Flea control in wild, rescued hedgehogs - a therapeutic approach with nitenpyram (CapstarReg.).

摘要

There is an increasing number of sick and young hedgehogs presented to veterinarians each fall. These wild hedgehogs are often heavily infested with parasites. Helminths in the respiratory tract and hedgehog fleas (Archaeopsylla erinacei) are the most common parasites found. Treatment of flea infestations in hedgehogs is difficult because they do not tolerate several antiparasiticides. This study was carried out in a private hedgehog rescue station keeping young hedgehogs for hibernation. Aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of nitenpyram (CapstarReg.) for the control of fleas in hedgehogs. 95 hedgehogs weighing between 151 to 395 g with heavy flea infestations of predominantly Archaeopsylla erinacei were treated orally with nitenpyram (CapstarReg.). Animals with a body weight from 150 to 300 g were treated with half a tablet containing 5.7 mg of nitenpyram, animals heavier than 300 g received one tablet containing 11.4 mg of nitenpyram. In almost all treated patients nitenpyram showed 100% efficacy within 30 minutes and the treatment was well tolerated..