Endoparasites (helminths and coccidians) in the hedgehogs Atelerix algirus and Paraechinus aethiopicus from Algeria

Abstract

The study of endoparasites (helminths and coccidians) in the Algerian (Atelerix algirus) and desert (Paraechinus aethiopicus) hedgehogs was performed between July 2008 and October 2009. The helminth species found included two cestodes, Mathevotaenia erinacei (Anoplocephalidae) and an unidentified cestode larva in the mesentery, eight species of nematodes: Aonchotheca erinacei (Trichuridae) in the intestine, spirurids (Spiruridae) in the intestine, Crenosoma striatum (Crenosomatidae) in the lungs, Gongylonema mucronatum (Gongylonematidae) in the oesophagus, Physaloptera clausa (Physalopteridae) in the stomach, Physaloptera sp. larvae (Physalopteridae) in the mesentery, Pterygodermatites plagiostoma (Rictulariidae) in the stomach, Spirura rytipleurites seurati (Spiruridae) in the intestine; and two acanthocephalans, Moniliformis moniliformis (Moniliformidae) in the intestine and larvae of an unknown acanthocephalan species in the mesentery. The general prevalence was high in both hosts, 92% in Atelerix algirus and 94.12% in Paraechinus aethiopicus. Physaloptera clausa was the most prevalent species (64.0% in Atelerix algirus and 64.7% in Paraechinus aethiopicus). Polyparasitism of helminths was 68% in Atelerix algirus and 52.9% in Paraechinus aethiopicus. Two coccidian species were detected in both hedgehogs, Isospora sp. and Eimeria sp.We provide the first complete parasitological data from Africa for these two hedgehogs.

Key words: helminths, coccidians, Atelerix algirus, Paraechinus aethiopicus, Algeria.