Serological and molecular screening for zoonotic pathogens among wild hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) from urban areas of Poland

doi:10.2478/jvetres-2025-0022

. 2025 Apr 4;69(2):219-226.

doi: 10.2478/jvetres-2025-0022. eCollection 2025 Jun.

Serological and molecular screening for zoonotic pathogens among wild hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) from urban areas of Poland

Hanna Turlewicz-Podbielska¹, Jakub Jędrzej Ruszkowski², Maria Pisarek³, Łukasz Adaszek³, Małgorzata Pomorska-Mól¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Preclinical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animals Sciences, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznań, Poland.
² Department of Animal Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animals Sciences, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-625 Poznań, Poland.
³ Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-612 Lublin, Poland.

PMID: 40552021
PMCID: PMC12182941
DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2025-0022

Serological and molecular screening for zoonotic pathogens among wild hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) from urban areas of Poland

Hanna Turlewicz-Podbielska et al. J Vet Res. 2025.

. 2025 Apr 4;69(2):219-226.

doi: 10.2478/jvetres-2025-0022. eCollection 2025 Jun.

Authors

Hanna Turlewicz-Podbielska¹, Jakub Jędrzej Ruszkowski², Maria Pisarek³, Łukasz Adaszek³, Małgorzata Pomorska-Mól¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Preclinical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animals Sciences, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznań, Poland.
² Department of Animal Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animals Sciences, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-625 Poznań, Poland.
³ Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-612 Lublin, Poland.

PMID: 40552021
PMCID: PMC12182941
DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2025-0022

Abstract

Introduction: Wild European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) can carry various pathogens potentially harmful to humans. This study was conducted to determine the occurrence of selected zoonotic pathogens in European hedgehogs from urban areas of central-western Poland.

Material and methods: Sixty-nine samples (43 of sera and 26 spleens) were collected from 54 hedgehogs brought to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Poznań, Poland, between June 2020 and September 2023. Antibodies against Coxiella burnetii, hepatitis E virus genotype 3, Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spp. in serum samples were determined using commercial ELISA tests. A PCR was used to evaluate the prevalence of Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp. and Leptospira spp. genetic material in spleens.

Results: The genetic material of Anaplasma phagocytophilum was found in 18 out of 26 spleens (69.23%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 50.01-83.50), and the genetic material of Rickettsia helvetica in 4 out of these 26 (15.38 %; 95% CI: 6.15-33.53). All Rickettsia-positive spleens were also positive for Anaplasma spp. None of the other pathogens or antibodies against them were detected.

Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence of some zoonotic pathogens in urban hedgehog populations and their potential impact on public health and urban biodiversity.

Keywords: Anaplasma spp.; Rickettsia spp.; hedgehogs; synurbic species; zoonotic pathogens.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interests Statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article.

References

1. Atif F.A., Mehnaz S., Qamar M.F., Roheen T., Sajid M.S., Ehtisham-Ul-Haque S., Kashif M., Ben Said M. Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Control of Canine Infectious Cyclic Thrombocytopenia and Granulocytic Anaplasmosis: Emerging Diseases of Veterinary and Public Health Significance Vet Sci. 2021;8:312. doi: 10.3390/vetsci8120312. : . , , , doi: . - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Balti G., Galon C., Derghal M., Souguir H., Guerbouj S., Rhim A., Chemkhi J., Guizani I., Bouattour A., Moutailler S., M'ghirbi Y. Atelerix algirus, the North African Hedgehog: Suitable Wild Host for Infected Ticks and Fleas and Reservoir of Vector-Borne Pathogens in Tunisia Pathogens. 2021;10:953. doi: 10.3390/pathogens10080953. : . , , , doi: . - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Baptista C.J., Seixas F., Gonzalo-Orden J.M., Oliveira P.A. Can the European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) Be a Sentinel for One Health Concerns? Biologics. 2021;1:61. doi: 10.3390/biologics1010004. : , , –. , doi: . - DOI
1. Barradas P.F., Mesquita J.R., Mateus T.L., Ferreira P., Amorim I., Gärtner F., de Sousa R. Molecular detection of Rickettsia spp in ticks and fleas collected from rescued hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Portugal. Exp Appl Acarol. 2021;83:449. doi: 10.1007/s10493-021-00600-y. : . , –. , doi: . - DOI - PubMed
1. Battilani M., De Arcangeli S., Balboni A., Dondi F. Genetic diversity and molecular epidemiology of Anaplasma Infect Genet Evol. 2017;49:195. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.01.021. : . , , –. , doi: . - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources
- PubMed Central
Miscellaneous
- NCI CPTAC Assay Portal

