Simple item page
 

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

cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0002-4509-8852
cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0002-1256-0107
cris.virtual.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
cris.virtual.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
cris.virtual.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid702c3b7e-b378-411f-bc9b-510fe73f43da
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid0320b45e-cc98-4201-88f2-602b5dfa2a20
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid71dccebf-e765-40b9-87bb-e98ab3b7299c
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
dc.abstract.enIntroduction 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.
dc.affiliationWydział Medycyny Weterynaryjnej i Nauk o Zwierzętach
dc.affiliation.instituteKatedra Nauk Przedklinicznych i Chorób Zakaźnych
dc.affiliation.instituteKatedra Fizjologii, Biochemii i Biostruktury Zwierząt
dc.contributor.authorTurlewicz-Podbielska, Hanna
dc.contributor.authorRuszkowski, Jakub Jędrzej
dc.contributor.authorPisarek, Maria
dc.contributor.authorAdaszek, Łukasz
dc.contributor.authorPomorska-Mól, Małgorzata
dc.date.access2025-06-10
dc.date.accessioned2025-06-10T10:14:55Z
dc.date.available2025-06-10T10:14:55Z
dc.date.copyright2025-04-04
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstract<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Introduction</jats:title> <jats:p>Wild European hedgehogs (<jats:italic>Erinaceus europaeus</jats:italic>) 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.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Material and Methods</jats:title> <jats:p>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 <jats:italic>Coxiella burnetii</jats:italic>, hepatitis E virus genotype 3, <jats:italic>Toxoplasma gondii</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Trichinella</jats:italic> spp. in serum samples were determined using commercial ELISA tests. A PCR was used to evaluate the prevalence of <jats:italic>Anaplasma</jats:italic> spp., <jats:italic>Ehrlichia</jats:italic> spp., <jats:italic>Borrelia</jats:italic> spp., <jats:italic>Rickettsia</jats:italic> spp. and <jats:italic>Leptospira</jats:italic> spp. genetic material in spleens.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>The genetic material of <jats:italic>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</jats:italic> was found in 18 out of 26 spleens (69.23%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 50.01–83.50), and the genetic material of <jats:italic>Rickettsia helvetica</jats:italic> in 4 out of these 26 (15.38 %; 95% CI: 6.15–33.53). All <jats:italic>Rickettsia</jats:italic>-positive spleens were also positive for <jats:italic>Anaplasma</jats:italic> spp. None of the other pathogens or antibodies against them were detected.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title> <jats:p>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.</jats:p> </jats:sec>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.bibliographybibliogr.
dc.description.financepublication_act
dc.description.financecost3000,00
dc.description.if1,5
dc.description.number2
dc.description.points140
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume69
dc.identifier.doi10.2478/jvetres-2025-0022
dc.identifier.eissn2450-8608
dc.identifier.issn2450-7393
dc.identifier.urihttps://sciencerep.up.poznan.pl/handle/item/2822
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://sciendo.com/pl/article/10.2478/jvetres-2025-0022
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationveterinary science
dc.relation.ispartofJournal of Veterinary Research (Poland)
dc.relation.pages219-226
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.sciencecloudsend
dc.share.typeOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.enAnaplasma
dc.subject.enhedgehogs
dc.subject.enRickettsia
dc.subject.ensynurbic species
dc.subject.enzoonotic pathogens
dc.titleSerological and molecular screening for zoonotic pathogens among wild hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) from urban areas of Poland
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typePublication