Isolation and Characterization of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria Found in Free-Ranging Long-Eared Hedgehogs (Erinaceus concolor) From Tabriz, Iran

Hedgehogs, in particular the African Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), are gaining acceptance as a companion animal; however, information regarding their normal bacterial flora is limited. Hedgehogs are common and widely distributed in urban and rural areas in Iran. The objectives of this study were to identify the Gram-negative bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of free-ranging long-eared hedgehogs (Erinaceus concolor) and determine specific antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates. Culture samples were collected from different areas of the GIT, including the small and large intestine, and then submitted for culture. The bacterial sensitivity panel consisted of ampicillin (10 MU/g), amoxicillin-clavulanate (30 MU/g), cefixime (5 MU/g), polymyxin E (10 MU/g), ceftriaxone (30 MU/g), ciprofloxacin (5 MU/g), chloramphenicol (30 MU/g), gentamicin (10 MU/g), kanamycin (30 MU/g), and tetracycline (30 MU/g). A total of 58 Gram-negative bacteria, consisting of 8 genera, were isolated from the long-eared hedgehogs including Escherichia coli (34.5%), Proteus (27.5%), Pseudomonas (12%), Shigella (8.7%), Yersinia (6.9%), Salmonella (6.9%), and Klebsiella (3.4%). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method showed that 24 isolates (41.3%) exhibited resistance phenotypes to multiple antimicrobial agents. Our results indicate that free-ranging long-eared hedgehogs have primarily a Gram-negative population of bacteria in the GIT.