Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have been recognised to harbour and transmit a wide range of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) including those of zoonotic concern. To investigate the prevalence and the distribution of TBPs and of Leishmania infantum in foxes (n = 244), spleen samples were collected within the frame of a multi-regional wildlife health surveillance program in Italy. A combined PCR/sequencing approach was performed for the detection of Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., Borrelia spp., Ehrlichia spp., Hepatozoon spp. and L. infantum DNA. Overall, 146 foxes (59.8 %, 95 % CI: 53.6-65.8) tested positive for at least one pathogen with Hepatozoon canis being the most prevalent (i.e., n = 124; 50.8 %, 95 % CI: 44.6-57.0), followed by Babesia vulpes (n = 20; 8.2 %, 95 % CI: 5.4-12.3), different spirochete species from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex (n = 9; 3.7 %, 95 % CI: 1.9-6.9), Ehrlichia canis and L. infantum (n = 7; 2.9 % each, 95 % CI: 1.4-5.8), Anaplasma platys (n = 4; 1.6 %, 95 % CI: 0.6-4.1), Anaplasma phagocytophilum ecotype I and Candidatus Neoehrlichia sp. (n = 3; 1.2 % each, 95 % CI: 0.4-3.5). All samples scored negative for Babesia canis and Borrelia miyamotoi. This study revealed the presence of spirochetes from B. burgdorferi s.l. complex, Ca. Neoehrlichia sp., A. platys and A. phagocytophilum ecotype I in red fox population from Italy, underling the necessity to monitoring these carnivores, mainly because they live in contact with dogs and humans. Data on the tick fauna circulating on wildlife species will complement information herein obtained, instrumentally to establish preventive strategies for minimizing the risk of infection for animals and humans.

Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Parasitology Branisovska 31 37005 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic

CEITEC Central European Institute of Technology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Brno Czech Republic; Department of Pathology and Parasitology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Czech Republic

CEITEC Central European Institute of Technology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Brno Czech Republic; Department of Pathology and Parasitology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Czech Republic; Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Parasitology Branisovska 31 37005 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic; Department of Botany and Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

CEITEC Central European Institute of Technology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Brno Czech Republic; Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Biomedical Center Charles University alej Svobody 1655 76 32300 Plzeň Czech Republic

Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions University of Naples Federico 2 Naples Italy; Osservatorio Faunistico Venatorio Campania Region Naples Italy

Department of Veterinary Medicine University of Bari Bari Italy

Department of Veterinary Medicine University of Bari Bari Italy; Faculty of Veterinary Sciences Bu Ali Sina University Hamedan Iran

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno 80055 Portici Italy

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