Parasites of European hedgehogs () in Britain: epidemiological study and coprological test evaluation

Gabriella Gaglio (1, 2) , Simon Allen (3) , Lee Bowden (2) , Mark Bryant (2) , Eric R. Morgan (2)

1 Dipartimento di Sanitá Pubblica Veterinaria
2 School of Biological Sciences
3 Gower Bird Hospital

Seventy-four European hedgehogs () that had died in wildlife rehabilitation centres were dissected and their parasite burdens documented. Overall parasite prevalence was 91%, and a total of six helminth species were isolated: five nematodes (, , , and spp.), one trematode () and one acanthocephalan (). The tick and flea were also collected. The effect of parasite infection on body condition was assessed by correlation of burdens with the residuals of weight-skeletal length regression. Tick presence was positively related to body condition; for other parasites, no significant relationship was found. Faecal egg or larval count was closely correlated with adult parasite burden for and / spp., but not for other species. Coprological analysis should therefore be useful for in vivo studies of nematode parasite infection in hedgehogs. The epidemiology of parasites in hedgehogs and their possible role in recent population declines are discussed.

Mots clés: Hedgehog; Helminth; Ectoparasite; Epidemiology; Coprological diagnosis

Gabriella Gaglio, Simon Allen, Lee Bowden, Mark Bryant, Eric R. Morgan. Parasites of European hedgehogs () in Britain: epidemiological study and coprological test evaluation. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2010, 56 (6), pp.839-844. ⟨10.1007/s10344-010-0381-1⟩. ⟨hal-00581006⟩