Patterns of adult tick parasitization of coexisting European (Erinaceus europaeus) and Algerian (Atelerix algirus) hedgehog populations in eastern Iberia

Biodiversity, prevalence, and risk factors associated with tick infestation of Indigenous Nigerian breed of hunting dogs in Kwara State, Nigeria

Ticks are hematophagous arthropods that cause paralysis, toxicosis, and more importantly, they harbor and transmit different pathogens affecting humans and animals. This study was aimed to investigate the species composition, richness, diversity indices, prevalence, and risk factors associated with tick infestation of indigenous Nigerian breed of hunting dogs in Kwara State, Nigeria. The study was conducted on 240 hunting dogs from six local government areas in Kwara State. The dogs were subjected to integumentary examinations and the collected ticks were collected in 70% ethanol and transported to the Laboratory where they were morphologically identified using standard entomological keys. Of the 240 hunting dogs sampled, 157 were infested with ticks representing 65.4% with a 95% CI of 59.2-71.2. A total of 1206 ticks were collected belonging to Amblyomma variegatum, Haemaphysalis leachi, Hyalomma rufipes, Rhipicephalus decoloratus, Rhipicephalus microplus, and Rhipicephalus linnaei (Audouin, 1826), with Rhipicephalus linnaei being the most prevalent. The biodiversity and species richness indices, the prevalence of the infestation patterns, cumulative counts and mean load, species of ticks based on their developmental stages and sexes, as well as the degree of tick infestation were determined. Age was the only risk index significantly associated with the infestation of ticks among hunting dogs in the study. These findings underscore the importance of implementing tick control programs for hunting dogs, which may serve as reservoirs of ticks and tick-borne pathogens for domestic and pet dogs and humans.

Tick Infestation and Molecular Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens from Indian Long-Eared Hedgehogs (Hemiechinus collaris) in Pakistan

Hedgehogs can act as reservoirs for the transmission of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) to domestic livestock, wild animals, and humans. Understanding host-tick dynamics is essential to evaluate the impact of TBPs. This study was conducted in Pakistan and aimed to determine the prevalence and species of TBPs in the blood and ticks of Indian long-eared hedgehogs captured from various environments. A total of 64 hedgehogs were captured to check for tick infestation. Tick species were identified morphologically and molecularly including ITS-2 region amplification by PCR and subsequent Sanger sequencing. Moreover, TBPs were identified in both ticks and the blood of hedgehogs through conventional PCR and sequencing, targeting the regions msp1b, 18S rRNA, and cytb for Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., and Theileria spp., respectively. Out of 64 hedgehogs, 16 (25%) were found to be infested with ticks. Morphological and molecular analysis identified all 109 collected ticks as Rhipicephalus turanicus. Only one hedgehog (6.2%) was infected with A. marginale. From the tick samples, 3.7% tested positive for Theileria lestoquardi, 2.8% for Anaplasma marginale, and another 2.8% for Babesia bigemina. This study provides critical insights into circulating TBPs in this region and what possible role hedgehogs might play in disease maintenance for Anaplasma marginale while identifying multiple pathogens that are of concern to human and animal health.

Description of Rhipicephalus hibericus sp. nov. (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae), a species of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus group in southwestern Europe

We describe all the life stages of Rhipicephalus hibericus n. sp., provide the types, and present molecular support for a new species of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato group, present in southwestern Europe, that has been historically confused with Rhipicephalus turanicus Pomerantzev, 1940. A new name is proposed for this taxon because it was impossible to ascribe to types of already described species in the group, deposited for more than 100 years in natural history institutions. The males have a dorsum showing deep and coarse punctations (absent in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu stricto) and adanal plates with large punctations (absent in R. sanguineus s.s.); the tail of the spiracular plate is as wide as the closest festoon (half the width in R. sanguineus s.s.). Females have large punctations in dorsal fields, a wide spiracular plate, and a "V" shaped genital opening; such a combination of characters cannot be found in other species of the group. Immatures are described from specimens collected on hosts (Rodentia and Eulipotyphla). Both larvae and nymphs are markedly smaller than R. sanguineus s.s. Nymphs display long, backward-projected auriculae; larvae are almost half the size of R. sanguineus s.s. The new species can hybridize with R. sanguineus s.s. in laboratory colonies producing an unfertile F2, laying brown and dry eggs that did not hatch. Phylogenetic analysis of partial coxI gene sequences placed R. hibericus in a well-supported clade with other sequences of R. sanguineus s.l. from Portugal, as a sister clade of R. sanguineus s.s. The new species does not belong to the R. turanicus group of species. Both 12S and 16S partial gene sequences were not as precise in the correct phylogenetic placement of R. hibericus, in part probably due to the existence of erroneously identified sequences in GenBank©. This description, together with the previous reinstatement of Rhipicephalus secundus and Rhipicephalus rutilus, and the description of the neotypes of R. sanguineus s.s. should help researchers to adequately identify their collections. Our findings demonstrate that R. turanicus is absent in southwestern Europe. Old collections should be re-examined to provide the actual range of the new species.

Evaluating Different Factors That Affect the Nesting Patterns of European and Algerian Hedgehogs in Urban and Suburban Environments

Small undisturbed patches in urban environments serve as important refuges for wildlife, e.g., hedgehogs. However, the effects of urbanization on certain biological aspects, like nesting behavior, remain unknown. We captured and tracked the movement of 30 male hedgehogs of two co-existing species: Algerian and European hedgehogs. The study was carried out in Valencia (eastern Spain). We distinguished six macrohabitats and five subhabitats. We analyzed the proportions of the macro and subhabitats where nests were found to calculate a resource selection function and fit GLMs. Hedgehog nests tended to concentrate in areas with little human disturbance and were built in hedges or under bush-like vegetation. We did not find any significant differences between species or other considered groups. We noted that nests were distributed around hard-to-find suitable habitat patches. We even recorded a case of two males from both species simultaneously using one nest. Our results suggest that hedgehog conservation in urban environments can be improved by the correct management of forest patches by conserving bush-like vegetation and improving the connectivity between suitable patches with ecological corridors.