Skip to main content
Log in

Arthroderma benhamiae infection in the Central African hedgehog, Erinaceus albiventris, and a report of a human case

  • Published:
Mycopathologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The occurrence of ringworm caused by Arthroderma benhamiae Ajello & Cheng is reported in Central African hedgehogs (Erinaceus albiventris Wagner), caught near Nairobi, Kenya.

Of the 45 animals examined, 10 were positive on culture, including a litter of 4 young. Six infected animals were without lesions, and 2 littermates showed scaly areas similar to those described in E. europaeus L. caused by Trichophyton erinacei (Smith & Marples) Padhye & Carmichael. No correlation with mite infestation or mange lesions was evident. Ringworm-like lesions were found which were repeatedly negative on culture. A human infection by A. benhamiae was contracted from the hedgehogs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brockie, R. E. 1958. Ecology of the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in New Zealand. M.Sc. Thesis, Victoria University of Wellington, N.Z.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collinge, Carol, Phyllis M. Stockdale & M. W. Gregory. 1974. A mycological study of Arthroderma benhamiae from the Central African hedgehog. Sabouraudia 12, 227–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corbet, G. B. 1968. in: Preliminary Identification Manual for African Mammals (Section 12) Ed: J. Meester. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eddowes, A. 1898. A case of ringworm contracted from a hedgehog. Trans. Derm. Soc. Great Britain Ireland 4, 32–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • English, Mary P. 1964. The ecology of some keratinophilic fungi associated with hedgehogs. N.Z. Med. J. 63, 586–591.

    Google Scholar 

  • Englisch, Mary P. 1967. Ringworm in wild mammals. J. Zool. Lond. 153, 556–561.

    Google Scholar 

  • English, Mary P., C. D. Evans, M. Hewitt & R. P. Warin. 1962. ‘Hedgehog ringworm’. Br. Med. J. 1, 149–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • English, Mary P., J. M. B. Smith & F. M. Rush-Munro. 1964. Hedgehog ringworm in the North Island of New Zealand. N. Z. Med. J. 63, 40–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • La Touche, C. J. & R. A. Forster. 1963. Spontaneous infection in the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) by a variety of Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Robin) Blanchard. Sabouraudia 2, 143–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leney, P. M. 1967. Hedgehog ringworm. Br. Med. J. 1, 427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marais, V. & D. L. Olivier. 1965. Isolation of Trichophyton mentagrophytes from a porcupine. Sabouraudia 4, 49–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, P. & Mary P. English. 1969. Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei in British hedgehogs. Sabouraudia 7, 122–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, P. & Mary P. English. 1973. Transmission and course of Trichophyton erinacei infections in British hedgehogs. Sabouraudia 11, 42–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quaife, R. A. 1966. Human infection due to the hedgehog fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei. J. Clin. Path. 19, 177–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. M. B. & Mary J. Marples. 1963. Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei. Sabouraudia 3, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gregory, M.W., English, M.P. Arthroderma benhamiae infection in the Central African hedgehog, Erinaceus albiventris, and a report of a human case. Mycopathologia 55, 143–147 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00491498

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00491498

Keywords

Navigation