Fur lice in Arctic foxes in Svalbard

Fur lice in Arctic foxes in Svalbard

In November 2019, bloodsucking lice were identified in Arctic foxes in Svalbard for the first time, coinciding with similar findings in Nunavut, Canada. Genetic analysis revealed that lice from both regions were 100 % identical, suggesting the presence of a previously undescribed species distinct from dog lice. The origin of the lice remains uncertain, but historical evidence of lice in Canadian Arctic foxes from the 1990s supports the hypothesis that they may have been introduced to Svalbard by migrating Arctic foxes.

The prevalence of lice in Arctic foxes in Svalbard has increased since the 2019–2020 trapping season, initially affecting an estimated 10 % of the population and rising to 76 % in the 2021–2022 season.

Morphological and molecular analyses, along with observations of abnormal fur loss patterns in infested foxes, highlight the impact of lice infestations. These species-specific ectoparasites, which are highly dependent on their hosts, cause pruritus and fur damage, and in severe cases, can lead to anaemia.

The study aimed to collect all Arctic fox carcasses trapped during the 2022–2023 season to investigate the impact of fur lice by documenting the prevalence, abundance, and distribuIon of lice, changes in fur quality and skin pathology, and develop and establish methods and protocols for the evaluaIon of the intensity of lice infestaIon. The project also conducted a pilot study to test camera traps on Arctic fox den sites to provide a non-invasive method for monitoring lice infections.