TY - JOUR
T1 - An investigation of endoparasites and the determinants of parasite infection in European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) from Denmark
AU - Rasmussen, Sophie Lund
AU - Hallig, Jakob
AU - van Wijk, Rien E.
AU - Petersen, Heidi Huus
N1 - © 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian Society for Parasitology.
PY - 2021/10/17
Y1 - 2021/10/17
N2 - The European hedgehog population is declining in Europe. It is therefore important to investigate the causes for the decline and monitor the general health of the species. We investigated the endoparasite occurrence in 299 dead European hedgehogs. Of these, endoparasites were detected in 69% of the individuals tested. We identified
Crenosoma striatum,
Capillaria aerophila (syn.
Eucoleus aerophilus),
Capillaria spp.
, coccidia,
Cryptosporidium spp.,
Brachylaemus spp. and
Capillaria hepatica. We also examined the hedgehogs for
Giardia spp. and
Echinococcus multilocularis but all were negative. Coccidia (n = 7, 2.5%) and
Cryptosporidium spp. (n = 14, 5.2%) were only detected in individuals from Zealand, Lolland and Jutland south of the Limfjord. Single cases of
Brachylaemus spp. (n = 1, 0.4%) and
Capillaria hepatica (n = 1, 1.1%) were exclusively discovered in Jutland south and north of the Limfjord, respectively. These results indicate a regional difference in endoparasite species carried by European hedgehogs in Denmark. This stresses the need for hedgehogs to be cared for locally when admitted to wildlife rehabilitation centres, and to be released within their area of origin, to prevent spread of endoparasite infections among hedgehogs. Additionally, we explored the following possible determinants of parasite infection in the hedgehogs: sex, age, mortality category (in-care, natural and roadkill), infection with MRSA, genetic heterozygosity, month of death, geographical location and habitat type, and found that only age had a statistically significant effect on endoparasite prevalence, as we detected a lower occurrence of endoparasites in juvenile hedgehogs (<1 year) compared to the other age classes. However, pairwise comparisons of geographical regions did show significant differences in endoparasite occurrence: Zealand vs. Jutland south of the Limfjord and Zealand vs. Falster. We conclude that, in line with previous studies of European hedgehogs throughout their range in Western Europe, endoparasite infections are common and a natural part of their ecology.
AB - The European hedgehog population is declining in Europe. It is therefore important to investigate the causes for the decline and monitor the general health of the species. We investigated the endoparasite occurrence in 299 dead European hedgehogs. Of these, endoparasites were detected in 69% of the individuals tested. We identified
Crenosoma striatum,
Capillaria aerophila (syn.
Eucoleus aerophilus),
Capillaria spp.
, coccidia,
Cryptosporidium spp.,
Brachylaemus spp. and
Capillaria hepatica. We also examined the hedgehogs for
Giardia spp. and
Echinococcus multilocularis but all were negative. Coccidia (n = 7, 2.5%) and
Cryptosporidium spp. (n = 14, 5.2%) were only detected in individuals from Zealand, Lolland and Jutland south of the Limfjord. Single cases of
Brachylaemus spp. (n = 1, 0.4%) and
Capillaria hepatica (n = 1, 1.1%) were exclusively discovered in Jutland south and north of the Limfjord, respectively. These results indicate a regional difference in endoparasite species carried by European hedgehogs in Denmark. This stresses the need for hedgehogs to be cared for locally when admitted to wildlife rehabilitation centres, and to be released within their area of origin, to prevent spread of endoparasite infections among hedgehogs. Additionally, we explored the following possible determinants of parasite infection in the hedgehogs: sex, age, mortality category (in-care, natural and roadkill), infection with MRSA, genetic heterozygosity, month of death, geographical location and habitat type, and found that only age had a statistically significant effect on endoparasite prevalence, as we detected a lower occurrence of endoparasites in juvenile hedgehogs (<1 year) compared to the other age classes. However, pairwise comparisons of geographical regions did show significant differences in endoparasite occurrence: Zealand vs. Jutland south of the Limfjord and Zealand vs. Falster. We conclude that, in line with previous studies of European hedgehogs throughout their range in Western Europe, endoparasite infections are common and a natural part of their ecology.
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.10.005
DO - 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.10.005
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 34703761
SN - 2213-2244
VL - 16
SP - 217
EP - 227
JO - International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
JF - International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
ER -