Comparison of wet mount, Mini-FLOTAC and Midi Parasep® coprological techniques for the detection of Crenosoma striatum, Capillaria spp. and Brachylaemus erinacei in European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)

Parasitism, particularly <i>Crenosoma striatum</i> infection, can cause significant morbidity and mortality in European hedgehogs (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>). Wet mount is a coprological technique, which despite its relatively low sensitivity, is widely used in practice to detect the presence of endoparasites. The aims of this study were to compare the sensitivities of three coprological techniques and to determine a sensitive, yet practical method that could improve the detection of <i>C. striatum</i> infections in rehabilitating hedgehogs. Faecal samples were collected during autumn from 56 hedgehogs, and each analysed by wet mount, Mini-FLOTAC and Midi Parasep® (A sedimentation by centrifugation technique) to identify <i>C. striatum</i> first stage larvae (L1), <i>Capillaria</i> spp. eggs and <i>Brachylaemus erinacei</i> eggs. Mini-FLOTAC (Se = 98.0%) was significantly more sensitive than both wet mount (Se = 66.7%) and Midi Parasep® (Se = 58.8%) in detecting <i>C. striatum</i> L1 (p < 0.001). Midi Parasep® detected more samples as positive for <i>Capillaria</i> spp. (47/53) and <i>Brachylaemus erinacei eggs</i> (6/53) than Mini-FLOTAC (39/53; 3/53) though is impractical for use in a wildlife rehabilitation setting. The risk of obtaining false negative results when attempting to detect <i>C. striatum</i> L1 and <i>Capillaria</i> spp. eggs in hedgehog faeces could be reduced by using Mini-FLOTAC as an alternative to or in conjunction with wet mount; demonstrating that Mini-FLOTAC is highly sensitive in detection of <i>C. striatum</i> L1 and that it could provide an improved basis for management of crenosomosis in practice.