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475723 
Journal Article 
Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome in African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix spp.) 
Graesser, D; Spraker, TR; Dressen, P; Garner, MM; T Raymond, J; Terwilliger, G; Kim, J; Madri, JA 
2006 
Yes 
Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine
ISSN: 1557-5063 
15 
1 
59-65 
English 
Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome (WHS) is a progressive paralysis that occurs in approximately 10% of pet African hedgehogs in North America. Clinical signs of WHS begin with mild ataxia, progress to more severe neurologic signs, and ultimately lead to complete paralysis. Progression rate is variable, and the majority of hedgehogs are completely paralyzed by 15 months after the onset of clinical signs. WHS can only be definitely diagnosed by post-mortem examination of tissues from the central nervous system. The characteristic histopathology of WHS is vacuolization of the white matter of the brain and spinal cord, and associated neurogenic muscle atrophy. There is no inflammation of the central nervous system associated with WHS. The etiology of WHS is unknown, but pedigree analysis indicates a familial tendency to the disease. Copyright 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 
Atelerix; hedgehogs; Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome; paralysis; paresis; demyelination; multiple-sclerosis; disease; demyelination; hyponatremia; myelinolysis