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Rasmussen SL, Pertoldi C, Roslev P, Vorkamp K, Nielsen JL. A Review of the Occurrence of Metals and Xenobiotics in European Hedgehogs ( Erinaceus europaeus). Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:232. [PMID: 38254401 PMCID: PMC10812797 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Monitoring data from several European countries indicate that European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) populations are declining, and research exploring the causes of the decline, including exposure to potentially harmful xenobiotics and metals, may inform conservation initiatives to protect this species in the wild. Hedgehogs are ground-dwelling mammals, feeding on a range of insects, slugs, snails, and earthworms, as well as eggs, live vertebrates, and carrion, including carcasses of apex predator species representing higher levels of the food chain. Consequently, hedgehogs come into close contact with contaminants present in their habitats and prey. This review investigated the studies available on the subject of the occurrence of metals and organic xenobiotics in hedgehogs. This study found that a vast range of different pesticides; persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including organochlorine compounds and brominated flame retardants (BFRs); as well as toxic heavy metals could be detected. Some compounds occurred in lethal concentrations, and some were associated with a potential adverse effect on hedgehog health and survival. Due to their ecology, combined with the opportunity to apply non-invasive sampling techniques using spines as sampling material, we suggest that the European hedgehog is a relevant bioindicator species for monitoring the exposure of terrestrial wildlife to potential toxicants in urban and rural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Lund Rasmussen
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Tubney, Abingdon OX13 5QL, UK
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark; (C.P.); (P.R.); (J.L.N.)
- Linacre College, University of Oxford, St. Cross Road, Oxford OX1 3JA, UK
| | - Cino Pertoldi
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark; (C.P.); (P.R.); (J.L.N.)
- Aalborg Zoo, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Peter Roslev
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark; (C.P.); (P.R.); (J.L.N.)
| | - Katrin Vorkamp
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark;
| | - Jeppe Lund Nielsen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark; (C.P.); (P.R.); (J.L.N.)
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2
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Rasmussen SL, Schrøder BT, Berger A, Sollmann R, Macdonald DW, Pertoldi C, Alstrup AKO. Testing the Impact of Robotic Lawn Mowers on European Hedgehogs ( Erinaceus europaeus) and Designing a Safety Test. Animals (Basel) 2023; 14:122. [PMID: 38200853 PMCID: PMC10777904 DOI: 10.3390/ani14010122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous research has established that some models of robotic lawn mowers are potentially harmful to hedgehogs. As the market for robotic lawn mowers is expanding rapidly and the populations of European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are in decline, it is important to investigate this risk further to understand the potential threat which some robotic lawn mowers may pose to hedgehogs. We tested 19 models of robotic lawn mowers in collision with hedgehog cadavers to measure their effect on hedgehogs. Our results showed that some models of robotic lawn mowers may injure hedgehogs, whereas others are not harmful to them. Apart from one single incidence, all robotic lawn mowers had to physically touch the hedgehog carcasses to detect them. Larger hedgehog cadavers were less likely to be "injured", with height being the most influential measure of size. The firmness of the tested hedgehog cadavers (frozen or thawed) did not influence the outcome of the collision tests. Neither the position of the hedgehog cadavers nor the selected technical features of the lawn mowers affected the probability of injury. Based on the results, we designed a standardised safety test to measure the effect of a specific model of robotic lawn mower on hedgehogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Lund Rasmussen
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon OX13 5QL, UK;
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark;
- Linacre College, University of Oxford, St. Cross Road, Oxford OX1 3JA, UK
| | - Bettina Thuland Schrøder
- Behavioral Ecology Group, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark;
| | - Anne Berger
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Rahel Sollmann
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany;
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon OX13 5QL, UK;
| | - Cino Pertoldi
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark;
- Aalborg Zoo, Mølleparkvej 63, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Aage Kristian Olsen Alstrup
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 165, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark;
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 165, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
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3
