Evidence: African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) toxicology
Source: Europe PMC (Europe PubMed Central) REST search — first-hand peer-reviewed abstract records, pulled 2026-08-01. Queries covered toxicology, poisoning, intoxication, heavy metals, mycotoxins and (for relevant taxa) envenomation for Atelerix albiventris. The cluster returns 6 representative studies with abstracts below. Abstract text is verbatim from source; each study is traceable by PMID.
Studies
- PMID 40513437 (2025, The Science of the total environment) — *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* In Belgium, all 128 wild European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) tested positive for at least one anticoagulant rodenticide (AR), with brodifacoum up to 6743 ng/g liver; AR prevalence in slug prey was higher in residential (30%) than agricultural/forest/park areas (3–7%), tracking human population density. A six-week subclinical brodifacoum dosing of captive African pygmy hedgehogs produced renal-medulla hemorrhages in 2/9, indicating sublethal effects. The authors urge study of long-term and ecosystem-wide AR impacts.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40513437/
- PMID 40284808 (2025, Veterinary sciences) — Mycological Survey and Antifungal Susceptibility Evaluation of <i>Candida albicans</i> Isolates in European Hedgehogs (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>).. Abstract (opening): European hedgehogs are an important reservoir for many pathogens of health interest. Since hedgehogs live in close contact with humans, potential zoonotic fungi raise significant public health concerns, especially in areas with a high hedgehog density. From 2020 to 2023, 134 hedgehogs were surveyed for potential zoonotic fungi. Non-invasive methods were used, such as brushing live animals with a sterile toothbrush and taking oral and rectal swabs from deceased ones (86 animals). Dermatophytes were cultured on Dermasel agar and identified using molecular tools, while yeasts were isolated on Sabouraud agar with chloramphenicol and determined using Candida Chromogenic agar (MicroBiolDiagnostici<sup>®</sup>, Cagliari, Italy) and MALDI-TOF (Microflex LT Smart Biotyper with FlexControlBiotyper 3.4 software, Bruker Daltonics, Bremen, Germany). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined for <i>Candida albicans</i> isolates. Dermatophytes were found in just one hedgehog (0.8%, 95% C.I.: 0-0.04), identified as <i>Paraphyton mirabile</i>. Yeasts were detected in 22 of 86 hedgehogs (25.6%, 95% C.I.: 16.4-34.8), with 25 isolates obtained, including 21 <i>Candida albicans</i>, 2 <i>Yarrowia lipolytica</i>, 1 <i>Rhodotorula mucilaginosa</i>, and 1 <i>Meyerozyma guilliermondii</i>. All <i>C. albicans</i> isolates showed a high susceptibility to the antimycotic panel tested. Monitoring zoonotic fungi harbored by European hedgehogs, as well as raising public awareness on the topic, is of great importance for public health. *[CC BY — Open Access, verbatim with attribution.]*
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40284808/
- PMID 39020251 (2024, Medical mycology) — *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* A Portuguese study tested 110 hedgehogs (106 European Erinaceus europaeus, 1 long-eared Hemiechinus auritus, 3 African pygmy Atelerix albiventris) for Enterocytozoon bieneusi microsporidia by PCR, finding 22.7% overall positive (24/106 in E. europaeus, 1/1 in H. auritus, 0/3 in A. albiventris) and three novel genotypes in potentially zoonotic Group 1. The authors highlight hedgehogs as possible reservoirs and call for transmission-risk research.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39020251/
- PMID 38275786 (2024, Animals : an open access journal from MDPI) — A Thorny Tale of Parasites: Screening for Enteric Protozoan Parasites in Hedgehogs from Portugal.. Abstract (opening): Enteric protozoan parasites, such as <i>Blastocystis</i> sp., <i>Balantioides coli</i>, <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp., and <i>Giardia duodenalis</i>, may have implications for both animal and human health.Transmitted through the fecal-oral route, these parasites cause symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss. This study investigated the presence of these enteric protozoan parasites and genetically characterized them in hedgehogs from Portugal. A total of 110 hedgehog stool samples were collected. Molecular detection methods showed an overall occurrence of protozoa in 1.82% (2/110 95% CI: 0.22-6.41) of hedgehogs, with <i>Blastocystis</i> being found in one hedgehog and <i>Cryptosporidium</i> being found in another. No evidence for the presence of <i>B. coli</i> or <i>G. duodenalis</i> was found. This study suggests that there is a need to stay aware of hedgehogs as potential hosts of enteric protozoa. Ongoing research and surveillance efforts are recommended to explore practical prevention and control strategies. The results contribute to the limited knowledge of these parasites in Portuguese hedgehog populations and underscore their potential relevance to both veterinary and public health. *[CC BY — Open Access, verbatim with attribution.]*
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38275786/
