Different Parasite Faunas in Sympatric Populations of Sister Hedgehog Species in a Secondary Contact Zone

<div><p>Providing descriptive data on parasite diversity and load in sister species is a first step in addressing the role of host-parasite coevolution in the speciation process. In this study we compare the parasite faunas of the closely related hedgehog species <i>Erinaceus europaeus</i> and <i>E. roumanicus</i> from the Czech Republic where both occur in limited sympatry. We examined 109 hedgehogs from 21 localities within this secondary contact zone. Three species of ectoparasites and nine species of endoparasites were recorded. Significantly higher abundances and prevalences were found for <i>Capillaria</i> spp. and <i>Brachylaemus erinacei</i> in <i>E. europaeus</i> compared to <i>E. roumanicus</i> and higher mean infection rates and prevalences for <i>Hymenolepis erinacei</i>, <i>Physaloptera clausa</i> and <i>Nephridiorhynchus major</i> in <i>E. roumanicus</i> compared to <i>E. europaeus</i>. Divergence in the composition of the parasite fauna, except for <i>Capillaria</i> spp., which seem to be very unspecific, may be related to the complicated demography of their hosts connected with Pleistocene climate oscillations and consequent range dynamics. The fact that all parasite species with different abundances in <i>E. europaeus</i> and <i>E. roumanicus</i> belong to intestinal forms indicates a possible diversification of trophic niches between both sister hedgehog species.</p></div