Kriechbaum Caroline, Pomroy William, Gedye Kristene
School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Parasitol Res. 2018 Mar;117(3):697-703. doi: 10.1007/s00436-017-5739-9. Epub 2018 Jan 9.
European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) were introduced into New Zealand from Britain during the period from 1869 to the early 1900s. The only mite found on New Zealand hedgehogs in early studies was Caparinia tripilis, with Sarcoptes scabiei first being reported in 1996. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Sarcoptes infestation on hedgehogs in New Zealand, the number of mites found and the degree of mange observed. Dead hedgehogs were collected from veterinary clinics, rescue centres, members of the public and from road-kill. Twenty-one (55.3%) of the animals examined had visible skin lesions. Both Caparinia and Sarcoptes mites were identified on microscopic examination with Sarcoptes the most common, being found on over 70% of animals examined (n = 38). The numbers of mites recovered after brushing the head and body ranged from 1 to 5659 (median = 341 mites) with only six animals (22.2%) having fewer than 10 Sarcoptes mites found. Caparinia mites were seen on fewer animals and generally in very low numbers. These findings indicate a change in the mite populations on hedgehogs in New Zealand and that infected animals develop the debilitating hyperkeratotic form of sarcoptic mange without an accompanying hypersensitivity response limiting numbers of mites. Analysis of the cox 1 gene of Sarcoptes from two hedgehogs showed close alignment to sequences derived from a pig with one and from a dog with the second. More work needs to be undertaken to identify the source(s) of the Sarcoptes found on hedgehogs in New Zealand and whether other mammalian hosts may be infected from contact with hedgehogs.
欧洲刺猬（ Erinaceus europaeus ）于1869年至20世纪初从英国被引入新西兰。早期研究中在新西兰刺猬身上发现的唯一螨虫是三毛螨属（ Caparinia tripilis ），疥螨（ Sarcoptes scabiei ）于1996年首次被报道。本研究的目的是调查新西兰刺猬疥螨感染的患病率、发现的螨虫数量以及观察到的疥癣程度。死亡的刺猬从兽医诊所、救援中心、公众以及路杀动物中收集。检查的动物中有21只（55.3%）有可见的皮肤病变。在显微镜检查中同时鉴定出了三毛螨属和疥螨，其中疥螨最为常见，在超过70%的检查动物（n = 38）身上被发现。刷拭头部和身体后回收的螨虫数量从1只到5659只不等（中位数 = 341只螨虫），只有6只动物（22.2%）发现的疥螨数量少于10只。在较少的动物身上发现了三毛螨属螨虫，且数量通常很少。这些发现表明新西兰刺猬身上的螨虫种群发生了变化，并且受感染的动物会发展出导致衰弱的角化过度型疥癣，而没有伴随的超敏反应来限制螨虫数量。对两只刺猬的疥螨cox 1基因分析显示，与来自一头猪和一只狗的序列紧密比对。需要开展更多工作来确定在新西兰刺猬身上发现的疥螨的来源，以及其他哺乳动物宿主是否可能因与刺猬接触而被感染。
