Molecular detection of vector-borne pathogens in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in China

Abstract The red fox (Vulpes vulpes), widely distributed in Northern hemisphere, is a natural reservoir for multiple pathogens. However, vector-borne pathogens of red foxes are relatively rare article in China. To date, no reports of Bartonellaand Hepatozoon in red foxes in China. Bartonella rochalimae and Hepatozoon canis are vector-borne pathogens that can cause severe diseases in domestic animals and wildlife. During 2018-2022, 16 red foxes were sampled in two counties and a city of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), in northwest China. The organs of these 16 foxes were dissected, followed by DNA extraction, amplified by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the present study, based on BLASTn and phylogenetic tree analysis, B. rochalimae and H. canis were molecularly found in an individual sample, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report on the existence of B. rochalimaeand H. canis in red fox in China.