Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are the most widespread members of the order of Carnivora. Since they often live in (peri)urban areas, they are a potential reservoir of viruses that transmit from wildlife to humans or domestic animals. Here we evaluated the fecal viral microbiome of 13 red foxes by random PCR in combination with next-generation sequencing. Various novel viruses, including a parvovirus, bocavirus, adeno-associated virus, hepevirus, astroviruses, and picobirnaviruses, were identified.

doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00568-13, hdl.handle.net/1765/69492
Journal of Virology
Department of Virology

Bodewes, R., van der Giessen, J., Haagmans, B., Osterhaus, A., & Smits, S. (2013). Identification of multiple novel viruses, including a parvovirus and a hepevirus, in feces of red foxes. Journal of Virology, 87(13), 7758–7764. doi:10.1128/JVI.00568-13