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Rasmussen SL, Schrøder BT, Berger A, Macdonald DW, Pertoldi C, Briefer EF, Alstrup AKO. Facing Danger: Exploring Personality and Reactions of European Hedgehogs ( Erinaceus europaeus) towards Robotic Lawn Mowers. Animals (Basel) 2023; 14:2. [PMID: 38200733 PMCID: PMC10777922 DOI: 10.3390/ani14010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The populations of European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) are in decline, and it is essential that research identifies and mitigates the factors causing this. Hedgehogs are increasingly sharing habitats with humans, being exposed to a range of dangers in our backyards. Previous research has documented that some models of robotic lawn mowers can cause harm to hedgehogs. This study explored the personality and behaviour of 50 live hedgehogs when facing an approaching, disarmed robotic lawn mower. By combining a novel arena and novel object test, we found that 27 hedgehogs could be categorised as "shy" and 23 as "bold", independently of sex and age. The encounter tests with a robotic lawn mower showed that the hedgehogs positioned themselves in seven different ways. Personality did not affect their reactions. Adult hedgehogs tended to react in a shyer manner, and the hedgehogs, generally, acted less boldly during their second encounter with the robotic lawn mower. Additionally, our results show that bold individuals reacted in a more unpredictable way, being more behaviourally unstable compared to the shy individuals. This knowledge will be applied in the design of a standardised hedgehog safety test, eventually serving to produce and approve hedgehog-friendly robotic lawn mowers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Lund Rasmussen
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon OX13 5QL, UK;
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark;
- Linacre College, University of Oxford, St. Cross Road, Oxford OX1 3JA, UK
| | - Bettina Thuland Schrøder
- Behavioral Ecology Group, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (B.T.S.); (E.F.B.)
| | - Anne Berger
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany;
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon OX13 5QL, UK;
| | - Cino Pertoldi
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark;
- Aalborg Zoo, Mølleparkvej 63, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Elodie Floriane Briefer
- Behavioral Ecology Group, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (B.T.S.); (E.F.B.)
| | - Aage Kristian Olsen Alstrup
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 165, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark;
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 165, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
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4
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Rasmussen SL, Berg TB, Martens HJ, Jones OR. Anyone Can Get Old-All You Have to Do Is Live Long Enough: Understanding Mortality and Life Expectancy in European Hedgehogs ( Erinaceus europaeus). Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13040626. [PMID: 36830413 PMCID: PMC9951656 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The European hedgehog is in decline, triggering a need to monitor population dynamics to optimise conservation initiatives directed at this species. By counting periosteal growth lines, we determined the age of 388 dead European hedgehogs collected through citizen science in Denmark. The overall mean age was 1.8 years (1.6 years for females and 2.1 years for males), ranging between 0 and 16 years. We constructed life tables showing life expectancies at 2.1 years for females and 2.6 years for males. We discovered that male hedgehogs were more likely to have died in traffic than females, but traffic-related deaths peaked in July for both sexes. A sex difference was detected for non-traffic deaths, as most males died in July, and most females died in September. We created empirical survivorship curves and hazard curves showing that the risk of death for male hedgehogs remains approximately constant with age. In contrast, the risk of death for females increases with age. Most of the collected road-killed individuals died in rural habitats. The degree of inbreeding did not influence longevity. These new insights are important for preparing conservation strategies for the European hedgehog.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Lund Rasmussen
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon OX13 5QL, UK
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark
- Correspondence:
| | - Thomas B. Berg
- Naturama, 30 Dronningemaen, DK-5700 Svendborg, Denmark
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 55 Campusvej, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Helle Jakobe Martens
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, Section for Forest, Nature and Biomass, Copenhagen University, 23 Rolighedsvej, DK-1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Owen R. Jones
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 55 Campusvej, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
- Interdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics (CPop), University of Southern Denmark, 55 Campusvej, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
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5
