New host-parasite associations and ectoparasite diversity of Erinaceus roumanicus in Romania

The northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus) is a widely distributed species in Romania, inhabiting diverse environments, including urban areas where contact with humans and domestic animals may facilitate zoonotic pathogen circulation. Despite its ecological significance, data on its ectoparasitic fauna in Romania remain scarce. This study assessed the diversity, prevalence, and infestation patterns of ectoparasites in E. roumanicus, considering habitat type, biogeographical region, and seasonality. A total of 222 hedgehogs from the "Visul Luanei" Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre were examined for ectoparasites. Of these, 53 were included in parasitological analyses, while an additional 15 opportunistic samples contributed to faunistic assessments. Among the 68 tick-infested hedgehogs, 1793 ixodid ticks from 12 species across five genera were identified. The most abundant species were Ixodes ricinus (n = 1289; 71.91 %), I. redikorzevi (8.87 %), Rhipicephalus turanicus (8.81 %), and R. sanguineus (4.69 %). Tick prevalence was 23.87 % (95 % CI: 18.74-29.90 %), peaking in the Steppic region (38.10 %), with highest intensity in natural habitats (77.67 ± 118.08 ticks/host). Peak tick activity occurred in spring (32.63 %). Other identified ectoparasites included fleas (Ctenocephalides canis, Archaeopsylla erinacei s.l.) and mites (Neotrombicula autumnalis, Caparinia tripilis, Demodex erinacei). Notably, three new host-parasite associations were recorded in Romania: R. turanicus, C. tripilis, and D. erinacei. This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of the ectoparasite fauna of E. roumanicus in Romania, emphasizing its role as a reservoir of ectoparasites relevant to veterinary and public health. These findings support using E. roumanicus as a sentinel species for monitoring ectoparasite diversity and zoonotic risks in changing environments.