Cytokine gene expression at 4 h and 48 h showed an increase in interleukin-6 (IL-6) (0.164-0.552) and IL-10 (0.828-4.245), stable IL-4 (0.505-0.708), a decrease in IL-12 (1.793-1.223) and IFN-γ (1.507-0.613), and consistently low TNF-α (0.377-0.411).<h4>Conclusions</h4>The present study confirmed a high L. infantum prevalence of infection in red foxes from southern Italy. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and infection.