Epidemiology and treatment of respiratory nematode infections in western European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)

Respiratory nematodes are common in rescued western European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), but their epidemiology and treatment in rehabilitation settings remain poorly defined. We investigated respiratory nematode infections in 78 fecal samples of 30 hedgehogs admitted to a wildlife rehabilitation center in southern Portugal and in putative gastropod intermediate hosts. Outcomes after subcutaneous levamisole (10–20 mg/kg) and ivermectin (3 mg/kg) treatments, monitored by the Baermann technique, were compared. Respiratory nematode infections were highly prevalent in rescued hedgehogs and may be sustained within rehabilitation facilities by infected gastropod intermediate hosts. At the animal level, Crenosoma striatum was detected in 63% of hedgehogs and Capillaria spp. in 7% of hedgehogs, including a mixed infection in one hedgehog. The Baermann technique was the most sensitive method for detecting C. striatum. Samples from outdoor enclosures were more often positive for C. striatum than those from indoor enclosures (55% vs. 29%). All the examined gastropods (10/10) were positive for C. striatum larvae, supporting active transmission within the rehabilitation center. Outcomes were better with levamisole than with ivermectin, although persistence and relapses were frequent. Neither treatment resulted in consistent clearance. These findings support the need for integrated parasite management and standardized treatment protocols in wildlife rehabilitation centers.