Feeding the European hedgehog ( Erinaceus europaeus L .)—risks of commercial diets for wildlife

Erinaceus europaeus is a cosmopolitan mammalian species broadly distributed in Europe, from natural to suburban areas. Due to its ecological role and susceptibility to distinct zoonotic agents, E. europaeus could be a suitable sentinel candidate for many global problems that negatively affect human and animal health. Hedgehogs can work as bioindicators to environmental contamination and can be hosts for multiple tickborne zoonotic agents. Thus, people who directly or indirectly make physical contact with this species are exposed to a variety of threats. Moreover, it has also been studied as an indicator for antibiotic resistance, which was already confirmed for tetracyclines. Additionally, it was also reported as a reservoir for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). More recently, hedgehogs have been recently recognised as potential reservoirs of MERS-CoV-like strains. Among other animals, this species can possibly represent an intermediate reservoir for SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this review is to briefly expose the scientific attainments about hedgehog health, namely agents, diseases, and threats that significantly affect general health concerns and that contribute to achieve One Health principles.

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Tick-induced blood loss leads to regenerative anaemia in the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182009005514 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 136 (4) ◽

pp. 443-452 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

M. PFÄFFLE ◽

T. PETNEY ◽

M. ELGAS ◽

J. SKUBALLA ◽

H. TARASCHEWSKI

Keyword(s):

Blood Loss ◽

Tick Infestation ◽

Feeding Activity ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Blood Parameters ◽

Experimental Population ◽

Erinaceus Europaeus ◽

European Hedgehog ◽

Blood Characteristics

SUMMARYAlthough there is an increasing understanding of the role of parasites in their host dynamics, accurate, quantitative estimates of parasite caused morbidity in wild animals are rare. Here, we examine the possible impact of 2 tick species (Ixodes ricinus, I. hexagonus) on the condition of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). For this, we tested for correlations between blood parameters of 36 adult hedgehogs from an experimental population enclosed in a natural habitat and their tick infestation over a period of 8 months (March–October 2007). We found correlations between the tick infestation and the concentration of red blood cells, haemoglobin, haematocrit, MCH, MCHC, thrombocytes, lymphocytes and neutrophils. These results indicate that ticks can induce anaemia in the hedgehog. The peripheral blood characteristics and the erythrocyte indices characterize this anaemia as haemorrhagic and regenerative. During the course of our study the hedgehogs of our population showed below normal mortality but morbidity was found to be high resulting from the blood loss caused by the feeding activity of the ticks.

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Erinaceus europaeus europaeus (Western European hedgehog)

An Atlas of Mammalian Chromosomes ◽

10.1007/978-1-4615-6424-9_2 ◽

1968 ◽

pp. 5-7

Author(s):

T. C. Hsu ◽

Kurt Benirschke

Keyword(s):

Erinaceus Europaeus ◽

European Hedgehog ◽

Western European

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A prickly problem: developing a volunteer-friendly tool for monitoring populations of a terrestrial urban mammal, the West European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

Urban Ecosystems ◽

10.1007/s11252-018-0795-1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 1075-1086 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ben Williams ◽

Nittanjyot Mann ◽

Jessica L. Neumann ◽

Richard W. Yarnell ◽

Philip J. Baker

Keyword(s):

The West ◽

Erinaceus Europaeus ◽

European Hedgehog ◽

West European

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

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11113171 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 3171

Author(s):

Alessia Mariacher ◽

Andrea Santini ◽

Irene Del Lesto ◽

Sara Tonon ◽

Elena Cardini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Southern Italy ◽

Histopathological Examination ◽

Central Italy ◽

Domestic Animals ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Public Parks ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Erinaceus Europaeus ◽

European Hedgehog ◽

Physaloptera Clausa

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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Investigating the Role of the Eurasian Badger (Meles meles) in the Nationwide Distribution of the Western European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in England

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9100759 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 759 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hof ◽

Allen ◽

Bright

Keyword(s):

Spatial Scales ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Meles Meles ◽

Erinaceus Europaeus ◽

Related Factors ◽

Eurasian Badger ◽

European Hedgehog ◽

Intraguild Predator ◽

Western European

Biodiversity is declining globally, which calls for effective conservation measures. It is, therefore, important to investigate the drivers behind species presence at large spatial scales. The Western European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is one of the species facing declines in parts of its range. Yet, drivers of Western European hedgehog distribution at large spatial scales remain largely unknown. At local scales, the Eurasian badger (Meles meles), an intraguild predator of the Western European hedgehog, can affect both the abundance and the distribution of the latter. However, the Western European hedgehog and the Eurasian badger have shown to be able to co-exist at a landscape scale. We investigated whether the Eurasian badger may play a role in the likelihood of the presence of the Western European hedgehog throughout England by using two nationwide citizen science surveys. Although habitat-related factors explained more variation in the likelihood of Western European hedgehog presence, our results suggest that Eurasian badger presence negatively impacts the likelihood of Western European hedgehog presence. Intraguild predation may, therefore, be influencing the nationwide distribution of hedgehogs in England, and further research is needed about how changes in badger densities and intensifying agricultural practices that remove shelters like hedgerows may influence hedgehog presence.

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Hibernation Patterns of the European Hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus, at a Cornish Rescue Centre

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10081418 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1418

Author(s):

Kathryn E. South ◽

Kelly Haynes ◽

Angus C. Jackson

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Total Duration ◽

Erinaceus Europaeus ◽

Significant Difference ◽

In Captivity ◽

European Hedgehog ◽

In The Wild ◽

Positive Correlations ◽

The Uk ◽

Monitoring Protocols

The European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus, is frequently admitted to rescue centres in the UK. With many overwintering in captivity, there is cause to investigate hibernation patterns in order to inform and improve husbandry and monitoring protocols. Thirty-five hedgehogs were studied over two winters. Weight change during hibernation for the first winter was used to test for effects of disturbance on different aspects of hibernation, including total duration, frequency and duration of spontaneous arousals. There was no significant difference between the two winters for any of the four aspects studied. Significant positive correlations demonstrated that weight-loss increased with the duration of the hibernation period and with percent of nights spent asleep, but not with the number of arousal events. Thus, weight-loss appears more strongly associated with the proportion of time spent asleep than with the number of arousal events. This was surprising given the assumed energetic expense of repeated arousal and was potentially due to availability of food during arousals. In contrast with previous studies, larger hedgehogs lost less weight per day than did smaller hedgehogs. They also woke up more often (i.e., had more opportunities to feed), which may explain the unexpected pattern of weight-loss. Hibernatory behaviour in captivity differs from that in the wild, likely because of non-natural conditions in hutches and the immediate availability of food. This study provides a basis for further research into the monitoring and husbandry of hedgehogs such that it can be adapted for each individual according to pre-hibernation weight and behaviour during hibernation.

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