Incidence of parasites of the African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris: Wagner, 1841) and its associated packed cell volume changes

Abstract

Studies on the incidence of parasites of the African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) and its associated packed cell volume (PCV) changes were conducted in Maiduguri, North-eastern Nigeria. A total of fifteen (15) Hedgehogs comprising of 7 males and 8 females were examined for ecto and endo-parasites and their PCV evaluated for any association with infection. An incidence of 4(26.7%) was obtained for endoparasites mainly of Capillaria ova, with 3(37.5%) for female and 1(14.3%) for male (p<0.05). Ticks were the only ectoparasites obtained with an incidence of 6(40.0%) comprising of male hedgehogs with 2(28.6%) and females with 4(50.0%) (p<0.05). Rhipicephalus species was the only tick identified. The mean ± SD PCV of hedgehogs indicated that of males as 31.36 ± 1.38 and females as 30.88 ± 3.09, however no significant difference (p>0.05) was obtained but both values were lower than the normal reference values.

Keywords: Incidence, Ticks, Capillaria, Parasites, Packed Cell Volume, Hedgehogs