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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 February 2009

M. PFÄFFLE ,
T. PETNEY ,
M. ELGAS ,
J. SKUBALLA  and
H. TARASCHEWSKI
M. PFÄFFLE*
Affiliation:
University of Karlsruhe, Zoological Institute I, Department of Ecology and Parasitology, Kornblumenstrasse 13, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
T. PETNEY
Affiliation:
University of Karlsruhe, Zoological Institute I, Department of Ecology and Parasitology, Kornblumenstrasse 13, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
M. ELGAS
Affiliation:
ZLMT, Institute for Medical Laboratory Diagnostics, Städt. Klinikum Karlsruhe, Moltkestrasse 90, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany
J. SKUBALLA
Affiliation:
University of Karlsruhe, Zoological Institute I, Department of Ecology and Parasitology, Kornblumenstrasse 13, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
H. TARASCHEWSKI
Affiliation:
University of Karlsruhe, Zoological Institute I, Department of Ecology and Parasitology, Kornblumenstrasse 13, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
*
*Corresponding author: University of Karlsruhe, Zoological Institute I, Department of Ecology and Parasitology, Kornblumenstrasse 13, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany. Tel: +49 721 6087657. Fax: +49 721 6087655. E-mail: miripfaeffle@web.de
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Summary

Although 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.

Keywords

Erinaceus europaeusEuropean hedgehogIxodeshaematologyregenerative anaemiablood sampling
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 136 , Issue 4 , April 2009 , pp. 443 - 452
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 Cambridge University Press

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