Ectoparasites of hedgehogs: From flea mite phoresy to their role as vectors of pathogens

Bezerra‐Santos, Marcos Antônio; Sgroi, Giovanni; Otranto, Domenico; Khedri, Javad; Camarda, Antonio; Iatta, Roberta; Sazmand, Alireza; Otranto, Domenico

doi:10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.04.009

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…The ecological and feeding habits of the European hedgehogs, along with their high population densities, synanthropic attitudes and common contacts with both wild and domestic animals, implicate the potential involvement of this species in the maintenance and spread of parasites with zoonotic potential or also infecting other wild and domestic animal species, such as Eucoleus aerophilus [ 2 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Despite this and the popularity of the hedgehog, few studies have explored the endoparasite fauna of the hedgehog in Italy [ 1 , 23 , 24 , 25 ], compared to other European countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the endoparasite fauna of hedgehogs from two different regions of central Italy (Latium and Tuscany), where no investigations had been reported before.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endoparasite Infections of the European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in Central Italy

Mariacher

Santini

Lesto

et al. 2021

Animals

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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 (n = 40) from central Italy (Latium and Tuscany regions) were investigated, along with concurrent gross and histopathological lesions. The most prevalent identified endoparasites were Crenosoma striatum (45%), Capillaria erinacei (42.5%) and Brachylaemus erinacei (22.5%), in accordance with previous reports from hedgehogs in southern Italy. In few subjects, Physaloptera clausa, Acanthocephalans and Cystoisospora rastegaeivae coccidia were also identified. The infection by the lungworm C. striatum was found to be significantly associated (p < 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.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endoparasite Infections of the European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in Central Italy

Mariacher

Santini

Lesto

et al. 2021

Animals

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“…Bacteria of the order Rickettsiales were discovered infecting 12 species belonging to seven genera of fleas. The following 14 bacterial species were identified : Anaplasma phagocytophilum [ 22 ] , A. marginale [ 23 ] , A. ovis [ 23 ] , Erlichia canis [ 23 ] , Rickettsia felis [ 24 ] , R. helvetica [ 25 ] , R. raoultii [ 26 ] , R. hoogstraalii [ 27 ] , R. australis [ 27 ] , R. asembonensis [ 28 ] , R. typhi [ 24 ] and three species closely related with R. felis [ 29 ] , R. senegalensis [ 30 ] and Candidatus R. kotlanii [ 30 ]. The host from which the fleas were collected were often pets [ 31 ]; less commonly, fleas infected with rickettsiae were collected from hedgehogs [ 28 ], rodents [ 25 ] and foxes [ 30 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rickettsiales in the WHO European Region: an update from a One Health perspective

Guccione

Colomba

Iaria³

2023

Parasites Vectors

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Background The availability of molecular techniques has significantly increased our understanding of bacteria of the order Rickettsiales, allowing the identification of distinct species in both vector and host arthropods. However, the literature lacks studies that comprehensively summarize the vast amount of knowledge generated on this topic in recent years. The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the distribution of Rickettsiales in arthropod vectors, animals and humans in the WHO European Region in order to provide useful information to predict the emergence of certain diseases in specific geographical areas and to formulate hypotheses regarding the possible pathogenetic role of some rickettsial species in the etiology of human pathological conditions. Methods A systematic review of the literature in the PubMed and EMBASE databases was conducted following the PRISMA methodology using the search terms “Spotted fever” OR “rickettsiosis” OR “ricketts*” AND all the countries of the WHO European Region, from 1 January 2013 to 12 February 2022. Only studies that identified rickettsiae in human, animal or arthropod samples using molecular techniques were included in the review. Results A total of 467 articles considering 61 different species of Rickettsiales with confirmed or suspected human pathogenicity were analyzed in the review. More than 566 identifications of Rickettsiales DNA in human samples were described, of which 89 cases were assessed as importation cases. A total of 55 species of ticks, 17 species of fleas, 10 species of mite and four species of lice were found infected. Twenty-three species of Rickettsiales were detected in wild and domestic animal samples. Conclusion The routine use of molecular methods to search for Rickettsiales DNA in questing ticks and other blood-sucking arthropods that commonly bite humans should be encouraged. Molecular methods specific for Rickettsiales should be used routinely in the diagnostics of fever of unknown origin and in all cases of human diseases secondary to an arthropod bite or animal contact. Graphical Abstract

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“…While descriptive in nature, this type of study can become the baseline for further studies to determine direct and indirect impacts of ectoparasites on specific hosts. Ectoparasites can impact their hosts by transmitting pathogens that increase host morbidity and mortality as well as serving as reservoirs for pathogens that can spillover to other animals or humans (Gutiérrez et al 2015, Cerutti et al 2018, Skvarla and Machtinger 2019, Vidaña et al 2020, Williams and Dittmar 2020, Bezerra-Santos et al 2021). For example, West Nile virus was detected in I. americana collected from birds known to be reservoirs of the disease (Gancz et al 2004, Farajollahi et al 2005).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many studies use mist-netting (Cerutti et al 2018, Roselli et al 2022), but they collect only certain orders of birds, leaving most bird species unavailable because they often involve complicated trapping techniques and specific permits. Live-animal trapping is commonly used for wild animals, but current studies trap one or two host species as part of a larger focus (Pirrello et al 2015, Bezerra-Santos et al 2021, Levesque-Beaudin and Sinclair 2021 or continue to use randomness of roadkill or road injury cases to obtain samples (McAllister et al 2018(McAllister et al , 2019Lavallée et al 2020). Involvement of regional zoological medicine service or wildlife rehabilitator, often raptor rehabilitation centers, to identify regional ectoparasite-host relationships provide collections in an environment where the animal can be treated and released again into the wild (Morishita et al 2001, Barino et al 2021, Gherardi et al 2021).…”

Section: Strigiformes: Barred Owl (Strix Varia Bartonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unique Host-Parasite Relationships from Wildlife and Pets at a Zoological Medicine Service at Central Oklahoma

Hahn

Kanda

Brandão

et al. 2023

Southwestern Entomologist

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Ectoparasites on wild birds and mammals threaten health of the animal and community. Most studies of ectoparasites tend to be location focused so characterizing wider differences between ectoparasites and hosts is difficult. The aim of this study was to identify ectoparasites from free ranging and captive wildlife at an academic zoological medicine service in Central Oklahoma and record first reports of ectoparasites and hosts. We collected 228 ectoparasites from 47 animals: 111 ectoparasites from 30 birds were 14 lice (n = 78), four hematophagous fly (n = 20), and three tick (n = 13) species. One hundred seventeen ectoparasites from 17 mammals were four flea (n = 8) and four tick (n = 109) species. Results included 13 first-time ectoparasite species and 26 first-time host-ectoparasite reports in Oklahoma. The study portrays closer representation of ectoparasites infesting wild animals in Central Oklahoma and demonstrate possible correlation between mortality and injury to parasitized hosts. Additional studies would document ectoparasites infesting wildlife in Central Oklahoma.

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Ectoparasites of hedgehogs: From flea mite phoresy to their role as vectors of pathogens

Cited by 9 publications

References 77 publications

Endoparasite Infections of the European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in Central Italy

Endoparasite Infections of the European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in Central Italy

Rickettsiales in the WHO European Region: an update from a One Health perspective

Unique Host-Parasite Relationships from Wildlife and Pets at a Zoological Medicine Service at Central Oklahoma

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