Endoparasites of the Long-Eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) in Zabol District, Southeast Iran.

OBJECTIVE: The long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) is a nocturnal animal living in Central and Southeast Iran. However, there are few studies concerning endoparasites, some of which are zoonotic, of the hedgehogs in the north and northwest of Iran. The aim of the present study is to investigate endoparasites in long-eared hedgehogs, living in Zabol district, Southeast Iran.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stool and blood samples collected from 50 hedgehogs (35 males and 15 females) that were trapped alive were examined with Clayton-Lane flotation and Giemsa staining methods. Furthermore, 10 road-killed hedgehog carcasses were necropsied. The adult parasites were collected and identified under a light microscope.

RESULTS: Spirurida eggs in the stool samples and Anaplasma inclusion bodies in red blood cells were determined in 32% and 52% of the samples, respectively. Physaloptera clausa, Mathevotaenia erinacei, Nephridiacanthus major, and Moniliformis moniliformis were identified in the necropsy.

CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first study concerning endoparasites of long-eared hedgehogs in Iran. Furthermore, M. erinacei was for the first time reported as a parasitic fauna in Iran.