Liver fluke infection and sarcoptic mange in red foxes in Berlin

396 red foxes originating from the city of Berlin were examined for opisthorchiid liver flukes and clinical sarcoptic mange between January 1997 and March 1998. Out of 232 (= 58.6%) foxes positive for opisthorchiid flukes 221 animals harboured Metorchis bills and 70 were infected with Opisthorchis felineus. Pseudamphistomum truncatum was found only in 8 foxes. M, bills occurred as mono-infection in 154 animals. M. bills in combination with O. felineus was found in 61 cases. Pure Opisthorchis infection as well as other fluke combinations were found in a small number of animals only. 85 (= 21.5 %) foxes showed clinical sarcoptic mange. Liver fluke positive foxes showed a higher mange prevalence than uninfected animals. However, significant associations between flukes and mange were only found when comparing uninfected foxes with those having the highest worm burden. The association of liver flukes and mange could be established for adult female foxes by a significant Odds Ratio of 4.3.