Identification of sylvatic Trichinella (T3) in foxes from France.

Thirty-three foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from a sample of 1912 collected in France were found to be infected with Trichinella spp. Four isolates were obtained for genetic identification. Isoenzymatic and biological analysis of these isolates revealed the presence of two distinct genetic types of Trichinella, Trichinella spiralis s.str. (T1) and Trichinella sp. (T3) (Trichinella nelsoni according to Soviet authors) in the fox population. The reproductive capacity index of these isolates in Wistar rats was high for T. spiralis and low for T3. This is the first report of T3 type from wild animals in France. The epidemiological implications are discussed.