Naletilić, Š.; Šoštarić-Zuckermann, I.-C.; Mihaljević, Ž. Tumor and Tumor-like Lesions in Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Croatia. Animals2024, 14, 558.
Naletilić, Š.; Šoštarić-Zuckermann, I.-C.; Mihaljević, Ž. Tumor and Tumor-like Lesions in Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Croatia. Animals 2024, 14, 558.
Naletilić, Š.; Šoštarić-Zuckermann, I.-C.; Mihaljević, Ž. Tumor and Tumor-like Lesions in Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Croatia. Animals2024, 14, 558.
Naletilić, Š.; Šoštarić-Zuckermann, I.-C.; Mihaljević, Ž. Tumor and Tumor-like Lesions in Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Croatia. Animals 2024, 14, 558.
Abstract
The red fox, found on all continents except Antarctica, occupies diverse habitats. In Croatia it is an indigenous wild species with a population density of 0.7 animals per square kilometer. While tumors in wild animals from the Canidae family are scarce, the true prevalence and diversity of tumors are likely underestimated due to limited research. So far, a limited number of tumors were observed among the red fox population, either in their natural habitat or in captivity. As part of the National rabies control program, we examined 1,890 red fox carcasses over a four-year period. Our focus was on identifying abnormalities on the skin and internal organs that suggest potential neoplastic proliferation. Five red foxes, three males and two females, were found to have growths resembling potential tumors. Their age distribution spanned from 2 to 7 years. Microscopic investigation revealed two collagenous hamartomas, two Meibomian gland adenomas and one intra-abdominal teratoma within a cryptorchid testis. This retrospective study aims to provide a comprehensive description of tumor and tumor-like lesions observed in free-range red foxes from Croatia, marking the first research of its kind in Croatia.
Keywords
Red fox, Vulpes vulpes, tumor, tumor-like lesion, Croatia
Subject
Biology and Life Sciences, Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Zoology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
