An investigation of endoparasites and the determinants of parasite infection in European hedgehogs (
| Autor: | Sophie Lund, Rasmussen, Jakob, Hallig, Rien E, van Wijk, Heidi Huus, Petersen |
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| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife |
| ISSN: | 2213-2244 |
| Popis: | 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 ( Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • We investigated the endoparasites of 299 dead European hedgehogs from Denmark. • We found that 69% (n = 206) of the hedgehogs hosted endoparasites. • We detected Crenosoma, Capillaria, Cryptosporidium, Brachylaemus and coccidia spp. • We explored possible determinants of overall endoparasite occurrence. • We conclude that only age and geography significantly affected endoparasite occurrence. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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