Study on endoparasites and ectoparasites of Long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) in Zabol -Iran
2015
Regarding the importance of parasites of which render zoonoses, their
capability to transfer some pathogenic agents alongside the increasing trend of
keeping pets in Iran such as hedgehog which is a pet of interest in some cultures,
this animal would matter considering the zoonotic parasites. This study was
performed to assess the endoparasites and ectoparasites of long-eared
hedgehogs. During this research (from March 2014 to March 2015) 50 longeared
hedgehogs were gathered from different locations of Zabol city, to detect
their endoparasites and ectoparasites. Among 50 long-eared hedgehogs, 32%
cases (n=16) were infected to the egg of Physaloptera clausa nematode which
were diagnosed by feces examination and 52% cases (n=26) were infected to
Anaplasma parasite in their red blood cells which were recognized by Giemsa
staining. Among 10 dissected hedgehog, 20% (n=2) were infected to the cestode
Mathevotaenia erinacei. Additionally, 40% (n=4) were infected to Physaloptera
clausa, 20% (n=2) were infected to Nephridiacanthus major and 10% (n=1) were
infected to Moniliformis moniliformis. Recognition of parasitic helminthes was
accomplished by Carmine acid staining. The average worm burden was 1.8
helminthes per infected hedgehog. Statistical analysis represented that there is
no significant correlation between sex and parasitic infection in hedgehogs
(P>0.05). Also a number of 31 (62%) hedgehogs from total 50 were infected to
ticks. Altogether 235 ticks were isolated from these animals of which only 2
species of the genus Rhipicephalus were discerned by stereomicroscope. Species
diversity and the prevalence of infection of detected hard ticks are as follow:
Rhipicephalus turanicus (68.08%) and Rhipicephalus sanguinus (31.91%). The
mean tick number per infected hedgehog was 7.85. The most tick infestation in
hedgehogs was observed in spring and summer. So there’s a remarkable
statistical difference between sampling season and the presence of ticks
(P<0.05). Although there wasn’t observed any significant difference between the
genus of tick infected-hedgehogs (P>0.05). Given the significance of these
parasites from the zoonotic aspects and their potential to carry pathogenic
agents, more studies are highly recommended to assess Anaplasma species and
ectoparasites as well as to promote the people awareness in order to maintain
animal health and individuals with direct contact with them.
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