedgehogs play a role as reservoirs for these vector-borne pathogens. [Display omitted] • New phoretic association of Caparinia tripilis mites on Archaeopsylla erinacei fleas. • Occurrence of spotted fever group rickettsiae in Rhipicephalus turanicus from hedgehogs. • Occurrence of Anaplasmataceae in Rhipicephalus turanicus from hedgehogs. • High Prevalence of Rickettsia asembonensis in Archaeopsylla erinacei fleas from hedgehogs. • Hedgehogs are suggested as reservoirs of vector-borne pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]