title: Ticks and Fleas Infestation on East Hedgehogs (Erinaceus concolor) in Van Province, Eastern Region of Turkey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ixodid ticks (Acari: İxodidae) and fleas (Siphonaptera) are the major vectors of pathogens threatening animals and human healths. The aim of our study was to detect the infestation rates of East Hedgehogs (Erinaceus concolor) with ticks and fleas in Van Province, eastern region of Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined fleas and ticks infestation patterns in 21 hedgehogs, collected from three suburbs with the greater of number gardens. In order to estimate flea and tick infestation of hedgehogs, we immobilized the ectoparasites by treatment the body with a insecticide trichlorphon (Neguvon®-Bayer).
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the hedgehogs, 60 ixodid ticks and 125 fleas were detected. All of the ixodid ticks were Rhipicephalus turanicus and all of the fleas were Archaeopsylla erinacei. Infestation rate for ticks and fleas was detected 66.66 % and 100 %, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We detected ticks (R. turanicus) and fleas (A. erinacei) in hedgehogs at fairly high rates. Since many ticks and fleas species may harbor on hedgehogs and transmit some tick-borne and flea-borne patogens, this results are the important in terms of veterinary and public health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Yüzüncü Yıl University, School of Health, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yaşar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Goz
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Yüzüncü Yıl University, School of Health, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali Bilgin
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Hakkari University, School of Health, Hakkari, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdulalim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Muş Alparslan University, School of Health, Mus, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yalçın
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dicle
keywords: Flea; Hedgehog; Tick; Turkey