{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,28]],"date-time":"2026-02-28T02:26:13Z","timestamp":1772245573733,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,7]],"date-time":"2024-02-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1707264000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The red fox, found on all continents except Antarctica, occupies diverse habitats. In Croatia, it is an indigenous wild species with a population density of 0.7 animals per square kilometer. While tumors in wild animals from the Canidae family are scarce, the true prevalence and diversity of tumors are likely underestimated due to limited research. So far, a limited number of tumors have been observed among the red fox population, either in their natural habitat or in captivity. As part of the National Rabies Control Program, we examined 1890 red fox carcasses over a four-year period. Our focus was on identifying abnormalities on the skin and internal organs that suggest potential neoplastic proliferation. Five red foxes, three males and two females, were found to have growths resembling potential tumors. Their age distribution spanned from 2 to 7 years. Microscopic investigation revealed two collagenous hamartomas, two Meibomian gland adenomas, and one intra-abdominal teratoma within a cryptorchid testis. This retrospective study aims to provide a comprehensive description of tumor and tumor-like lesions observed in free-range red foxes from Croatia, marking the first research of its kind in Croatia.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani14040558","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,7]],"date-time":"2024-02-07T06:12:58Z","timestamp":1707286378000},"page":"558","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Tumor and Tumor-like Lesions in Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Croatia"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"\u0160imun","family":"Naletili\u0107","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ivan-Conrado","family":"\u0160o\u0161tari\u0107-Zuckermann","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3363-2341","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"\u017deljko","family":"Mihaljevi\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Terio, K.A., McAloose, D., and St. L\u00e9ger, J. (2018). Pathology of Wildlife and Zoo Animals, Academic Press."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lempp, C., Jungwirth, N., Grilo, M.L., Reckendorf, A., Ulrich, A., van Neer, A., Bodewes, R., Pfankuche, V.M., Bauer, C., and Osterhaus, A.D.M.E. (2017). Pathological Findings in the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Stone Marten (Martes foina) and Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), with Special Emphasis on Infectious and Zoonotic Agents in Northern Germany. PLoS ONE, 12.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0175469"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mambio.2013.10.003","article-title":"High Genetic Diversity and Low Population Structure in Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Croatia","volume":"79","author":"Galov","year":"2014","journal-title":"Mamm. Biol."},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"199","article-title":"Model \u0161irenja silvati\u010dne bjesno\u0107e na teritoriju Republike Hrvatske tijekom perioda od trideset godina","volume":"41","author":"Slavica","year":"2010","journal-title":"Vet. Stanica"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ebani, V.V., Trebino, C., Guardone, L., Bertelloni, F., Cagnoli, G., Nardoni, S., Sel, E., Wilde, E., Poli, A., and Mancianti, F. (2022). Occurrence of Bacterial and Protozoan Pathogens in Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Central Italy. Animals, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani12202891"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"467","DOI":"10.7589\/0090-3558-39.2.467","article-title":"Morbidity and Mortality of Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and Gray Foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) Admitted to the Wildlife Center of Virginia, 1993\u20132001","volume":"39","author":"Kelly","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Wildl. Dis."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Willebrand, T., Samelius, G., Walton, Z., Odden, M., and Englund, J. (2021). Declining Survival Rates of Red Foxes Vulpes vulpes during the First Outbreak of Sarcoptic Mange in Sweden. Wildl. Biol., 2022.","DOI":"10.1002\/wlb3.01014"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dias-Pereira, P. (2022). Morbidity and Mortality in Elderly Dogs\u2014A Model for Human Aging. BMC Vet. Res., 18.