• Rodentolepis erinacei infection
• Hymenolepis erinacei infection
• Hedgehog cestode infection

• Tapeworms (cestodes) with beetles as their intermediate hosts (J15.21.w1); adults, found in the intestines,  may be up to 80 mm long. (B228.9.w9, B284.6.w6)
• Lifecycle: Sexually mature cestodes in the small intestine of the hedgehog. Intermittently proglottids (segments) and/or eggs are passed in the faeces. These may be ingested by coprophagic (dung-eating) insects directly, or by other insects after becoming separated from the faeces after rain. Once inside the insect the oncospheres are released in the insect's intestines and invade the body cavity. Here they develop into the cysticercoid which is the infective form for the definitive host (hedgehog). When an insect containing cysticercoids is eaten by a hedgehog, the cysticercoids develop within the intestine into new cestodes. (B291.12.w12)
  • After infection of the hedgehog it takes about 35 days before segments or eggs are passed in the faeces. Inside the intermediate host beetles development of a larval cyst which is infectious to hedgehogs takes about 21 days. (B337.3.w3)

• Hymenolepis (Genus)

Clinical signs:

• Usually asymptomatic. (B22.27.w3, B284.6.w6, J15.21.w1)
• Proglottids may be found in faeces.  (J15.21.w1)
• Weight gain may be slightly decreased, faeces may be slightly loose. (N6.32.w1).
• Weight loss and diarrhoea may be seen. (B228.9.w9, B284.6.w6, B337.3.w3)
• May cause diarrhoea with eventual reduction in weight gain despite a good appetite. (B291.12.w12)
• Death by six to seven days following experimental infection of Erinaceus europaeus with large doses (500 or 700 cysticercoids) of Hymenolepis erinacei. (J170.23.w1)

Pathology:

• Hymenolepis erinacei  may be found in the intestine, most numerous at 21-60 cm along the gut and largest to the posterior end of the gut. (J170.23.w2)

Note: Often there may be an associated gastrointestinal bacterial infection. (D107) [See: Colibacillosis (with special reference to Waterfowl and Hedgehogs), Proteus Infection in Waterfowl and Hedgehogs, Salmonellosis (with special reference to Waterfowl and Hedgehogs)]

Transmission:

• Ingestion of larva-infected intermediate host insects (such as beetles) (J15.21.w1, B22.27.w3, B228.9.w9, B291.12.w12)
• For Mesocestoides spp. (hedgehog is an intermediate host), via arthropods and dogs. (B156.7.w7)

Diagnosis:

• Proglottids may be found in or near faeces.  (J15.21.w1, B259.w7, B291.12.w12); these are whitish, about 1mm long by 3mm wide and may be single or in chains (chains are 3mm wide and may be about 4-8mm long. (B228.9.w9, B291.12.w12, B337.3.w3)
• Eggs (diameter up to 80 µm) may be found in faeces by flotation techniques. (B228.9.w9, B291.12.w12) or occasionally on faecal smears (B284.6.w6); these have characteristic internal hooks ( a single hooked larvae in each egg). (B284.6.w6, B291.12.w12)

Treatment:

