PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Foxes”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Survey on viral pathogens in wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Germany with emphasis on parvoviruses and analysis of a DNA sequence from a red fox parvovirus.

The seroprevalence of canine parvovirus (CPV), canine distemper virus (CDV), canine adenovirus (CAV) and canine herpesvirus (CHV) infections in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) was determined in fox sera collected between 1991 and 1995. A total of 500 sera were selected and the seroprevalences were estimated to be 13% (65 of 500 sera) for CPV, 4.4% (17 of 383 sera) for CDV, 35% (17 of 485 sera) for CAV, and 0.4% (2 of 485 sera) for CHV, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two (rural and suburban) areas under study. Parvovirus DNA sequences were amplified from tissues of free-ranging foxes and compared to those of prototype viruses from dogs and cats. We report here a parvovirus sequence indicative of a true intermediate between the feline panleukopenia virus-like viruses and the canine parvovirus-like viruses. The red fox parvoviral sequence, therefore, appears to represent a link between those viral groups. The DNA sequence together with a significant seroprevalence of parvovirus infections in foxes supports the hypothesis that the sudden emergence of canine parvovirus in the domestic dog population may have involved the interspecies transmission between wild and domestic carnivores.

Adenoviruses, Canine↗

Morbidity and mortality of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) admitted to the Wildlife Center of Virginia, 1993-2001.

The medical records of 48 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and 35 gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) examined at the Wildlife Center of Virginia (Waynesboro, Virginia, USA) from 1993 to 2001 were reviewed. The most common diagnosis in red foxes was orphaned (33%), followed by trauma (27%), undetermined diagnosis (23%), and sarcoptic mange (17%). Trauma (46%) was the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in gray foxes followed by orphaned (23%), undetermined (20%), toxoplasmosis (6%), presumptive canine distemper (3%), and rabies (3%). One gray fox had concurrent toxoplasmosis and presumptive canine distemper (3%). Similar diseases were detected in previous studies at a diagnostic laboratory; however in this study, trauma and orphaned animals were more common than infectious diseases. The lack of diagnostic information on some cases limited the usefulness of this study, and more emphasis should be placed on performing postmortem examinations of wildlife presented to wildlife rehabilitation centers.

Animals↗

Fox Chase Network: Fox Chase Cancer Center's community hospital affiliation program.

Fox Chase Cancer Center developed a format for affiliation with community providers in 1986. Fox Chase Network was formed to establish hospital-based community cancer centers to increase access to patients involved in clinical research. Under this program, the Fox Chase Network now contributes 500 patients per year to prevention and clinical research studies. As relationships with community providers form, patient referrals have increased at Fox Chase Cancer Center and for each Fox Chase Network member. A dedicated staff is required to operate the central office on a day-to-day basis as well as at each affiliate. We have found this to be a critical element in each program's success. New challenges in the cancer business-increasing volumes with declining revenue-have caused us to reconfigure the services offered to affiliates, while maintaining true to our mission: to reduce the burden of human cancer.

Cancer Care Facilities↗

[Expression of homologous genes in interspecies arctic fox x silver fox hybrids (Alopex lagopus X Vulpes vulpes). III. Mechanisms of expression of alleles of locus GPD, located on the X-chromosome].

The electrophoretic pattern of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) was studied in 60 intergeneric fox hybrids (Alopex lagopus X Vulpes vulpes), 33 females and 27 males. It is shown that the structural gene for G-6-PD, designated as Gpd, is located on the X-chromosome in both Arctic and silver foxes. Analysis of G-6-PD in the erythrocytes of hybrid females demonstrated that the phenotypic expression of parental alleles at the locus Gpd varied considerably: from 1:1 to the hemizygous manisfestation of an allele of either the Arctic or silver fox. It is suggested that the variable quantitative expression of the alleles at the locus Gpd in hybrid females is related to the presence of two cell populations having in an active state either the X-chromosome of the Artic or silver fox. It is also assumed that the size of two cell populations is significantly influenced by the different relations in the group of initiator (stem) cells, which possess different X-chromosomes in an active state, which has been established in early embryogenesis. In the case of erythrocytes, it is found that the number of initiator (stem) cells for erythrocytes comprises 5-6.

Alleles↗

[A new zoonosis--investigation of Gardnerella vaginalis disease of fox. V. Studies serotype of Gardnerella vaginalis in fox].

