Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Arctic fox with severe infection from Stellantchasmus falcatus
By Bessett, Jeremy P et al.·Published in Veterinary clinical pathology·2026·Department of Pathobiological Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Infection with the Neorickettsial Organism Stellantchasmus falcatus Agent in an Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus).
- Species:
- wildlife
Plain-English summary
A 1-year-old female arctic fox was brought to the vet because she had diarrhea, was very tired, and had low platelet counts. Tests showed she had an infection caused by a rickettsial organism, which was confirmed through blood tests and a lymph node biopsy. The vet treated her with several antibiotics, including doxycycline and enrofloxacin, along with supportive care. Thankfully, the fox responded well to the treatment and started to recover.
People also search for: arctic fox diarrhea treatment · rickettsial infection in foxes · lethargy in arctic foxes
Abstract
A 1-year-old female-intact arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) presented for diarrhea, lethargy, severe thrombocytopenia, and hyperbilirubinemia. Blood film evaluation revealed intracytoplasmic coccoid bacteria within moderate numbers of leukocytes consistent with infection by a rickettsial organism. Similar organisms were observed within many leukocytes from fine-needle aspirates of an enlarged peripheral lymph node. The lymph node also contained moderate necrosis and an expansion of granular lymphocytes. Parasitic ovum consistent with the trematode Nanophyetus salmincola was found on fecal floatation. The patient responded to treatment with doxycycline, enrofloxacin, ampicillin/sulbactam, and other supportive therapies. Polymerase chain reaction testing confirmed the presence of Neorickettsia sp., and DNA sequencing identified the organism as Stellantchasmus falcatus agent. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report describing this organism microscopically in peripheral blood, the first reported case of infection in this species of canid, and describes the various clinicopathologic changes with this infection.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42083290/