• Praziquantel (Droncit, Bayer, plc.) oral or subcutaneous. (J15.21.w1); 10-20 mg/kg intramuscular or subcutaneous. (B284.6.w6); 10mg/kg bodyweight (D66)
• Praziquantel (Drontal, Bayer plc.) 1/8 cat tablet per 500g bodyweight or praziquantel injection. (N6.32.w1)
• Praziquantel (Droncit, Bayer plc.) 25 mg (1/2 of a Droncit 50mg tablet) per hedgehog for individuals above 500g bodyweight, 1/4 tablet (12.5mg) per individual for hedgehogs below 500g bodyweight. (B291.12.w12)
• Fenbendazole (Panacur, Intervet UK Ltd.) 11 mg per 500g bodyweight, repeat after seven days, or give as a divided dose over five days. (N6.32.w1)
• Praziquantel (Droncit, Bayer plc.) 0.1 ml or 1/8 tablet  for under 200g bodyweight, 0.2ml or 1/4 tablet for 200-500g, 0.4ml or 1/2 tablet for 500g-1kg. Usually single dose, additional doses may be required, but at intervals of at least 48 hours. (D95, D107)
• Praziquantel 10-20 mg/kg by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection. (B284.6.w6)
• Niclosamide 200 mg/kg bodyweight. (D66)
• Praziquantel (Droncit, Bayer plc.)10-15 mg, oral, or niclosamide 200 mg/kg bodyweight. (B259.w7)
• Mebendazole 25mg twice daily for hedgehogs of less than 500 g bodyweight, 50 mg twice daily for hedgehogs greater than 500 g bodyweight, orally: administer for five days then repeat treatment after two to three weeks. (B22.27.w3)
• Mebendazole 50-100 mg/kg orally once daily for five days. (B284.6.w6)
• Suggested therapy for associated bacterial infection: Potentiated sulphonamides (e.g. Tribrissen (Trimethoprim/ Sulphonamide) 24% (Schering-Plough Animal Health), 30 mg/kg once daily intramuscularly or subcutaneously, for five to eight days, or Zaquilan (Schering-Plough Animal Health) 20-40 mg/kg orally once daily), or Amoxycillin / Clavulanic acid (30-50 mg/kg twice daily orally, subcutaneously or intramuscularly) or Enrofloxacin (10 mg/kg twice daily subcutaneously, intramuscularly or orally). (D107)
  • Supportive therapy, as required: Fluid therapy if the hedgehog is not eating and drinking. Buscopan (Boehringer Ingelheim Limited) is recommended (0.1-0.2 ml/kg no more frequently than every eight hours, not for prolonged use) if squeals indicate that the hedgehog is suffering from intestinal cramping. Probiotics, digestive enzymes, vitamins and Kaolin may also be useful. (D107)

Prevention:

• In captive hedgehogs infection may be prevented by keeping the area free of insects. (B291.12.w12)

Records of infection:

• Davainea pava, Diphyllobothrium erinacei (Diphyllobothrium mansoni), Hymenolepis erinacei, Hymenolepis bacillaris, Hymenolepis steudeneri, Oochoristica erinacei and Taenia voluta from the intestines of European hedgehogs (Erinaceus spp.); Sparganum (Spirometra) erinacei subcutaneously in European hedgehogs (Erinaceus spp.) and Sparganum (Spirometra) mansoni subcutaneously in Erinaceus koreanus. (J18.38.w1)
• Oochoristica erinacei from the hedgehog (collected in Mesopotamia); it was noted that Hymenolepis erinacei, Hymenolepis steudeneri, Davainea parva, Taenia voluta and a Bothriocephalus larvae were the previous cestodes to be recorded from this host species. (J157.12.w1)
• Rodentolepis erinacei in the jejunum/small intestine of 1/74 hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus - West European Hedgehog) at post mortem examination, July 1976 to November 1986, in the UK. (J3.128.w2)
• Hymenolepis erinacei in Erinaceus europaeus - West European Hedgehog in the UK, as demonstrated from faecal examination. (N6.32.w1)
• Rodentolepis (Hymenolepis) erinacei in 3.7% of 127 hedgehogs from Bavaria, Germany. (B228.9.w9)
• Hymenolepis erinacei may be found in the intestines. (B156.7.w7)
• Davainea parva, Staphylocystis bacillaris, Oochoristica erinacei and Raillietina voluta have been recorded in the intestines of European hedgehogs. Oochorista herpestis and Raillietina voluta have been recorded in Atelerix albiventris - central African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris - Four-toed hedgehog); Oochoristica erinacei in the Algerian hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus (Hemiechinus auritus - Long-eared hedgehog) and Mathevotaenia skjabini in the long-eared hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus. (B228.9.w9)
• Hymenolepis erinacei and Sparganum erinacei in European hedgehogs. (B258.w9)

As an intermediate host:

• Mesocestoides lineatus, a tapeworm of the dog.  (J18.38.w1, B228.9.w9)
• Mesocestoides lineatus larvae have been found in the hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus - West European Hedgehog. (J139.19.w1)
• Mesocestoides spp. in the mesentery and liver (cysts). (B156.7.w7)
• "Cestode cysts" in the liver and mesentry of Atelerix albiventris. (B228.9.w9)

• Physical Examination of Mammals
• Necropsy of Mammals
• Fluid Therapy for Hedgehogs
• Subcutaneous Injection of Hedgehogs
• Intramuscular Injection of Hedgehogs
• Treatment and Care - General
• Environmental and Population Management - General
• Chapter 2 - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Specimen Collection and Preservation
• Chapter 3 - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Specimen shipment
• Appendix A - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Sample specimen history form

• Erinaceus europaeus - West European Hedgehog