Actinomyces naeslundii infection in an African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris ) with mandibular osteomyelitis and cellulitis

Geriatric Hedgehogs

African hedgehogs are susceptible to aging changes like those of other small exotic mammals. Common conditions of the geriatric hedgehog include heart disease, chronic renal disease, and dental/periodontal disease. Hedgehogs are unique in that they have an unusually short life span and a propensity for neoplasia. These 2 factors make it especially common for exotic animal practitioners to encounter geriatric hedgehogs affected by one of the many conditions outlined in this article.

Oral masses in African pygmy hedgehogs

African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) frequently develop oral neoplasms, and most of these neoplasms are malignant. We characterized oral masses detected in hedgehogs at clinical examination. During a 1-y period, we diagnosed oral cavity masses in 27 privately owned hedgehogs; 16 were female and 11 were male, with ages of 2-7 y (mean: 4.3 y). Eight masses were non-neoplastic and were diagnosed as gingival hyperplasia (GH). Nineteen masses were neoplastic, of which 17 were squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and 2 were mesenchymal tumors (1 spindle cell tumor of probable neural origin, and 1 hemangiosarcoma). The GHs were noninvasive, exophytic, and did not recur after surgical excision. The SCCs were highly invasive tumors that induced facial deformation and were located in the caudal portion of the oral cavity, with 12 of them arising from the right-caudal maxilla. Thus, clinical signs, growth pattern, and anatomic location can be used to suspect a diagnosis of SCC among the other possible diagnoses, such as GH, in this location. However, histopathology is necessary for confirmation. Also, hemangiosarcoma should be considered among the differential diagnoses.

Cytologic diagnosis of diseases of hedgehogs

This article focuses on neoplastic diseases because they may be the most frequent disease processes in captive hedgehogs according to the literature and authors' case files and the most common cases submitted for cytologic diagnosis in these species, particularly the African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris).