Endoparasite Infections of the European Hedgehog (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>) in Central Italy
The European hedgehog is a synanthropic mammal, widely distributed in Europe. This species usually inhabits the edges of deciduous or mixed woods, but it is also very common in private gardens and public parks. Despite its popularity and frequency of contacts both with humans and with wild and domes...
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| author | Alessia Mariacher Andrea Santini Irene Del Lesto Sara Tonon Elena Cardini Antonino Barone Claudia Eleni Gianluca Fichi Stefania Perrucci |
| author_facet | Alessia Mariacher Andrea Santini Irene Del Lesto Sara Tonon Elena Cardini Antonino Barone Claudia Eleni Gianluca Fichi Stefania Perrucci |
| author_sort | Alessia Mariacher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The European hedgehog is a synanthropic mammal, widely distributed in Europe. This species usually inhabits the edges of deciduous or mixed woods, but it is also very common in private gardens and public parks. Despite its popularity and frequency of contacts both with humans and with wild and domestic animals, few studies have examined the endoparasitic fauna of the hedgehog in Italy. In the present study, endoparasites of naturally deceased hedgehogs (<i>n</i> = 40) from central Italy (Latium and Tuscany regions) were investigated, along with concurrent gross and histopathological lesions. The most prevalent identified endoparasites were <i>Crenosoma striatum</i> (45%), <i>Capillaria erinacei</i> (42.5%) and <i>Brachylaemus erinacei</i> (22.5%), in accordance with previous reports from hedgehogs in southern Italy. In few subjects, <i>Physaloptera clausa</i>, Acanthocephalans and <i>Cystoisospora</i> <i>rastegaeivae</i> coccidia were also identified. The infection by the lungworm <i>C. striatum</i> was found to be significantly associated (<i>p</i> < 0.01) with bronchial hyperplasia and peribronchiolitis upon histopathological examination. Awareness of the most common parasitic infections in the hedgehog and of their effects on the health of these animals is extremely important, especially in wildlife rescue centers, where European hedgehog represents the most frequently hospitalized mammal species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:46:23Z |
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| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-ab6c7b6156664be09f4e9642da3effde2023-11-22T22:06:30ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-11-011111317110.3390/ani11113171Endoparasite Infections of the European Hedgehog (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>) in Central ItalyAlessia Mariacher0Andrea Santini1Irene Del Lesto2Sara Tonon3Elena Cardini4Antonino Barone5Claudia Eleni6Gianluca Fichi7Stefania Perrucci8Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, 58100 Grosseto, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, 58100 Grosseto, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, 58100 Grosseto, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, 00178 Roma, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, 58100 Grosseto, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, 01100 Viterbo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, 00178 Roma, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, 58100 Grosseto, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyThe European hedgehog is a synanthropic mammal, widely distributed in Europe. This species usually inhabits the edges of deciduous or mixed woods, but it is also very common in private gardens and public parks. Despite its popularity and frequency of contacts both with humans and with wild and domestic animals, few studies have examined the endoparasitic fauna of the hedgehog in Italy. In the present study, endoparasites of naturally deceased hedgehogs (<i>n</i> = 40) from central Italy (Latium and Tuscany regions) were investigated, along with concurrent gross and histopathological lesions. The most prevalent identified endoparasites were <i>Crenosoma striatum</i> (45%), <i>Capillaria erinacei</i> (42.5%) and <i>Brachylaemus erinacei</i> (22.5%), in accordance with previous reports from hedgehogs in southern Italy. In few subjects, <i>Physaloptera clausa</i>, Acanthocephalans and <i>Cystoisospora</i> <i>rastegaeivae</i> coccidia were also identified. The infection by the lungworm <i>C. striatum</i> was found to be significantly associated (<i>p</i> < 0.01) with bronchial hyperplasia and peribronchiolitis upon histopathological examination. Awareness of the most common parasitic infections in the hedgehog and of their effects on the health of these animals is extremely important, especially in wildlife rescue centers, where European hedgehog represents the most frequently hospitalized mammal species.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/11/3171<i>Brachylaemus erinacei</i><i>Capillaria erinacei</i><i>Crenosoma striatum</i><i>Cystoisospora rastegaievae</i><i>Physaloptera clausa</i>hedgehog |
| spellingShingle | Alessia Mariacher Andrea Santini Irene Del Lesto Sara Tonon Elena Cardini Antonino Barone Claudia Eleni Gianluca Fichi Stefania Perrucci Endoparasite Infections of the European Hedgehog (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>) in Central Italy Animals <i>Brachylaemus erinacei</i> <i>Capillaria erinacei</i> <i>Crenosoma striatum</i> <i>Cystoisospora rastegaievae</i> <i>Physaloptera clausa</i> hedgehog |
| title | Endoparasite Infections of the European Hedgehog (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>) in Central Italy |
| title_full | Endoparasite Infections of the European Hedgehog (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>) in Central Italy |
| title_fullStr | Endoparasite Infections of the European Hedgehog (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>) in Central Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Endoparasite Infections of the European Hedgehog (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>) in Central Italy |
| title_short | Endoparasite Infections of the European Hedgehog (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>) in Central Italy |
| title_sort | endoparasite infections of the european hedgehog i erinaceus europaeus i in central italy |
| topic | <i>Brachylaemus erinacei</i> <i>Capillaria erinacei</i> <i>Crenosoma striatum</i> <i>Cystoisospora rastegaievae</i> <i>Physaloptera clausa</i> hedgehog |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/11/3171 |
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