EN
The objective of the present survey was to establish the distribution of Trichinella species in red foxes in Estonia. Of 446 muscle samples from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) collected in different regions of Estonia in a three-year period (2000-2002), Trichinella was recovered from 181 foxes (41%) by HCl-pepsin digestion. Of 121 Trichinella samples typed by multiplex-PCR, T. nativa and T. hritovi were identified in 61 (50%) and 47 (39%) foxes, respectively, whereas mixed infections with these two species were detected in 13 foxes (11%). T. nativa-infected foxes were originating from colder areas than those infected with T. britovi.