The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) – A suitable reservoir for variants of Anaplasma phagocytophilum?

Silaghi, Cornelia; Skuballa, Jasmin; Thiel, Claudia; Pfister, Kurt; Petney, Trevor N.; Pfäffle, M. P.; Taraschewski, Horst; Passos, Lygia Maria Friche

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2011.11.005

Cited by 79 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Hedgehogs are small, nocturnal and spiny-coated mammals which are found in synanthropic environments and they are kept as pets by some people (Mizgajska-Wiktor et al 2010;Silaghi et al 2012). As Hedgehogs feed on insects, worms, centipedes, snails, mice, frogs, lizards and snakes, they are considered as useful animals for natural ecosystems and are in the protected species list (Mizgajska-Wiktor et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hedgehogs acquire some pathogens through tick or flea bites and are involved in the endemic cycle of these pathogens. Keeping in mind that Hedgehogs are known as potential host for some variants of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, tick-born encephalitis virus (TBEV), Rickettsia felis, Eucoleus aerophilus, causative agent of pulmonary infection which resembled a bronchial carcinoma and at least four species of Lyme spirochetes (Foldvari et al 2011;McCarthy and Moore 2000;Silaghi et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some studies have been conducted on ecto and endoparasites and some other on zoonotic pathogens in hedgehogs around the world (Foldvari et al 2011;Silaghi et al 2012). In Iran, despite of having four hedgehog species (Hemiechinus auritus, Hemiechinus hypomelas, Hemiechinus aethiopicus and Erinaceous concolor), little attention has been paid to their microbial, fungal and parasitological infections threatening public health (Hajipour et al 2015;Youssefi et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A survey on parasites of long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) in northeast of Iran

et al. 2015

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As there appeared to be no data available on parasite infection of Hedgehogs in the region and considering the potential threat of Hedgehogs for animal and public health, the present study was carried out using biological samples and necropsy findings collected from long-eared hedgehog captured in Mashhad city in the northeast of Iran. During the study 23 dead hedgehogs were collected randomly from different regions of Mashhad County. Following autopsy of these animals, observation for enteric parasites was carefully done. At the same time, 38 live hedgehogs were captured at this region and after anesthetizing of them, their ectoparasites were removed. The captured animals were released after recovery. All of studied animals were found to be infected with at least one of the parasites. The endoparasites removed from dead hedgehogs were: Oliganthorhynchus erinacei, Nephridiorhynchus major, Hymenolepis erinacei and Crenosoma striatum. The ectoparasites found on live studied animals according to their abundance were Rhipicephalus turanicus, Haemaphysalis erinacei and Echidnophaga gallinacea. The results of this study will contribute to our understanding of the parasites infecting Hemiechinus auritus in Iran. These results also suggest that pet owners especially those keep hedgehog should be aware about hazards that may pose by these animals.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A survey on parasites of long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) in northeast of Iran

et al. 2015

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“…Anaplasma phagocytophilum is transmitted by Ixodes species. In Eurasia, vector competence has not been experimentally established for any tick species, but the bacterium was detected in many different Ixodes species (1), including Ixodes ricinus (3,4) and Ixodes hexagonus (1,5).…”

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A Novel High-Resolution Melt PCR Assay Discriminates Anaplasma phagocytophilum and “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis”

et al. 2013

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f "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" (Anaplasmataceae) is an emerging pathogen transmitted by Ixodes ticks. Conventional PCR and the newly developed high-resolution melt PCR were used to detect and discriminate "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Both bacterial species were frequently found in Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes hexagonus but virtually absent from Dermacentor reticulatus. In rodents, "Candidatus N. mikurensis" was significantly more prevalent than A. phagocytophilum, whereas in cats, only A. phagocytophilum was found. Pathogenic Anaplasmataceae of the genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Neoehrlichia are transmitted by ixodidae. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the agent of human, equine, canine, and feline granulocytic anaplasmosis (GA) and tick-borne fever of ruminants, occurs throughout central and northern Europe (1). Anaplasma phagocytophilum genotypes in North America and Europe apparently differ in host tropisms and clinical symptoms, with ruminant tick-borne fever and equine GA found predominantly in Europe and human GA predominantly in North America (1). Although human GA is often asymptomatic, 7% of diagnosed clinical cases require intensive medical care and 0.6% of the cases are fatal (2). Anaplasma phagocytophilum is transmitted by Ixodes species. In Eurasia, vector competence has not been experimentally established for any tick species, but the bacterium was detected in many different Ixodes species (1), including Ixodes ricinus (3, 4) and Ixodes hexagonus (1, 5).Recently, "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" was identified as a new member of the Anaplasmataceae. This emerging pathogen is also transmitted by Ixodes ticks and can cause severe disease in humans (6-8) and dogs (9). It was first identified in Ixodes ovatus and Rattus norvegicus in Japan (10). Bacterial DNA was detected in liver, heart, and spleen tissue, and intracellular bacteria were found in splenic endothelial cells. In two human cases, the pathogen occurred in granulocytes (11). Previously, very closely related 16S rRNA gene sequences were reported as the Schotti variant of Ehrlichia-like bacteria in the Netherlands (12) and Ehrlichia sp. "Rattus Strain" in China (13). "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" appears to be one of the most prevalent pathogens in I. ricinus in Europe (14-17), suggesting the possibility that many subclinical human infections occur. Therefore, the aim was to develop a real-time high-resolution melt PCR (HRM-PCR) assay discriminating A. phagocytophilum and "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis."Six rodent species were trapped in 2010 and 2011 at four different sites in Berlin (Table 1). Spleen samples were collected during necropsy from cats from animal shelters in Berlin (2006Berlin ( to 2008. Host-associated, nonengorged, or partially engorged I. ricinus and I. hexagonus ticks were collected from dogs in Berlin and Brandenburg by their owners and sent to the Small Animal Clinic, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Questing Dermacentor reticulatus ticks were collected ...

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“…Positive PCR products were purified, sequenced, and analyzed as described previously (8). All sequences were compared with sequences from previous studies by our group (4,8,(10)(11)(12)(13).…”

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confidence: 99%

Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Questing Ixodes ricinus Ticks: Comparison of Prevalences and Partial 16S rRNA Gene Variants in Urban, Pasture, and Natural Habitats

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Thiel

Herb

et al. 2013

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) – A suitable reservoir for variants of Anaplasma phagocytophilum?

Cited by 79 publications

References 33 publications

A survey on parasites of long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) in northeast of Iran

A survey on parasites of long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) in northeast of Iran

A Novel High-Resolution Melt PCR Assay Discriminates Anaplasma phagocytophilum and “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis”

Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Questing Ixodes ricinus Ticks: Comparison of Prevalences and Partial 16S rRNA Gene Variants in Urban, Pasture, and Natural Habitats

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