• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2012

In February 2010, dermatitis characterized by scale and self-trauma due to puritis was recognized in a group of 22 four-toed hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris Wagner, 1841) from a local pet shop in Gwangju, Korea. Microscopic examinations of skin scraping samples showed numerous mites of all developmental stages. Morphologically, pedicels of adult mites were short and unjointed. Tarsal caruncles were bell-shaped on all legs of males while they were absent on legs III and IV of females. Three long setae on the third pair of legs in both sexes were present. Adult males had posterior end of the abdomen with trilobate projection on each side, each lobe with a long seta. Based on these features, the mites were identified as Caparinia tripilis. This is the first report of caparinic mite infestation in hedgehogs from Korea. Identification keys for the family Psoroptidae and the genus Caparinia are provided.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2001

Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed in a 4.5-year-old male African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris). The patient was referred to Seoul National University, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital after 5 days history of left eye exophthalmos and corneal trauma. He had enlarged upper and lower jaw at the left part of the face and endophthalmitis of the left eye. On radiographic examinations, loss of bone density at the left zygomatic arch and sun-burst type periosteal reaction of left mandible with decreased bone density was noted. Histologically, the neoplastic mass consisted of markedly invasive, cords of nests of squamous epithelial cells. Intercellular bridges and keratin pearl formation were also noted.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.214-217
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• 2013

A 3-year-old intact female hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) was presented for evaluation of mandibular swelling. Fine needle aspiration of swollen mandibular was performed and smears were stained with Romanowsky type stain for cytological evaluation. Smears were highly cellular with predominance of variably shaped keratinized or non keratinized squamous cells with low numbers of spindloid to abnormally elongated cells. Cytologic impression was squamous cell carcinoma. The mass was surgically removed for histological examination. Microscopically tortuous and anastomosing delicate to broad pegs and nests of neoplastic squamous epithelial cells were supported by a moderate collagenous and spindloid fibroblast stroma. Tumor cells had moderate anisocytosis and mild anisokaryosis and range from moderately to well keratinized, with areas of intratumoral acantholysis accompanied by mixed stromal lymphoplasmacytic, neutrophilic inflammation. The mitotic index is 2-3 per high-power field. Tumor cells were expanding the subcutis subjacent to the layer of skeletal muscle and incorporating the osseous tissue fragments. The final diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma. The patient survived three months after surgery without any further medical treatments.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.218-220
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• 2016

A 2-year old female African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) weighing 645 grams was presented with a well circumscribed mass in the subcutaneous of the left shoulder. It measured $2{\times}2cm$ in size and had a hard texture. There were no clinical signs. In a fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytological evaluation, mast cells were identified with Wright-Giemsa stain. Mast cell tumor was confirmed and characterized by surgical sampling and histopathological evaluation. Four stains (hematoxylin-eosin, toluidine blue, periodic acid-Schiff, and Safranin O) were examined in order to find an applicable stain for a mast cell tumor histopathological evaluation in hedgehog. This case showed that periodic acid-Schiff and toluidine blue staining were the most useful for assessment of a mast cell tumor in a hedgehog.