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Bearman-Brown LE, Baker PJ. An Estimate of the Scale and Composition of the Hedgehog ( Erinaceus europeaus) Rehabilitation Community in Britain and the Channel Islands. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12223139. [PMID: 36428367 PMCID: PMC9686839 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The conservation benefits of wildlife rehabilitation are equivocal, but could be substantial for formerly common species that are declining rapidly but are still commonly admitted to wildlife centres. We used a questionnaire survey to estimate the number of practitioners rehabilitating West European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Britain and the numbers entering hospitals/centres in one benchmark year (2016); practitioners were identified using an internet search and snowball sampling. Overall, 304 rehabilitators were identified: 148 supplied data on their structure, and 174 outlined the number of hedgehogs admitted in 2016. The former comprised 62.6% small (≤50 hedgehogs admitted year−1), 16.7% medium-sized (51−250 yr−1), and 20.7% large (>250 yr−1) hospitals; however, these accounted for 4.8%, 12.4%, and 82.8% of hedgehog admissions, respectively. Small hospitals were less likely to be registered as a charity, have paid staff, have a social media account, to record admissions electronically, or to conduct post-release monitoring. However, they were more likely to operate from their home address and to have been established for ≤5 years. Extrapolations indicate that this rehabilitation community admitted >40,000 hedgehogs in 2016, of which approximately 50% could have been released. These figures suggest that wildlife rehabilitation has potentially been an important factor in the dynamics of hedgehog populations in Britain in the last two decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy E. Bearman-Brown
- Department of Animal & Agriculture, Hartpury University, Gloucestershire GL19 3BE, UK
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-(0)1452702465
| | - Philip J. Baker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AH, UK
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6
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Demographic Expansions and the Emergence of Host Specialization in Genetically Distinct Ecotypes of the Tick-Transmitted Bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0061722. [PMID: 35867580 PMCID: PMC9317897 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00617-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In Europe, genetically distinct ecotypes of the tick-vectored bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum circulate among mammals in three discrete enzootic cycles. To date, potential ecological factors that contributed to the emergence of these divergent ecotypes have been poorly studied. Here, we show that the ecotype that predominantly infects roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is evolutionarily derived. Its divergence from a host generalist ancestor occurred after the last glacial maximum as mammal populations, including roe deer, recolonized the European mainland from southern refugia. We also provide evidence that this host specialist ecotype's effective population size (Ne) has tracked changes in the population of its roe deer host. Specifically, both host and bacterium have undergone substantial increases in Ne over the past 1,500 years. In contrast, we show that while it appears to have undergone a major population expansion starting ~3,500 years ago, in the past 500 years, the contemporary host generalist ecotype has experienced a substantial reduction in genetic diversity levels, possibly as a result of reduced opportunities for transmission between competent hosts. IMPORTANCE The findings of this study reveal specific events important for the evolution of host specialization in a naturally occurring, obligately intracellular bacterial pathogen. Specifically, they show that host range shifts and the emergence of host specialization may occur during periods of population growth in a generalist ancestor. Our results also demonstrate the close correlation between demographic patterns in host and pathogen for a specialist system. These findings have important relevance for understanding the evolution of host range diversity. They may inform future work on host range dynamics, and they provide insights for understanding the emergence of pathogens that have human and veterinary health implications.
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7
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Araguas RM, Vidal O, García S, Sanz N. Genetic diversity and population structure of the Western European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus: conservation status of populations in the Iberian Peninsula. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00235-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAnthropogenic habitat fragmentation and roadkill mortality are considered important threats to European hedgehogs. Habitat fragmentation isolates hedgehog populations and, as a consequence, reduces their genetic diversity and leads the populations to vulnerable situations. The hedgehog populations in the Iberian Peninsula represent the southern limit of the species. We used microsatellite markers to estimate the genetic diversity and population structure of Erinaceus europaeus on the Iberian Peninsula. The obtained results indicated the presence of two differentiated groups, north-western and north-eastern, which coincided with the distribution of the two phylogeographic mitochondrial lineages described in the Peninsula. Moreover, in the north-eastern group, three genetically different clusters (Girona, Central Catalonia and Zoo) were identified. The highest genetic diversity (Hs = 0.696) was detected in the north-western region. Significant genetic differentiation (FST range = 0.072–0.224) was found among the clusters, indicating that these groups are well differentiated and present low gene flow. We concluded that the north-western group is genetically stable, whereas in the north-eastern region, despite some contact among groups, some populations are isolated and vulnerable.
