A clinical retrospective study of Caparinia tripilis (Psoroptidae) mite dermatitis in pet African pygmy hedgehogs (Ateletrix albiventris) in southern Italy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Caparinia tripilis is a common ectoparasitic mite affecting African pygmy hedgehogs, and is associated with pruritus and self-trauma. There have been no published surveys on the prevalence of such mites in pet African pygmy hedgehogs in Italy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and clinical signs of C. tripilis infestation in African pygmy hedgehogs. ANIMALS: Clinical records of hedgehogs examined between December 2017 and December 2020 were searched retrospectively. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The prevalence of C. tripilis infestation was evaluated and exposure variables were assessed using stepwise conditional logistic regression and odds ratios (OR) were calculated. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of C. tripilis was 39.5% (81 of 205) in client-owned and 81.5% (66 of 81) in pet shop-housed affected hedgehogs. Fifty-two hedgehogs (64.2%) showed clinical signs of pruritus, scales, erythema, spine loss, crusting, alopecia and lichenification, while 29 infested hedgehogs (35.8%) were asymptomatic. The head was the most frequently affected area in 30 of 81 (37%) animals. In a multivariable analysis, affected hedgehogs were significantly younger [OR 0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.1-0.73; P = 0.0097] and more likely to be from a pet shop (OR 2.1, 95%CI 1-4.4; P = 0.04) than unaffected hedgehogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The results of this study indicate a prevalence rate of C. tripilis infestation that is consistent with trends observed in other studies. African pygmy hedgehogs, especially younger animals and those originating from a pet shop, should always be evaluated for C. tripilis.