Prevalence of Babesia microti-like infection in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Portugal

Prevalence of Babesia microti-like infection in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Portugal Abstract The prevalence of piroplasm (order Piroplasmida) infection was assessed in blood and bone marrow samples from 91 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from northern, central and southern Portugal by means of molecular methods. PCR for the 18S rRNA gene of Babesia spp. followed by sequencing revealed 63 foxes positive for the Babesia microti-like piroplasm (syn. Theileria annae) (69.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 58.7–78.5%) and one fox positive for Babesia canis (1.1%; 95% CI: 0.0–6.0%). Positivity to the B. microti-like piroplasm or B. canis in 43 blood samples (83.7%) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in 43 paired bone marrow samples (20.9%). There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of infection between genders (p = 0.219) or age groups (