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12917-022-03518-8"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"517","DOI":"10.1038\/nrc2665","article-title":"Wildlife Cancer: A Conservation Perspective","volume":"9","author":"McAloose","year":"2009","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Cancer"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Woods, G.M., Lyons, A.B., and Bettiol, S.S. (2020). A Devil of a Transmissible Cancer. Trop Med Infect Dis., 5.","DOI":"10.3390\/tropicalmed5020050"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"726","DOI":"10.1177\/0300985815616444","article-title":"Devil Facial Tumor Disease","volume":"53","author":"Pye","year":"2016","journal-title":"Vet Pathol."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Vickers, T.W., Clifford, D.L., Garcelon, D.K., King, J.L., Duncan, C.L., Gaffney, P.M., and Boyce, W.M. (2015). Pathology and Epidemiology of Ceruminous Gland Tumors among Endangered Santa Catalina Island Foxes (Urocyon Littoralis Catalinae) in the Channel Islands, USA. PLoS ONE, 10.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0143211"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"36361","DOI":"10.1038\/srep36361","article-title":"Comparative Analyses of Longevity and Senescence Reveal Variable Survival Benefits of Living in Zoos across Mammals","volume":"6","author":"Gaillard","year":"2016","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.7589\/0090-3558-20.1.70","article-title":"Insulin-Producing Islet Cell Tumor in an Ectopic Pancreas of a Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)","volume":"20","author":"Elvestad","year":"1984","journal-title":"J. Wildl. Dis."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"392","DOI":"10.7589\/0090-3558-35.2.392","article-title":"Adenocarcinoma of the Mammary Gland in a Red Fox from Austria","volume":"35","author":"Janovsky","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Wildl. Dis."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Degli Uberti, B., Mariani, U., Restaino, G., De Luca, G., Anzalone, A., Guida, M., D\u2019Alessio, N., and D\u2019Amore, M. (2018). Caso Report di un Carcinoma Renale in Una Volpe (Vulpes vulpes) in Regione Campania, Societ\u00e0 Italiana di Diagnostica di Laboratorio Veterinaria (SIDiLV)."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"342","DOI":"10.1354\/vp.36-4-342","article-title":"Thyroid C-Cell Carcinoma with Amyloid in a Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes schrenchki)","volume":"36","author":"Hirayama","year":"1999","journal-title":"Vet. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"142","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcpa.2007.05.004","article-title":"Adenosquamous Carcinoma with Cilium Formation, Mucin Production and Keratinization in the Nasal Cavity of a Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki)","volume":"137","author":"Fukui","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Comp. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"162","DOI":"10.2307\/20094835","article-title":"Testis Neoplasia in Captive Wildlife Mammals: Comparative Aspects and Review","volume":"18","author":"Hayes","year":"1987","journal-title":"J. Zoo Anim. Med."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"278","DOI":"10.17555\/jvc.2015.06.32.3.278","article-title":"A Subcutaneous Lipoma in a Male Red Fox","volume":"32","author":"Jeong","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Vet. Clin."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"996","DOI":"10.1638\/2018-0034.1","article-title":"Hepatocellular neoplasms in captive fennec foxes (Vulpes zerda)","volume":"49","author":"Monahan","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Zoo Wildl. Med."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"369","DOI":"10.7589\/0090-3558-18.3.369","article-title":"Multiple primary tumors in a fennec fox (Fennecus zerda)","volume":"18","author":"Gray","year":"1982","journal-title":"J. Wildl. Dis."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1016\/0021-9975(87)90134-4","article-title":"A Malignant Nephroblastoma in an Aged Fox (Fennecus zerda)","volume":"97","author":"Dillberger","year":"1987","journal-title":"J. Comp. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"596","DOI":"10.1638\/2014-0147.1","article-title":"Small intestinal adenocarcinoma with carcinomatosis in a swift fox (Vulpes velox)","volume":"46","author":"Choudhary","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Zoo Wildl. Med."