First report of Angiostrongylus vasorum in a wild red fox (Vulpes vulpes) from Apulia (Italy)

In una volpe selvatica, su un totale di 12 volpi trovate morte in Puglia, sono state eseguite indagini diagnostiche di routine. Tali indagini hanno evidenziato enterite catarrale, steatosi epatica, congestione polmonare con aree di aumentata consistenza, emorragie cerebrali e malacia. L'esame istopatologico rilevava fibrosi polmonare con infiltrati mononucleati, trombosi e forme larvali di nematodi diffusi nel parenchima, nefrite interstiziale, miocardite interstiziale, encefalite, encefalomalacia e un granuloma cerebrale. Le larve recuperate dal parenchima polmonare sono state identificate come il primo stadio larvale di Angiostrongylus vasorum.

Severe lung strongylosis was detected in a wild red fox (Vulpes vulpes) (1/12) from Apulia (Italy). We performed routine diagnostics on 12 foxes found dead in Apulia. Eleven of them showed lesions consistent with a vehicle collision. However, the remaining fox appeared to have died from other causes. At necropsy we observed, catarrhal enteritis, fatty liver, lung congestion with some areas firm in consistence and brain haemorrhages and malacia. Histopathology revealed lung fibrosis with mononucleate cells infiltration, thrombosis a several larval nematodes spread in the parenchyma, interstitial nephritis, interstitial myocarditis, encephalitis, encephalomalacia, and a brain granuloma. The larvae recovered from the lung parenchyma were identified as the first stage larvae of Angiostrongylus vasorum. This is the first documented report of angiostrongylosis in a fox in Southern Italy.