145 strains Gardnerella vaginalis isolated in foxes were isolated from 13 main farms raising foxes in six provinces (regions), China, after antigenicity and immunogenicity of the strains were measured, 1-3 appropriate strains were selected from each farm raising foxes for serotype studies. Cross agglutinin absorption test confirmed that selected 26 strains Gardnerella vaginalis were divided into three serotypes and then the representing strains were used to produce typing serum. Among remaining 119 strain, 108 strains were typable with the typing sera, and 11 strains can't be set. Among three serotypes, serotype I made up 79.1% of the strains. It was shown that serotype I was the principal serotype of Gardnerella vaginalis of fox in China. The test also confirmed that 5 strains of Gardnerella vaginalis isolated from racoon dog, 4 strain Gardnerella vaginalis from mink and 2 strains Gardnerella vaginalis from canine also belonged to serotype I. Supersonic antigben was produced with three serotypes, representative strains. By agar immuno-diffusion test, it confirmed that the antigens of three serotypes formed a obvious blending precipitating line with the homologous or heterologous serotype antiserum. It indicated common antigen existed among all serotypes. The agar immuno-diffusion test results revealed that the precipitating line of the homologous serotype completely blended. It is our opinion that the method of serotyping is reliable.

Animals↗

[Study on the inactivated vaccine of Gardnerella vaginalis of fox. VI. Experimental development of the inactivated vaccine of Gardnerella vaginalis of fox].

The aluminum hydroxide gel, propolis and oil adjuvant inactivated vaccines were developed by silecting good immunity, representing principal epidemic serotype I GVF44 of Gardnerella vaginalis of fox in civil. The results showed that the aluminum hydroxide gel vaccine in safety was better than propolis and oil adjuvant vaccines, the most optimal inactivated concentration of formalin is 0.1%. Efficient immunity doses are 4 billon bacteria/1 ml. There were on any bad influences to occur for fox after the aluminum hydroxide gel of three times immunity doses were injected. The inoculated foxes could resist challenge of a hundred ID50 virulent strains after the vaccine was injected to foxes for 21 d. Immunity period of the vaccine is 6 months storage period is 10 months at 4-10 degrees C. The field experiments confirmed that the vaccine possessed accuracy, stability and reliability.

Animals↗

Of Fox and Frogs: Fox (fork head/winged helix) transcription factors in Xenopus development.

Transcription factors of the Fox (fork head box) family have been found in all metazoan organisms. They are characterised by an evolutionary conserved DNA-binding domain of winged helix structure. In the South African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, more than 30 Fox genes have been found so far. This review summarises our present knowledge regarding the general structure and common features of the fork head box and will then characterise Fox genes that have been described in Xenopus. Special attention was paid to the temporal and spatial expression patterns during early embryonic development. For some of these genes, the molecular mechanisms leading to their regulation after the onset of zygotic transcription are known. We also report on functional aspects including target gene regulation, cell or tissue specification and interference with the cell cycle. Finally, Fox proteins serve as mediators of signalling pathways and they might function as checkpoint molecules for the cross-regulatory interactions of different intracellular signal transduction chains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Preference for various nest box designs in farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and blue foxes (Alopex lagopus).

Nest box choice experiments were carried out outside the breeding season on adult silver and blue fox vixens with no previous permanent nest box experience. Nest boxes were varied in height of placement, number of rooms, presence of entrance room or platform and light conditions. Only one parameter was varied in any one experiment. Both fox species clearly preferred an elevated multi-room nest box; while silver foxes showed preference for boxes supplied with a platform, blue foxes preferred boxes with an entrance room. There was no significant box preference with respect to light conditions. The possible welfare implications of the preferences are discussed.

Journal Article↗

Comparison between microscopic and automated differential leukocyte counts in the silver fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the blue fox (Alopex lagopus).

Differential leukocyte (WBC) counts in blood from clinically healthy silver foxes (n=32) and blue foxes (n=37) obtained from an automated hematology analyzer (Technicon H*1 Hematology System) with canine software were compared with microscopic differential WBC counts (M-diff). There was good agreement between the automated differential cell count (A-diff) and the M-diff for neutrophil and lymphocyte percentages. The correlation was lower for monocyte percentages and variable for eosinophil percentages. There was no significant difference between the A-diff and M-diff in either fox species. The A-diff counts were very precise, and may be a good alternative to the traditional M-diff for screening populations of clinically healthy foxes or for studies on stress and animal welfare. Intercept values, however, indicated a constant bias that must be taken into account before interpreting results based on different methods of analysis

Journal Article↗

Allelic expression in intergeneric fox hybrids (Alopex lagopus x Vulpes vulpes). I. Comparative electrophoretic studies on blood enzymes and proteins in arctic and silver foxes.

