This project aims to describe the features and investigate the cause of a rare syndrome causing facial and limb abnormalities in European Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) across the UK and EU.

Challenge       

Wild European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) numbers are decreasing across Europe and Great Britain partially due to habitat loss and human-associated activities resulting in an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List classification as vulnerable to extinction in Great Britain. Conservation efforts centred on disease surveillance have identified various conditions affecting European Hedgehogs, including but not limited to lungworm, Salmonellosis, Hedgehog Arterivirus 1 and accidental xenobiotic exposure. This increase in investigations into the population decline has uncovered a rare physical and behavioural syndrome affecting British and European individuals. Anecdotally, affected hedgehogs present to wildlife carers as juveniles with a variety of physical distortions and behavioural abnormalities, including a “squashed” face and shortened limbs with a subdued or “dumb” demeanour. At present, between 10-20 individuals from across the UK have been confirmed to possess the physical features as described in the syndrome in addition to numerous retrospective reports of affected individuals being treated in the UK and Europe. Some carers report seeing a handful of individuals over the past decade, the large majority of which are juveniles that are often in poor body condition with heavy parasite burdens, including but not limited to lungworms and ticks. Affected hedgehogs have either been euthanised due to welfare concerns, released back into the wild or cared for within an enclosed garden. As this condition is seen primarily in juveniles with multiple co-morbidities, there is a concern that it may negatively impact their health and chance of survival to adulthood in the wild. To our knowledge, this condition has not been previously described and the cause is unknown but hypothesised to be either genetic in origin or secondary to material toxin exposure during gestation.

Solution      

The overarching aim of this study is to provide a morphological description of the associated physical abnormalities associated with this syndrome and ultimately investigate a potential cause of the disease through the following objectives.

• Raise awareness and increase our understanding of the prevalence and distribution of this syndrome through the implementation of a questionnaire directed at international hedgehog rehabilitators, exotic species veterinarians and wildlife charities.
• Use advanced imaging and detailed post-mortem examinations to compare and contrast the morphologic features of this condition with unaffected individuals.
• Investigate a cause of the disease using samples collected at the time of post-mortem examination.

Impact      

The results will increase our understanding of another factor leading to European hedgehog population declines and provide evidence to support clinical decision making by carers and wildlife vets when presented with an affected individual.

Partners      

This project is in conjunction with Dr. Sophie Lund Rasmussen (WildCRU, University of Oxford.)

Participation

The survey is for hedgehog carers, charities and exotic/wildlife vets.