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8
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Larsen J, Raisen CL, Ba X, Sadgrove NJ, Padilla-González GF, Simmonds MSJ, Loncaric I, Kerschner H, Apfalter P, Hartl R, Deplano A, Vandendriessche S, Černá Bolfíková B, Hulva P, Arendrup MC, Hare RK, Barnadas C, Stegger M, Sieber RN, Skov RL, Petersen A, Angen Ø, Rasmussen SL, Espinosa-Gongora C, Aarestrup FM, Lindholm LJ, Nykäsenoja SM, Laurent F, Becker K, Walther B, Kehrenberg C, Cuny C, Layer F, Werner G, Witte W, Stamm I, Moroni P, Jørgensen HJ, de Lencastre H, Cercenado E, García-Garrote F, Börjesson S, Hæggman S, Perreten V, Teale CJ, Waller AS, Pichon B, Curran MD, Ellington MJ, Welch JJ, Peacock SJ, Seilly DJ, Morgan FJE, Parkhill J, Hadjirin NF, Lindsay JA, Holden MTG, Edwards GF, Foster G, Paterson GK, Didelot X, Holmes MA, Harrison EM, Larsen AR. Emergence of methicillin resistance predates the clinical use of antibiotics. Nature 2022; 602:135-141. [PMID: 34987223 PMCID: PMC8810379 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04265-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of antibiotics more than 80 years ago has led to considerable improvements in human and animal health. Although antibiotic resistance in environmental bacteria is ancient, resistance in human pathogens is thought to be a modern phenomenon that is driven by the clinical use of antibiotics1. Here we show that particular lineages of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-a notorious human pathogen-appeared in European hedgehogs in the pre-antibiotic era. Subsequently, these lineages spread within the local hedgehog populations and between hedgehogs and secondary hosts, including livestock and humans. We also demonstrate that the hedgehog dermatophyte Trichophyton erinacei produces two β-lactam antibiotics that provide a natural selective environment in which methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates have an advantage over susceptible isolates. Together, these results suggest that methicillin resistance emerged in the pre-antibiotic era as a co-evolutionary adaptation of S. aureus to the colonization of dermatophyte-infected hedgehogs. The evolution of clinically relevant antibiotic-resistance genes in wild animals and the connectivity of natural, agricultural and human ecosystems demonstrate that the use of a One Health approach is critical for our understanding and management of antibiotic resistance, which is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesper Larsen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Claire L Raisen
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Xiaoliang Ba
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | - Igor Loncaric
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Heidrun Kerschner
- National Reference Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Nosocomial Infections, Institute for Hygiene, Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, Ordensklinikum Linz Elisabethinen, Linz, Austria
| | - Petra Apfalter
- National Reference Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Nosocomial Infections, Institute for Hygiene, Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, Ordensklinikum Linz Elisabethinen, Linz, Austria
| | - Rainer Hartl
- National Reference Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Nosocomial Infections, Institute for Hygiene, Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, Ordensklinikum Linz Elisabethinen, Linz, Austria
| | - Ariane Deplano
- National Reference Centre-Staphylococcus aureus, Department of Microbiology, Hôpital Erasme, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stien Vandendriessche
- National Reference Centre-Staphylococcus aureus, Department of Microbiology, Hôpital Erasme, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Laboratory for Medical Microbiology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Barbora Černá Bolfíková
- Department of Animal Science and Food Processing, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Hulva
- Department of Zoology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Maiken C Arendrup
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rasmus K Hare
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Céline Barnadas
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- European Programme for Public Health Microbiology Training (EUPHEM), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marc Stegger
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Raphael N Sieber
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Robert L Skov
- Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andreas Petersen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Øystein Angen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sophie L Rasmussen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Tubney, UK
| | - Carmen Espinosa-Gongora
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Frank M Aarestrup
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Laura J Lindholm
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Frederic Laurent
- Bacteriology Department and French National Reference Center for Staphylococci, Hospices Civils de Lyon, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Karsten Becker
- Friedrich Loeffler-Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Birgit Walther
- Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Veterinary Faculty, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy (ZBS-4), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Corinna Kehrenberg
- Institute for Veterinary Food Science, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Christiane Cuny
- National Reference Centre for Staphylococci and Enterococci, Division Nosocomial Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistances, Department of Infectious Diseases, Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Franziska Layer