Twenty-seven blood enzymes and proteins, whose structures are presumably controlled by at least 33 genes, were assayed in Arctic and silver foxes by starch gel electrophoresis. Two types of protein and enzyme electrophoretic patterns were distinguished: one exhibiting a single enzyme, the other several isozymes. The two fox species were found to differ in seven of the 27 enzymes and proteins studied: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, adenylate kinase, erythrocyte carboxylesterase, diaphorase, prealbumin, transferrin, and albumin. No differences were established between the species for the other enzymes and proteins. The data are interpreted as evidence for the existance of a set of enzymes and proteins differentiating the Arctic from the silver fox.

Animals↗

Fox encephalitozoonosis: isolation of the agent from an outbreak in farmed blue foxes (Alopex lagopus) in Finland and some hitherto unreported pathologic lesions.

The farmed blue fox (Alopex lagopus) is particularly susceptible to congenital infections of the microsporidian species Encephalitozoon cuniculi. This report is based on an outbreak of the disease in Finland with high mortality. Five pups (four males and one female) with prolonged disease were examined. The pups had moderate pathological alterations in the kidneys and mild lesions were found in the brains, hearts, salivary and prostatic glands. Diagnosis of E. cuniculi infection was made from serological tests (ELISA, CIA, IFAT), and by in vitro isolation of the parasite from the brain of all five pups investigated. The identity was confirmed by molecular means as E. cuniculi strain II ('mouse strain'). Novel histopathological lesions not described as yet in fox encephalitozoonosis are presented. These include cerebral infarction and necrotizing inflammation of the renal pelvis. The sources and mechanisms of spreading of E. cuniculi to blue foxes are discussed.

Animals↗

Karyotypic kinship between the blue fox (Alopex lagopus Linn.) and the silver fox (Vulpes fulva Desm.).

A karyotypic comparison between the blue fox and the silver fox revealed conservation of the chromosome arm as a unit, except for large heterochromatic blocks in 10 pairs of blue fox chromosomes and the complete absence of a common metacentric autosomal pair. This finding seems to indicate that their karyotypes evolved from a common ancestral karyotype, characterized by 70-76 acrocentric autosomes, mainly through a series of independent centric fusions.

Animals↗

[A new zoonosis--investigation of Gardnerella vaginalis disease of fox. IV. Study of dot-ELISA for the detection of serum antibody of Gardnerella vaginalis disease of fox].

192 Gardnerella vaginalis antibody positive sera from artifically infected foxes, immunized foxes and foxes that the bacterial examination were positive were analysed by the established Dot-ELISA. The results showed that 187/192 were positive, the positive rate was 97.3%. Block and cross tests showed that the method was specific. The method was 28.1 times sensitive as PAT and 5.5 times sensitive as MAT respectively. The repeatability of the test was good and the positive coincidence rate among the three techniques was 100%.

Animals↗

Pathogenesis of blue fox parvovirus on blue fox kits and pregnant vixens.

To study the pathogenicity of a newly isolated parvovirus of blue fox (Alopex lagopus), pregnant vixens and 43 kits of different ages were experimentally infected with the agent. The kits had no clinical signs of disease, even though most of them excreted virus in their feces, and they responded immunologically to viral exposure. Infection during pregnancy appeared to affect the fetuses. A group of 15 blue fox vixens inoculated with the virus produced a statistically smaller number of kits (78) than did 15 untreated controls (131). Vaccination with a homologous inactivated virus preparation appeared to afford protection against reproductive losses. After infection, 15 vaccinated vixens gave birth to 97 kits, compared with 54 kits born to a similar, non-vaccinated experimental group.

Animals↗

[Creation of a clone panel of fox x Chinese hamster somatic cell hybrids and chromosome mapping of genes for LDHA, LDHB, GPI, ESD, G6PD, HPRT, alpha-GALA in the silver fox].

A clone panel of fox-hamster somatic cell hybrids which can be used for fox gene mapping was set up. Analysis of patterns of chromosome-enzyme segregation made it possible to assign gene GPI to chromosome 1, LDHA to chromosome 11, LDHB to chromosome 8, ESD to chromosome 6 and G6PD, HPRT, alpha-GALA to chromosome X.

