Abstract

VETTER HIEBERT, Joerg Richard; DE VERA FERNANDEZ, María Gabriela  and  DACAK AGUILERA, Diego Augusto. Acariasis in African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) in captivity in Paraguay. Rev. Soc. cient. Parag. [online]. 2020, vol.25, n.1, pp.86-93. ISSN 2617-4731.  https://doi.org/10.32480/rscp.2020-25-1.86-93.

Acariasis is a common problem in African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris), being Caparinia tripilis the main reported infestation. The presence of mites is common and can cause co-infections with bacteria. This work describes two cases of Caparinia tripilis mites in an adult African Pygmy Hedgehogs, a male and a female,diagnosed through clinical and microscopic evaluation of material obtained by scraping. The patients went to the practice as showed intense pruritus and excessive spine loss. The

treatment consisted in subcutaneous ivermectin application at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg. A control was made after 14 days, with another ivermectin application, at the same dose. A complete clinical improvement was observed during the control. The presence of Caparinia tripilis in hedgehogs has been described extensively in the United States, New Zealand, and many countries in Europe, but there is still information missing about Central and South America, making this work a report of its presence in Paraguay.

Keywords : African Pygmy Hedgehog; Four-toed Hedgehog; Atelerix albiventris; Caparinia tripilis; Ivermectin; Paraguay.

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