- National Reference Centre for Staphylococci and Enterococci, Division Nosocomial Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistances, Department of Infectious Diseases, Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Guido Werner
- National Reference Centre for Staphylococci and Enterococci, Division Nosocomial Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistances, Department of Infectious Diseases, Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Witte
- National Reference Centre for Staphylococci and Enterococci, Division Nosocomial Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistances, Department of Infectious Diseases, Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany
| | | | - Paolo Moroni
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
- Quality Milk Production Services, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | - Hermínia de Lencastre
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, ITQB NOVA, Oeiras, Portugal
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emilia Cercenado
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Spain
| | - Fernando García-Garrote
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Spain
- Servicio de Microbiología, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Stefan Börjesson
- Department of Animal Health and Antimicrobial Strategies, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden
| | - Sara Hæggman
- Department of Microbiology, Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden
| | - Vincent Perreten
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Andrew S Waller
- Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK
- Intervacc AB, Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bruno Pichon
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Martin D Curran
- Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, UK Health Security Agency, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthew J Ellington
- Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, UK Health Security Agency, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - John J Welch
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - David J Seilly
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fiona J E Morgan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Julian Parkhill
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nazreen F Hadjirin
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jodi A Lindsay
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | | | - Giles F Edwards
- Scottish MRSA Reference Laboratory, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Gavin K Paterson
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, UK
| | - Xavier Didelot
- School of Life Sciences and Department of Statistics, University of Warwick, Warwick, UK
| | - Mark A Holmes
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ewan M Harrison
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anders R Larsen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Rasmussen SL, Hallig J, van Wijk RE, Petersen HH. An investigation of endoparasites and the determinants of parasite infection in European hedgehogs ( Erinaceus europaeus) from Denmark. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2021; 16:217-227. [PMID: 34703761 PMCID: PMC8524744 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The European hedgehog population is declining in Europe. It is therefore important to investigate the causes for the decline and monitor the general health of the species. We investigated the endoparasite occurrence in 299 dead European hedgehogs. Of these, endoparasites were detected in 69% of the individuals tested. We identified Crenosoma striatum, Capillaria aerophila (syn. Eucoleus aerophilus), Capillaria spp., coccidia, Cryptosporidium spp., Brachylaemus spp. and Capillaria hepatica. We also examined the hedgehogs for Giardia spp. and Echinococcus multilocularis but all were negative. Coccidia (n = 7, 2.5%) and Cryptosporidium spp. (n = 14, 5.2%) were only detected in individuals from Zealand, Lolland and Jutland south of the Limfjord. Single cases of Brachylaemus spp. (n = 1, 0.4%) and Capillaria hepatica (n = 1, 1.1%) were exclusively discovered in Jutland south and north of the Limfjord, respectively. These results indicate a regional difference in endoparasite species carried by European hedgehogs in Denmark. This stresses the need for hedgehogs to be cared for locally when admitted to wildlife rehabilitation centres, and to be released within their area of origin, to prevent spread of endoparasite infections among hedgehogs. Additionally, we explored the following possible determinants of parasite infection in the hedgehogs: sex, age, mortality category (in-care, natural and roadkill), infection with MRSA, genetic heterozygosity, month of death, geographical location and habitat type, and found that only age had a statistically significant effect on endoparasite prevalence, as we detected a lower occurrence of endoparasites in juvenile hedgehogs (<1 year) compared to the other age classes. However, pairwise comparisons of geographical regions did show significant differences in endoparasite occurrence: Zealand vs. Jutland south of the Limfjord and Zealand vs. Falster. We conclude that, in line with previous studies of European hedgehogs throughout their range in Western Europe, endoparasite infections are common and a natural part of their ecology. We investigated the endoparasites of 299 dead European hedgehogs from Denmark. We found that 69% (n = 206) of the hedgehogs hosted endoparasites. We detected Crenosoma, Capillaria, Cryptosporidium, Brachylaemus and coccidia spp. We explored possible determinants of overall endoparasite occurrence. We conclude that only age and geography significantly affected endoparasite occurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Lund Rasmussen
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon, OX13 5QL, UK.,Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Jakob Hallig
