The first Cytological evaluation of external ear canal in long eared and brandt hedgehogs

Ear inflammation and infection is a common finding in different species of hedgehogs. Cy-tology is the first and most reliable way to diagnose this disease. However, no study has been done on the normal criteria of ear cytology of any hedgehog species. In this study, for the first time, ear cytology was investigated in two breeds of healthy long-eared and Iranian Brandet hedgehogs, in order to find normal values. 20 long-eared hedgehogs (10 males and 10 females) and 20 Brandt's hedgehogs (10 males and 10 females) were examined in this study. Anesthesia was done with ketamine and diazepam and according to the protocol for hedgehogs. After confirming the complete health of the ears, cytological sampling was done from bothears and three slides were prepared for each ear. Yeasts were the most common findings seen in the ears of the examined hedgehogs. Rod bacteria were not seen in any of the examined slides. Gram-positive cocci, squamous cells without nuclei and squamous cells with nuclei were the most common cases, respectively. Normal ear cytology in hedgehogs is very similar to normal dog and cat ear cytology.