Animals↗

The effect of sperm number on fertility in blue fox vixens (Alopex lagopus ) artificially inseminated with frozen silver fox (Vulpes vulpes ) semen.

During the breeding seasons of 1989 and 1990, a total of 617 blue fox vixens aged 1 to 6 years (mean +/- SEM, 2.6 +/- 0.1) were inseminated with frozen silver fox semen with either 150 million (n = 213, 1989 + 1990), 100 million (n=172, 1990), 75 million (n = 119, 1989) or 37.5 million (n = 113, 1989) spermatozoa per insemination. Two intrauterine inseminations, each with an insemination volume of 1.0 ml, were performed at 24-hour intervals on the first and second days after maximum vaginal electrical resistance was measured. Conception rates were 87% (186 of 213) with 150 million spermatozoa per insemination, 85% (146 of 172) with 100 million, 77% (91 of 119) with 75 million and 68% (77 of 113) with 37.5 million. The mean numbers of cubs per litter +/- SEM for the four groups were 7.6 +/- 0.2 (168 registered litters), 7.5 +/- 0.3 (115 litters), 6.4 +/- 0.4 (86 litters) and 6.4 +/- 0.4 (75 litters). A negative effect on both the conception rate and mean litter size at whelping was observed with decreasing sperm numbers (conception rate percentage: p = 0.0001, Chi-square, litter size: p = 0.02, Kruskal-Wallis Test). Only the two larger numbers of spermatozoa gave litter sizes comparable to those obtained by artificial insemination (AI) with fresh semen.

Journal Article↗

The optimum time for single artificial insemination of blue fox vixens (Alopex lagopus) with frozen-thawed semen from silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes).

During the breeding season of 1991 a total of 608 blue fox vixens aged 1 to 6 years (2.3 +/- 0.1 years, mean +/- SEM) from 2 farms were artificially inseminated intrauterine once with frozen-thawed silver fox semen (1 ml dose containing a total of 150 million spermatozoa). The vixens were allocated to 3 different groups according to the time of insemination. Vixens in Group 1 (n = 203), Group 2 (n = 198), and Group 3 (n = 207) were inseminated on the first, second or third day after the peak value of vaginal electrical resistance, respectively. An overall conception rate of 75% (456 of 608) and 6.0 +/- 0.1 (mean +/- SEM) cubs per litter was obtained. Conception rates and mean litter sizes were significantly different between groups of vixens with respect to day of insemination (P = 0.02, Chisquare, Kruskall-Wallis Test). Vixens inseminated on the second day (Group 2) had the highest conception rate (81%) and the largest mean litter size (7.0 +/- 0.2 cubs) of the three groups, while those inseminated on the third day (Group 3) had the lowest conception rate and mean litter size (70%, 5.4 +/- 0.3 cubs).

Journal Article↗

The hormonal and behavioral response to group formation, seasonal changes, and restraint stress in the highly social Malayan Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus) and the less social Little Golden-mantled Flying Fox (Pteropus pumilus) (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae).

This study examined behavioral and physiological responses (changes in inter-animal spacing, total glucocorticoids, testosterone, and body mass) to the formation of breeding and same-sex groups in two bat species, the socially gregarious Malayan Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus) and the less social Little Golden-mantled Flying Fox (Pteropus pumilus). We hypothesized that social instability, especially in the breeding groups and especially in P. vampyrus, would result in elevated glucocorticoids and that social facilitation of breeding and/or male-male competition would result in persistently higher levels of testosterone in breeding males. Seasonal rhythms in all measures were also predicted, and the glucocorticoid stress response was expected to vary by sex, season, and group type. Nearly all animals responded to group formation with elevated glucocorticoids, but, for breeding animals (especially aggressive male P. vampyrus), these responses persisted over time. In both species, breeding group formation resulted in elevated testosterone in males. Glucocorticoids, testosterone, testes volume, and body mass generally peaked in the breeding season in males (late summer and early autumn), but the seasonal glucocorticoid peak in females occurred in late winter and early spring. All animals responded to restraint stress with elevations in glucocorticoids that largely did not differ by sex, time of year, reproductive condition, group type, or, in lactating females, the presence of her pup. Changes in both behavior and physiology were more evident in P. vampyrus than in P. pumilus, and we believe that their underlying social differences influenced their responses to group formation and to the changing seasonal environment.

Aggression↗