- Centre for Diagnostics, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 2800, Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Rien E van Wijk
- Van Wijk Eco Research, Bagsværddal 7 st tv, 2880, Bagsværd, Denmark
| | - Heidi Huus Petersen
- Centre for Diagnostics, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 2800, Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
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Noninvasive Genetic Assessment Is an Effective Wildlife Research Tool When Compared with Other Approaches. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12111672. [PMID: 34828277 PMCID: PMC8625682 DOI: 10.3390/genes12111672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Wildlife research has been indispensable for increasing our insight into ecosystem functioning as well as for designing effective conservation measures under the currently high rates of biodiversity loss. Genetic and genomic analyses might be able to yield the same information on, e.g., population size, health, or diet composition as other wildlife research methods, and even provide additional data that would not be possible to obtain by alternative means. Moreover, if DNA is collected non-invasively, this technique has only minimal or no impact on animal welfare. Nevertheless, the implementation rate of noninvasive genetic assessment in wildlife studies has been rather low. This might be caused by the perceived inefficiency of DNA material obtained non-invasively in comparison with DNA obtained from blood or tissues, or poorer performance in comparison with other approaches used in wildlife research. Therefore, the aim of this review was to evaluate the performance of noninvasive genetic assessment in comparison with other methods across different types of wildlife studies. Through a search of three scientific databases, 113 relevant studies were identified, published between the years 1997 and 2020. Overall, most of the studies (94%) reported equivalent or superior performance of noninvasive genetic assessment when compared with either invasive genetic sampling or another research method. It might be also cheaper and more time-efficient than other techniques. In conclusion, noninvasive genetic assessment is a highly effective research approach, whose efficacy and performance are likely to improve even further in the future with the development of optimized protocols.
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Rasmussen SL, Kalliokoski O, Dabelsteen T, Abelson K. An exploratory investigation of glucocorticoids, personality and survival rates in wild and rehabilitated hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Denmark. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:96. [PMID: 34022803 PMCID: PMC8141197 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01816-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The European population of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) is declining. It is therefore essential to optimise conservation initiatives such as the rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs. Wild animals placed in captivity may be prone to chronic stress, potentially causing negative health effects. Therefore, the effects of these rehabilitation efforts should consequently be evaluated. Furthermore, hand-raising orphaned hedgehogs is a laborious and costly task, and it is therefore relevant to document whether they have equal post release survival rates compared to their wild conspecifics. The objectives of this research were therefore to conduct an exploratory study of glucocorticoid levels in hedgehogs from different backgrounds and compare the post release survival of translocated, rehabilitated and wild, juvenile hedgehogs as well as the possible effect on survival of differences in shy or bold behaviour (personality) exhibited by individuals. RESULTS We measured glucocorticoid levels in 43 wild-caught (n = 18) and rehabilitated (n = 25) hedgehogs and compared the post release survival and spatial behaviour of 18 translocated juvenile hedgehogs (eight hand-raised and ten wild) until hibernation. The possible effect on survival of differences in shy or bold behaviour (personality) exhibited by 17 juvenile individuals (seven hand-raised and ten wild) was also examined. Rehabilitated individuals and females had higher levels of faecal corticosterone metabolites compared to wild individuals and males, respectively. Rehabilitated individuals showed higher levels of saliva corticosterone than wild. The personality tests labelled 13 individuals as shy and 11 as bold. Post release survival was 57% for rehabilitated and 50% for wild individuals. Neither background nor personality affected post release survival. Home range measures were 3.54 and 4.85 ha. Mean dispersal length from the release sites was 217 ± 100 m. CONCLUSION The higher levels of corticosterone observed in rehabilitated compared to wild hedgehogs calls for consideration of the duration of admission to wildlife rehabilitation centres to reduce stress levels in the patients. Hand-raised juveniles appear to have the same prospects as wild, and personality does not seem to affect post release survival in hedgehogs, indicating that hand-raising of orphaned juvenile hedgehogs is a relevant contribution to the conservation of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Lund Rasmussen
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon, OX13 5QL, UK. .,Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej, 7H, 9220, Aaborg, Denmark. .,Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Building 12, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
| | - Otto Kalliokoski
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Torben Dabelsteen
- Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Building 12, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Klas Abelson
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
