Ectoparasites of hedgehogs: From flea mite phoresy to their role as vectors of pathogens.

Hedgehogs are synanthropic mammals, reservoirs of several vector-borne pathogens and hosts of ectoparasites. Arthropod-borne pathogens (i.e., spp. spp. and Anaplasmataceae) were molecularly investigated in ectoparasites collected on hedgehogs ( = 213) from Iran (161 , 5 ) and Italy (47 ). In Iran, most animals examined ( = 153; 92.2%) were infested by ticks (, ), and 7 (4.2%) by fleas (, ). Of the hedgehogs infested by arthropods in Italy (i.e., 44.7%), 18 (38.3%) were infested by fleas (), 7 (14.9%) by ticks (, , sensu lato), and 6 (12.8%) by mites (, , spp.). Phoretic behavior of on was detected in two flea specimens from Italy. At the molecular analysis spp. was detected in 93.3% of the fleas of Italy. In Iran, spp. was detected in 8.0% out of 212 ticks, and in 85.7% of the fleas examined. The 16S rRNA gene for / spp. was amplified in 4.2% of the 212 ticks. All sequences of spp. from fleas presented 100% nucleotide identity with , whereas spp. from presented 99.84%-100% nucleotide identity with , except for one sequence, identical to . The sequences of the 16S rRNA gene revealed 99.57%-100% nucleotide identity with spp., except for one, identical to spp. A new phoretic association between mites and fleas has been herein reported, which could be an important route for the spreading of this mite through hedgehog populations. Additionally, spotted fever group rickettsiae were herein detected in ticks and fleas, and / spp. in ticks, suggesting that hedgehogs play a role as reservoirs for these vector-borne pathogens.