},{"key":"ref_25","first-page":"31","article-title":"Incidence and Types of Canine Tumours in Croatia","volume":"83","author":"Artukovi","year":"2013","journal-title":"Vet. Arhiv"},{"key":"ref_26","first-page":"32","article-title":"Pojavnost neoplazija u hrvatskih autohtonih pasmina pasa: Retrospektivna analiza tijekom desetogodi\u0161njeg razdoblja","volume":"31","author":"Huber","year":"2023","journal-title":"Hrvat. Vet. Vjesn."},{"key":"ref_27","first-page":"440","article-title":"Simple Method of Age Determination in Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes","volume":"56","year":"2007","journal-title":"Folia Zool."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Celva, R., Crestanello, B., Obber, F., Dellamaria, D., Trevisiol, K., Bregoli, M., Cenni, L., Agreiter, A., Danesi, P., and Hauffe, H.C. (2022). Assessing Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Demographics to Monitor Wildlife Diseases: A Spotlight on Echinococcus multilocularis. Pathogens, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens12010060"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bandelj, P., Blagus, R., Vengu\u0161t, G., and \u017dele Vengu\u0161t, D. (2022). Wild Carnivore Survey of Echinococcus Species in Slovenia. Animals, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani12172223"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gambi, L., Ravaioli, V., Rossini, R., Tranquillo, V., Boscarino, A., Mattei, S., D\u2019incau, M., Tosi, G., Fiorentini, L., and Donato, A.D. (2022). Prevalence of Different Salmonella enterica Subspecies and Serotypes in Wild Carnivores in Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy. Animals, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani12233368"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"646","DOI":"10.1038\/s41568-018-0045-0","article-title":"Cancer in Wildlife: Patterns of Emergence","volume":"18","author":"Pesavento","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Cancer"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e000344","DOI":"10.1136\/vetreco-2019-000344","article-title":"The Investigation of Histopathology and Locations of Excised Eyelid Masses in Dogs","volume":"6","author":"Wang","year":"2019","journal-title":"Vet. Rec. Open"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Meuten, D.J. (2017). Tumors in Domestic Animals, John Wiley & Sons Inc.. [5th ed.].","DOI":"10.1002\/9781119181200"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Meuten, D.J. (2017). Tumors in Domestic Animals, John Wiley & Sons Inc.. [5th ed.].","DOI":"10.1002\/9781119181200"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gross, T.L., Ihrke, P.J., Walder, E.J., and Affolter, V.K. (2005). Skin Diseases of the Dog and Cat: Clinical and Histopathologic Diagnosis, Blackwell Science Ltd.. [2nd ed.].","DOI":"10.1002\/9780470752487"},{"key":"ref_36","first-page":"465","article-title":"Male Genital System","volume":"Volume 3","author":"Maxie","year":"2016","journal-title":"Jubb, Kennedy, and Palmer\u2019s Pathology of Domestic Animals"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Meuten, D.J. (2017). Tumors in Domestic Animals, John Wiley & Sons Inc.. [5th ed.].","DOI":"10.1002\/9781119181200"},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"North, S., Banks, T., and Straw, R. (2009). Small Animal Oncology, an Introduction, Elsevier Saunders."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Morris, J., and Dobson, J. (2001). Small Animal Oncology, Blackwell Science Ltd.. [1st ed.].","DOI":"10.1002\/9780470690406"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1590\/1678-4162-10434","article-title":"Extragonadal Malignant Teratoma in a Dog\u2014Case Report","volume":"72","author":"Monteiro","year":"2020","journal-title":"Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.17221\/55\/2021-VETMED","article-title":"Benign Ovarian Teratoma in the Dog with Predominantly Nervous Tissue: A Case Report","volume":"67","author":"Makovicky","year":"2022","journal-title":"Vet. Med."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"793","DOI":"10.1292\/jvms.62.793","article-title":"Ovarian and Retroperitoneal Teratomas in a Dog","volume":"62","author":"Nagashima","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Vet. Med. Sci."}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/14\/4\/558\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T13:56:31Z","timestamp":1760104591000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/14\/4\/558"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,7]]},"references-count":42,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,2]]}},"alternative-id":["ani14040558"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani14040558","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,7]]}}}