A recent study conducted by scientists at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover has revealed that two-thirds of foxes and raccoon dogs in Germany carry zoonotic diseases, which are pathogens that can be transmitted to humans. In contrast, the study found that the majority of stone martens were free of these disease-causing agents. The researchers were prompted to investigate the prevalence of infectious diseases in wild animals due to the increasing overlap between humans and wildlife in Germany. The study’s findings largely align with a previous study conducted by the State Examination Office of Rhineland-Palatinate, which also investigated whether wild animals spread zoonotic diseases.
The study examined 77 foxes, 19 stone martens, and 7 raccoon dogs for infectious diseases. The animals were provided to the researchers by the State Hunting Association of Schleswig-Holstein. The results showed that viral diseases such as rabies, distemper, and pseudorabies (Aujeszky’s disease) appear to have been eradicated, as they were not detected in any of the animals. However, parasites were found in almost half of the animals, with 45.5% of red foxes carrying the endoparasite Toxocara canis. Additionally, 36.4% of foxes were infected with hairworms (Capillaria spp.), and approximately 25% of foxes were infected with each of the following parasites: the fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis), the fluke (aria alata), and the hookworm (Uncinaria stenocephala).
Interestingly, stone martens were found to be infected with different endoparasites than the foxes and raccoon dogs. Only endoparasites of the genus Capillaria were found in the stone martens. Trichinella spp. nematodes were not detected in any of the animals, and neither was the disease sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei). The study’s authors recommend conducting a larger study to verify their findings, as the animals examined in this study were all from the regions of Nordfriesland and Dithmarschen, and there may be regional variations in the prevalence of zoonotic diseases. Overall, the study’s results suggest that caution should be exercised when coming into contact with wild animals, as they may carry disease-causing agents that can be transmitted to humans.
