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

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 Europea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Parasitology 2009-04, Vol.136 (4), p.443-452
Main Authors: PFÄFFLE, M., PETNEY, T., ELGAS, M., SKUBALLA, J., TARASCHEWSKI, H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anemia - etiology
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Blood Cell Count
blood sampling
Ectoparasites
Erinaceus europaeus
Erythrocytes
Erythrocytes - physiology
European hedgehog
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
General aspects and techniques. Study of several systematic groups. Models
haematology
Hedgehogs - parasitology
Hedgehogs - physiology
Hemorrhage - complications
Hemorrhage - etiology
Invertebrates
Ixodes
Ixodes - pathogenicity
Ixodes ricinus
Ixodidae
Lymphocytes
Male
Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control
Morbidity
Regeneration
regenerative anaemia
Tick Infestations - parasitology
Tick Infestations - pathology
Tick Infestations - veterinary
Vectors. Intermediate hosts
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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.
ISSN:0031-1820
1469-8161
DOI:10.1017/S0031182009005514