Parasitism, particularly Crenosoma striatum infection, can cause significant morbidity and mortality in European hedgehogs ( Erinaceus europaeus ). Wet mount is a coprological technique, which despite its relatively low sensitivity, is widely used in practice to detect the presence of endoparasites. The aims of this study were to compare the sensitivities of three coprological techniques and to determine a sensitive, yet practical method that could improve the detection of C. striatum infections in rehabilitating hedgehogs. Faecal samples were collected during autumn from 56 hedgehogs, and each analysed by wet mount, Mini-FLOTAC and Midi Parasep® (A sedimentation by centrifugation technique) to identify C. striatum first stage larvae (L1), Capillaria spp. eggs and Brachylaemus erinacei eggs. Mini-FLOTAC (Se= 98.0%) was significantly more sensitive than both wet mount (Se= 66.7%) and Midi Parasep® (Se= 58.8%) in detecting C. striatum L1 (p<0.001). Midi Parasep® detected more samples as positive for Capillaria spp. (47/53) and Brachylaemus erinacei eggs (6/53) than Mini-FLOTAC (39/53; 3/53) though is impractical for use in a wildlife rehabilitation setting. The risk of obtaining false negative results when attempting to detect C. striatum L1 and Capillaria spp. eggs in hedgehog faeces could be reduced by using Mini-FLOTAC as an alternative to or in conjunction with wet mount; demonstrating that Mini-FLOTAC is highly sensitive in detection of C. striatum L1 and that it could provide an improved basis for management of crenosomosis in practice. • Mini-FLOTAC is a highly sensitive technique for detecting C. striatum L1. • Mini-FLOTAC is more sensitive than wet mount and Mini Parasep for detecting C. striatum. • Management of C. striatum can be improved by using Mini-FLOTAC in practice. • Mini-FLOTAC maybe less beneficial for management of Capillaria spp. and B. erinacei.
Wu et al. (Sun,) studied this question.