Recent studies have described Spirocerca lupi-like nematodes in the stomach of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Europe. A phylogenetic analysis of those specimens using mitochondrial DNA and their morphological reexamination allowed their characterization as a different species, Spirocerca vulpis. Between the years of 2010 and 2017, roundworms were collected from seven red foxes of northeastern Portugal found at necropsy with nodular lesions on their stomach wall. Histopathological analysis of four foxes revealed granulomatous lesions of the gastric nodules. On morphological assessment, by light microscopy, nematodes revealed the presence of six triangular teeth-like buccal capsule structures, which are absent in S. lupi. Polymerase chain reaction was run to amplify a 551 bp partial fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene. Sequences were 99% similar to S. vulpis (85% coverage) of red foxes from Spain and Bosnia and Herzegovina, 99% similar (99% coverage) to sequences of Spirocerca sp. of red foxes from Denmark and 93% similar (99% coverage) to S. lupi from South Africa. This is the first report of S. vulpis in foxes or any other host from Portugal.

最近的研究已经在欧洲描述了在狐狸的肚子里有类螺旋线虫的线虫（Vulpes vulpes）。使用线粒体DNA对这些标本进行系统发育分析，并对其形态进行重新检查，从而可以将它们鉴定为不同的物种，Spirocerca vulpis。在2010年至2017年之间，从尸体剖检中发现的葡萄牙东北部的七只红狐狸收集到round虫，其胃壁上有结节性病变。对四只狐狸的组织病理学分析显示出胃结节肉芽肿性病变。根据形态学评估，通过光学显微镜观察，线虫显示存在六种三角形的牙齿状颊囊结构，而在S. lupi中不存在。进行聚合酶链反应以扩增细胞色素C氧化酶亚基1基因的551bp的部分片段。序列与西班牙和波斯尼亚和黑塞哥维那的狐狸S. vulpis（覆盖度为85％）相似，与Spirocerca sp。的序列相似度为99％（覆盖度为99％）。来自丹麦的赤狐，与来自南非的S. lupi相似，占93％（覆盖率达99％）。这是狐狸或来自葡萄牙的任何其他寄主中狐猴的首次报道。