Atelerix algirus, the North African Hedgehog: Suitable Wild Host for Infected Ticks and Fleas and Reservoir of Vector-Borne Pathogens in Tunisia.

Ghofrane Balti,Souheila Guerbouj,Moufida Derghal,Ikram Guizani,Ali Bouattour,Jomâa Chemkhi,Hejer Souguir,Sara Moutailler,Clemence Galon,Youmna M’Ghirbi,Adel Rhim

doi:10.3390/pathogens10080953

Abstract

Small wild mammals are an important element in the emergence and transmission of vector-borne pathogens (VBPs). Among these species, hedgehogs have been found to be a reservoir of VBPs and host of arthropod vectors. Surveillance of VBPs in wildlife and their arthropods are crucial in a one health context. We conducted an exploratory study to screen Atelerix algirus hedgehogs and their infesting ticks and fleas for VBPs using a high throughput microfluidic real-time PCR system. Tested biopsies from hedgehogs were found to be naturally infected by Theileria youngi, Hepatozoon sp., Ehrlichia ewingii, Coxiella burnetii, and Candidatus Ehrlichia shimanensis. Similarly, Haemaphysalis erinacei and Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick species were infected by Ehrlichia ewingii, Rickettsia spp., Rickettsia massiliae, Borrelia sp., Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia lusitaniae and Anaplasma sp. Archaeopsylla erinacei fleas were infected by Rickettsia asembonensis, Coxiella burnetii, and Rickettsia massiliae. Co-infections by two and three pathogens were detected in hedgehogs and infesting ticks and fleas. The microfluidic real-time PCR system enabled us not only to detect new and unexpected pathogens, but also to identify co-infections in hedgehogs, ticks, and fleas. We suggest that hedgehogs may play a reservoir role for VBPs in Tunisia and contribute to maintaining enzootic pathogen cycles via arthropod vectors.

Highlights

Wild fauna has always been considered to play a fundamental role in the emergence and re-emergence of zoonotic diseases in nature
The second most common hedgehog species encountered in Tunisia is Paraechinus aethiopicus; it is recorded in the center and the south, with a specialization in the arid and Saharan environment, and can live in sympatry with A. algirus [10,12]
We suggest that A. algirus hedgehogs in Tunisia may be reservoir hosts for these emerging Ehrlichia species

Summary

Introduction

Wild fauna has always been considered to play a fundamental role in the emergence and re-emergence of zoonotic diseases in nature. Major drivers of zoonotic disease emergence and spillover include human activities such as urbanization and landscape modification, which disrupt the ecosystems of wild mammal hosts [2,3,4]. This is true especially for vector-borne diseases (VBDs) that have multi-element transmission cycles and that could be directly or indirectly affected by ecosystem disruptions [5]. In such transmission cycles, wild mammal hosts play a prominent role in the amplification and/or transmission of pathogens; they are suitable hosts for hematophagous arthropods [6,7,8].

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