Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cryptosporidial infection in a captive European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus).
- Journal:
- Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
- Year:
- 2009
- Authors:
- Meredith, Anna Louise & Milne, Elspeth Mary
- Affiliation:
- University of Edinburgh · United Kingdom
Abstract
An adult female hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) developed hemorrhagic diarrhea and was euthanized after failure to respond to treatment. At postmortem examination, the gastrointestinal tract was distended with clear fluid. Histopathologic examination of the jejunum and ileum revealed numerous small, round, pale basophilic organisms typical of cryptosporidia on the luminal surface of the enterocytes and free in the crypts. In addition, there was severe villus atrophy in the ileum. It was thought that an underlying chronic systemic disease had predisposed the hedgehog to cryptosporidiosis by immunosuppression. This report appears to be the first detailed description of cryptosporidiosis in this species.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20063833/