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Łopucki R, Kitowski I, Perlińska-Teresiak M, Klich D. How Is Wildlife Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic? Lockdown Effect on the Road Mortality of Hedgehogs. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:868. [PMID: 33803714 PMCID: PMC8003024 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, wildlife is affected by unprecedented changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper, the lockdown effect on the traffic-related mortality in hedgehogs in an urban area was studied. Comparing the pre-pandemic (2018 and 2019) and pandemic (2020) years, we showed that hedgehog roadkill levels during the lockdown period were over 50% lower (which means a decrease greater than the decrease in road traffic in the same period measured by the number of accidents or the average number of vehicles per day). Based on literature data, we showed that this may mean at least tens of thousands of hedgehogs have survived on a national scale. We report the need to start intensive research on the possible demographic and genetic effects of this unique phenomenon. We also ask how stable the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic will be on wildlife and whether the lockdown (which is an anthropause) may reverse the negative trends in the decline in the number of wild species, including hedgehogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Łopucki
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Ignacy Kitowski
- State School of Higher Education in Chełm, Pocztowa 54, 22-100 Chełm, Poland;
| | - Magdalena Perlińska-Teresiak
- Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Daniel Klich
- Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland;
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Unexpected Gene-Flow in Urban Environments: The Example of the European Hedgehog. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10122315. [PMID: 33297373 PMCID: PMC7762246 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary An urban environment holds many barriers for mammals with limited mobility such as hedgehogs. These barriers appear often unsurmountable (e.g., rivers, highways, fences) and thus hinder contact between hedgehogs, leading to genetic isolation. In our study we tested whether these barriers affect the hedgehog population of urban Berlin, Germany. As Berlin has many of these barriers, we were expecting a strong genetic differentiation among hedgehog populations. However, when we looked at unrelated individuals, we did not see genetic differentiation among populations. The latter was only detected when we included related individuals too, a ‘family clan’ structure that is referred to as gamodemes. We conclude that the high percentage of greenery in Berlin provides sufficient habitat for hedgehogs to maintain connectivity across the city. Abstract We use the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), a mammal with limited mobility, as a model species to study whether the structural matrix of the urban environment has an influence on population genetic structure of such species in the city of Berlin (Germany). Using ten established microsatellite loci we genotyped 143 hedgehogs from numerous sites throughout Berlin. Inclusion of all individuals in the cluster analysis yielded three genetic clusters, likely reflecting spatial associations of kin (larger family groups, known as gamodemes). To examine the potential bias in the cluster analysis caused by closely related individuals, we determined all pairwise relationships and excluded close relatives before repeating the cluster analysis. For this data subset (N = 65) both clustering algorithms applied (Structure, Baps) indicated the presence of a single genetic cluster. These results suggest that the high proportion of green patches in the city of Berlin provides numerous steppingstone habitats potentially linking local subpopulations. Alternatively, translocation of individuals across the city by hedgehog rescue facilities may also explain the existence of only a single cluster. We therefore propose that information about management activities such as releases by animal rescue centres should include location data (as exactly as possible) regarding both the collection and the release site, which can then be used in population genetic studies.
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Impacts and Potential Mitigation of Road Mortality for Hedgehogs in Europe. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10091523. [PMID: 32872180 PMCID: PMC7552162 DOI: 10.3390/ani10091523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Transport infrastructure is a pervasive element in modern landscapes and continues to expand to meet the demands of a growing human population and its associated resource consumption. Road-induced mortality is often thought to be a major contributor to the marked declines of European hedgehog populations. This review synthesizes available evidence on the population-level impacts of road mortality and the threat to population viability for the five hedgehog species in Europe. Local and national studies suggest that road mortality can cause significant depletions in population sizes, predominantly removing adult males. Traffic collisions are a probable cause of fragmentation effects, subsequently undermining ecological processes such as dispersal, as well as the genetic variance and fitness of isolated populations. Further studies are necessary to improve population estimates and explicitly examine the consequences of sex- and age-specific mortality rates. Hedgehogs have been reported to use crossing structures, such as road tunnels, yet evaluations of mitigation measures for population survival probability are largely absent. This highlights the need for robust studies that consider population dynamics and genetics in response to mitigation. In light of ongoing declines of hedgehog populations, it is paramount that applied research is prioritised and integrated into a holistic spatial planning process.
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