[1] Atif F.A., Mehnaz S., Qamar M.F., Roheen T., Sajid M.S., Ehtisham-Ul-Haque S., Kashif M., Ben Said M. Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Control of Canine Infectious Cyclic Thrombocytopenia and Granulocytic Anaplasmosis: Emerging Diseases of Veterinary and Public Health Significance Vet Sci. 2021;8:312. doi: 10.3390/vetsci8120312. : . , , , doi: . - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[2] Atif F.A., Mehnaz S., Qamar M.F., Roheen T., Sajid M.S., Ehtisham-Ul-Haque S., Kashif M., Ben Said M. Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Control of Canine Infectious Cyclic Thrombocytopenia and Granulocytic Anaplasmosis: Emerging Diseases of Veterinary and Public Health Significance Vet Sci. 2021;8:312. doi: 10.3390/vetsci8120312. : . , , , doi: . - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[3] Balti G., Galon C., Derghal M., Souguir H., Guerbouj S., Rhim A., Chemkhi J., Guizani I., Bouattour A., Moutailler S., M'ghirbi Y. Atelerix algirus, the North African Hedgehog: Suitable Wild Host for Infected Ticks and Fleas and Reservoir of Vector-Borne Pathogens in Tunisia Pathogens. 2021;10:953. doi: 10.3390/pathogens10080953. : . , , , doi: . - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Balti G., Galon C., Derghal M., Souguir H., Guerbouj S., Rhim A., Chemkhi J., Guizani I., Bouattour A., Moutailler S., M'ghirbi Y. Atelerix algirus, the North African Hedgehog: Suitable Wild Host for Infected Ticks and Fleas and Reservoir of Vector-Borne Pathogens in Tunisia Pathogens. 2021;10:953. doi: 10.3390/pathogens10080953. : . , , , doi: . - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Baptista C.J., Seixas F., Gonzalo-Orden J.M., Oliveira P.A. Can the European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) Be a Sentinel for One Health Concerns? Biologics. 2021;1:61. doi: 10.3390/biologics1010004. : , , –. , doi: . - DOI

[6] Baptista C.J., Seixas F., Gonzalo-Orden J.M., Oliveira P.A. Can the European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) Be a Sentinel for One Health Concerns? Biologics. 2021;1:61. doi: 10.3390/biologics1010004. : , , –. , doi: . - DOI

[7] Barradas P.F., Mesquita J.R., Mateus T.L., Ferreira P., Amorim I., Gärtner F., de Sousa R. Molecular detection of Rickettsia spp in ticks and fleas collected from rescued hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Portugal. Exp Appl Acarol. 2021;83:449. doi: 10.1007/s10493-021-00600-y. : . , –. , doi: . - DOI - PubMed

[8] Barradas P.F., Mesquita J.R., Mateus T.L., Ferreira P., Amorim I., Gärtner F., de Sousa R. Molecular detection of Rickettsia spp in ticks and fleas collected from rescued hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Portugal. Exp Appl Acarol. 2021;83:449. doi: 10.1007/s10493-021-00600-y. : . , –. , doi: . - DOI - PubMed

[9] Battilani M., De Arcangeli S., Balboni A., Dondi F. Genetic diversity and molecular epidemiology of Anaplasma Infect Genet Evol. 2017;49:195. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.01.021. : . , , –. , doi: . - DOI - PubMed

[10] Battilani M., De Arcangeli S., Balboni A., Dondi F. Genetic diversity and molecular epidemiology of Anaplasma Infect Genet Evol. 2017;49:195. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.01.021. : . , , –. , doi: . - DOI - PubMed

Save citation to file

Email citation

Add to Collections

Add to My Bibliography

Your saved search

Create a file for external citation management software

Your RSS Feed

Serological and molecular screening for zoonotic pathogens among wild hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) from urban areas of Poland

Affiliations

Serological and molecular screening for zoonotic pathogens among wild hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) from urban areas of Poland

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Similar articles

References

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Miscellaneous