An evidence of asp viper (Vipera aspis) consumption by a western European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) on Elba Island (Italy)

We report a record of consumption of an asp viper by a western European hedgehog. The observation took place in Elba Island, providing the first evidence for Italy and, to our knowledge, only the second ever in support to previous anecdotal accounts.

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

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.

OSTEOMYELITIS ON THE CERVICAL VERTEBRAS OF A FREE-LIVING EUROPEAN HEDGEHOG (Erinaceus europaeus) BY Paeniclostridium sordellii

A free-living European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) adult female was admitted to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre of Parque Biológico de Gaia (Portugal), with severe breathing distress and poor body condition. Its neck was displaced 60 degrees caudally. During the post- mortem exam, an abscess in the cervical vertebras was observed. Paeniclostridium sordellii was the agent isolated from the purulent exudate that was removed from the lesion. This is the first reported case of P. sordellii associated osteomyelitis on the cervical vertebras, and the first time that this pathology is describe in this specie associated with this agent.Key words: Erinaceus europaeus; Portugal; Paeniclostridium sordellii; osteomyelitisOSTEOMIELITIS VRATNIH VRETENC PRI PROSTOŽIVEČM EVROPSKEM JEŽU (Erinaceus europaeus), POVZROČEN Z BAKTERIJO Paeniclostridium sordelliiIzvleček: Prosto živeča odrasla samica evropskega ježa (Erinaceus europaeus) je bila sprejeta v Center za rehabilitacijo divjih živali Parque Biológico de Gaia (Portugalska) s hudo dihalno stisko in slabim telesnim stanjem. Njen vrat je bil premaknjen kavdalno za 60 stopinj. Med sekcijo po smrti so opazili absces na vratnih vretencih. Iz gnojnega eksudata lezije je bila izolirana bakteerija Paeniclostridium sordellii. V članku poročamo o prvem zabeleženem primeru osteomielitisa, povezanega s P. sordellii, na vratnih vretencih in o prvem primeru opisa tovrstne patologije pri evropskem ježu, povezani s tem povzročiteljem.Ključne besede: Erinaceus europaeus; Portugalska; Paeniclostridium sordellii; osteomielitis

Juvenile European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) at rescue centers and their release rate depending on their weight on admission

This study aimed to assess the numbers of juvenile European hedgehogs admitted to rescue centers in the Czech Republic from the viewpoint of their weight on admission, the reason for their admission, and the success rate of their release back into the wild. The results of our study show varying levels of success in the rearing of hedgehogs admitted at different ages (weights) and a varying period required for their rehabilitation. The greatest chance of release was seen in hedgehogs with a weight on the admission of 500–599 g (64.22% released) and 400–499 g (63.31% released). In contrast, the smallest number of young hedgehogs successfully rehabilitated and released was seen in hoglets weighing 200–299 g (35.24% released) on admission, which corresponds to the weight of hedgehogs at the time of weaning. Time spent at a rescue center may pose an undesirable threat to the lives of animals in some categories. Hedgehogs weighing up to 99 g on admission spent the longest period time at rescue centers (a median of 48 days), while hedgehogs weighing 500–599 g on admission spent the shortest time (a median of 7 days). The majority of hedgehogs in the lowest weight categories were admitted due to their inability to survive on their own. A large percentage of hedgehogs of greater weight, in contrast, were juvenile hedgehogs brought to rescue centers needlessly. The percentage of released animals did not exceed 65%, however, even for entirely independent categories of older juveniles. From this perspective, the fact that hedgehogs are often brought to rescue centers in the belief that they are not self-sufficient young, though they are actually juvenile or even adult individuals that do not require human care, can be considered a significant finding.