- PMID 37889680 (2023, Animals : an open access journal from MDPI) — High Prevalence of Microsporidia in the North African Hedgehog (<i>Atelerix algirus</i>) in the Canary Islands, Spain.. Abstract (opening): Microsporidia are unicellular eukaryotic obligate intracellular parasites with a wide range of hosts reported worldwide; however, little is known about the epidemiological data on microsporidia infection in animals from the Canary Islands. Since data on microsporidia infection in hedgehog species are scarce, the aim of this study was to analyze the presence and identity of microsporidia in a group of North African hedgehogs (<i>Atelerix algirus</i>) using microscopic and molecular methods. From December 2020 to September 2021, a total of 36 fecal samples were collected from naturally deceased hedgehogs from Tenerife and Gran Canaria. All samples showed spore-compatible structures (100%; 36/36) under microscopic analysis, of which 61.1% (22/36) were amplified via the nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the partial sequence of the 16S rRNA gene, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and the partial sequence of the 5.8S rRNA gene. After Sanger sequencing and ITS analysis, <i>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</i> was detected in 47.2% (17/36) of the samples, identifying two novel genotypes (AAE1 and AAE2), followed by the detection of an undetermined species in 8.3% (3/36) and <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> genotype I in 5.6% (2/36) of the samples. This study constitutes the first report of microsporidia species in <i>Atelerix algirus</i> worldwide, highlighting the high prevalence of zoonotic species. *[CC BY — Open Access, verbatim with attribution.]*
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37889680/
- PMID 37363249 (2023, One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)) — High zoonotic potential and heavy environmental burden of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. and <i>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</i> in farmed and pet African pygmy hedgehogs (<i>Atelerix albiventris</i>).. Abstract (opening): African pygmy hedgehogs (<i>Atelerix albiventris</i>) are widely farmed in southern China and Japan for medicinal materials and as pets. However, little is known about the prevalence, zoonotic potential, and environmental burden of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp., <i>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</i> and <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> in these animals. In this study, 380 fecal samples were collected from farmed and pet African pygmy hedgehogs in Guangdong of China, and analyzed for these pathogens by PCR and DNA sequencing. Overall, the detection rates of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp., <i>E. bieneusi</i> and <i>G. duodenalis</i> were 35.5%, 70.0% and 0, respectively. By living condition, the highest detection rates of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. (61.5%) and <i>E. bieneusi</i> (100.0%) were both obtained from animals kept in the cave, which could be due to the overcrowding and poor hygiene conditions. Two <i>Cryptosporidium</i> species were identified, including <i>C. erinacei</i> (<i>n</i> = 22) and <i>Cryptosporidium</i> horse genotype (<i>n</i> = 113). The <i>C. erinacei</i> isolates belonged to a new subtype family (XIIIb), which has been identified in a patient with cryptosporidiosis recently. The horse genotype isolates are of a known subtype VIbA13, which was previously identified in a pet store employee in care of hedgehogs with diarrhea. Eleven genotypes of the zoonotic Group 1 were identified in <i>E. bieneusi</i>, with the known genotype SCR05 previously detected in pet rabbits being dominant (235/266, 88.3%). In longitudinal monitoring of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> infection in 11 naturally infected African pygmy hedgehogs, the oocyst shedding intensity decreased gradually from the mean oocysts per gram of feces of ∼6 logs to ∼2 logs over 42 days. The high intensity and long duration of oocyst shedding could lead to heavy environmental contamination and increase the potential for zoonotic transmission of the pathogens. Results of the study suggest that zoonotic <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. and <i>E. bieneusi</i> are common in farmed and pet African pygmy hedgehogs. Hygiene and One Health measures should be implemented by pet owners and farmers to prevent zoonotic transmission and environmental contamination of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. and <i>E. bieneusi</i>. *[CC BY — Open Access, verbatim with attribution.]*
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37363249/
Source text: pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_hedgehog_toxicology_2026-08-01.txt (Europe PMC first-hand abstracts, pulled 2026-08-01).
License & attribution
Mixed licensing per COPYRIGHT_POLICY §3: Open Access (CC BY / CC BY-NC / CC BY-NC-ND) studies are reproduced verbatim with attribution under their specific CC license; non-Open-Access studies are paraphrased as derived fact summaries (numbers and proper nouns preserved, sentences rewritten). Original records:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40513437/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40284808/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39020251/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38275786/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37889680/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37363249/
Cleaning removal log (2026-08-05, codebuddy)
PMID 40093406 — Fluralaner mammalian systematic review; no hedgehog named PMID 40122832 — Ghana traditional-medicine animal trade (chameleons/lions/crocodiles) — off-target PMID 39239737 — Guinea pig (Trixacarus caviae) mite infestation — different species PMID 36670754 — Mobile-zoo policy review; generic, no hedgehog PMID 35689258 — Antimicrobial use in minor species (hedgehog not listed) — off-target PMID 35892524 — Wildlife mycoses review; generic, no hedgehog