Antimicrobial-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus</i> spp. Harbored by Hedgehogs (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>) in Central Italy
Background/Objectives: European hedgehogs (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>) are present in areas where there is human activity; therefore, they can be a source of pathogens for other animals and humans. Methods: Eighteen hedgehog carcasses were collected and analyzed for <i>Staphylococc...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Antibiotics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/7/725 |
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| Summary: | Background/Objectives: European hedgehogs (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>) are present in areas where there is human activity; therefore, they can be a source of pathogens for other animals and humans. Methods: Eighteen hedgehog carcasses were collected and analyzed for <i>Staphylococcus</i> spp. Isolated strains were typed and analyzed for exfoliative toxins genes and the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of antimicrobial resistance. Results: A total of 54 strains were isolated and typed as <i>S. aureus</i>, <i>S. xylosus</i>, <i>S. sciuri</i>, <i>S. pseudintermedius</i>, <i>S. simulans</i>, <i>S. chromogenes</i>, <i>S. epidermidis</i>, <i>S. hyicus</i>, and <i>S. lentus</i>. No strains had the <i>eta</i> and <i>etb</i> genes coding for exfoliative toxins. Overall, 39/54 (72.20%) isolates showed phenotypic resistance to at least one antimicrobial and 21/54 (38.80%) showed more than one resistance. The lowest efficacy was observed for erythromycin, with 40/54 (74.08%) strains classified as intermediate and 6/54 (11.11%) classified as resistant. Among the 29 isolates shown to be penicillin-resistant, 11 (37.93%) were oxacillin-resistant, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Among the 54 staphylococcal strains, 2 (3.70%) were resistant to vancomycin, both with an MIC value equal to the maximum concentration of the antibiotic tested (256 μg/mL) and 2 (3.70%) had an intermediate resistance profile with an 8 μg/mL MIC value. No strains had the genes <i>vanA</i> and <i>vanB</i>. Two of the 29 (6.90%) penicillin-resistant strains had the <i>blaZ</i> gene; 8 (27.13%) strains had the <i>mecA</i> gene. Overall, 2/54 (3.70%) isolates were classified as extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and 9/54 (16.66%) were classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR). Conclusions: Hedgehogs can harbor antimicrobial-resistant staphylococci and can be sources of these bacteria for other animals and humans. They can also serve as bioindicators of the pathogens and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria circulating in a given habitat. |
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| ISSN: | 2079-6382 |