EN
Research was carried out on muscle samples from 528 foxes and 101 947 wild boars between 2000 and 2009. The samples were examined using the digestion method. The average prevalence rate of Trichinella sp. infection in foxes was 4.5%. Trichinella larvae were found in 464 (0.46%) wild boar muscle samples. However, significant differences were observed between the prevalence of Trichinella larvae in wild boars in the periods 2000-2002, 2003-2005, and 2006-2009. In 2000-2002, 0.18% of wild boars were infected; in 2003-2005 - 0.49 %, and in 2006-2009 - 0.64%. According to the estimation done by the Polish Hunters' Association, the fox population increased in the Szczecin Region by about 57.6% from years 2003-2004 (7 355 animals) to years 2008-2009 (12 764 animals). At the same time, during these two periods 4 855 and 7 638 foxes, respectively, were shot. The increase in the fox population after an oral vaccination against rabies may be the cause of the increasing prevalence of Trichinella infection in wild boars in recent years.