Detection and characterisation of multiple herpesviruses in free-living Western European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)

Abstract

Sporadic cases of herpesvirus-associated disease have been reported in the Western European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), but there has been little surveillance for, nor any sequence characterisation of, herpesviruses in this species to date. A nested pan-herpesvirus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting a region of the DNA polymerase gene was used to test 129 Western European hedgehogs from across Great Britain, 2011–2016; 59 (46%) of which were PCR-positive. In addition, samples from two previously published cases of fatal herpesvirus infection in E. europaeus, from Sweden and Switzerland, were positive using this PCR. No statistically significant relationship was detected between PCR result and sex, age class, year or season for the British hedgehogs tested. In most PCR-positive animals (19/22) from which liver and brain were tested separately, both were PCR-positive. Sanger sequencing of amplicons from 59 British hedgehogs revealed at least two novel viruses within the Gammaherpesvirinae. Thirteen of these hedgehogs had liver and brain tissues screened for microscopic abnormalities, of which one had non-suppurative meningoencephalitis, but neither intranuclear inclusion bodies nor herpesvirus virions (on electron microscopical examination) were identified. Sequencing of the whole DNA polymerase gene confirmed two genetically different Human alphaherpesvirus 1 viruses in the Swedish and Swiss hedgehogs.

Widespread Disease in Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) Caused by Toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans

“…Despite presence of parasites related to skin disease (fl y maggots; myiasis, n = 5; Sarcoptes scabiei, n = 1; and Caparinia spp., (n = 1) and pathogens related to systemic disease (herpesvirus, n = 2 [3] and lungworms; Crenosoma striatum, n = 2), we found no consistent evidence for other causes of primary disease. Although evidence is insuffi cient to conclusively attribute the observed lesions to C. ulcerans, its widespread and high-level occurrence in diseased male hedgehogs is a serious concern, given frequent exposure of humans to hedgehogs and because C. ulcerans is the predominant cause of human diphtheria in many countries in Europe (4).…”

Comprehensive Surveillance of Virus Infection among Captive African Pygmy Hedgehogs in Japan

“…Although alpha and gamma herpesvirus infections have been reported in hedgehogs previously [ 17 ], this is the first report of a betaherpesvirus infecting hedgehogs. Since we only examined a partial sequence of the DNA polymerase gene of AAHeV, additional sequences and/or virus isolation are required for further characterization of the detected virus, including its pathogenicity, transmission cycle, and growth kinetics.…”