Evidence: African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) husbandry, health & nutrition
Source: Europe PMC (Europe PubMed Central) REST search — first-hand peer-reviewed abstract records, pulled 2026-08-01. Queries covered husbandry, health/disease/parasitology, and nutrition/feeding for Atelerix albiventris. The cluster returns 12 representative studies with abstracts below. Abstract text is verbatim from source; each study is traceable by PMID.
Studies
- PMID 42459538 (2026, Frontiers in veterinary science) — Zoonotic dermatophyte <i>Trichophyton erinacei</i> in pet hedgehogs: sampling methodology and further insight into genetic diversity.. Abstract (opening): <i>Trichophyton erinace</i>i is a zoonotic dermatophyte, typically associated with hedgehogs. While the European hedgehog (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>) is a frequent host in the wild, the African pygmy hedgehog (<i>Atelerix albiventris</i>) is increasingly affected in captive settings. Despite carrying the fungus, most hedgehogs remain asymptomatic, which complicates early detection and increases the risk of transmission to other animals or humans. This study addresses the difficulty of sampling from asymptomatic individuals and the need for understanding the genetic variation of <i>T. erinacei</i>. Three non-invasive sampling techniques (interdental brushes, cotton swabs, and toothbrushes) were used to collect skin samples from 103 captive <i>A. albiventris</i> individuals in the Czech Republic and Romania. Other materials, such as spines or crusts, were also collected. Samples were cultured on selective media (SDA with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol), and isolates were identified by ITS rDNA region sequencing. Genetic variation was assessed using multilocus microsatellite typing. Out of 103 sampled African pygmy hedgehogs, 24.3% (25/103) tested positive for <i>T. erinacei</i>, of which 76.0% (19/25) were asymptomatic. No other dermatophyte species were isolated from tested hedgehogs. Among different sampling techniques, interdental brushes showed the highest detection rate (80%), significantly outperforming cotton swabs and toothbrushes. ITS rDNA region sequencing and multilocus microsatellite typing revealed no genetic variation among the isolates, indicating low intraspecific diversity in <i>T. erinacei</i> from captive <i>A. albiventris</i>. Our results emphasize the importance of reliable, non-invasive sampling methods for early diagnosis, particularly in the context of rising numbers of hedgehogs kept as pets. It also demonstrates the superior effectiveness of interdental brushes over other sampling techniques for detecting <i>T. erinacei</i> in hedgehogs, offering a practical improvement for pathogen surveillance. The absence of genetic variability suggests the circulation of a single clone M1 in the captive population.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42459538/
- PMID 42433018 (2026, Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)) — Xenotransfusion in an African Pygmy Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) Using Whole Blood From a Domestic Cat (Felis catus).. Abstract (opening): <h4>Objective</h4>To describe the diagnosis, management, and outcome of a hedgehog that received a xenotransfusion of type A feline whole blood for treatment of severe anemia.<h4>Case summary</h4>A 1-year-old female hedgehog was presented for hematuria and hyporexia. A firm, immobile mass was palpated within the caudal abdomen in the region of the uterus and urinary bladder. Focal ultrasound of the reproductive tract was suspicious for pathology within the uterus. The hedgehog was anemic with a PCV of 14% and total plasma protein concentration of 60 g/L (6.0 g/dL). A modified slide crossmatch using whole blood from the hedgehog and a feline donor was performed, showing no signs of agglutination. After this, a xenotransfusion of feline blood was performed before and during ovariohysterectomy surgery. The hedgehog recovered from surgery and anesthesia well. Subsequent PCVs were 14% at 48 h and 7% at 72 h posttransfusion. Complete blood count showed a strongly regenerative anemia. Clinically, the hedgehog had pink mucous membranes and was maintaining energy levels and appetite. The hedgehog was discharged 4 days after initial presentation. The PCV was 44% at the hedgehog's 2-week recheck examination.<h4>New or unique information</h4>This is the first report of a xenotransfusion of feline whole blood to a hedgehog. Although the hedgehog in this case had a positive outcome, xenotransfusion should be used with caution and only when species-specific blood is not available. Blood transfusions can be a life-saving procedure in small mammals and should be considered for immediate, short-term stabilization in severely anemic hedgehogs.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42433018/
- PMID 42489465 (2026, Microbiology resource announcements) — Complete genome sequence of two skunk adenovirus strains identified in African pygmy hedgehogs in Germany.. Abstract (opening): We report complete genome sequences of two skunk adenovirus 1 (SkAdV-1) strains from African pygmy hedgehogs (<i>Atelerix albiventris</i>) in Germany. The genome sequences of 31,786 bp and 31,788 bp contain five indel sites previously noted in an SkAdV-1 strain from this host species but not from other species.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42489465/
- PMID 42450773 (2026, Animals : an open access journal from MDPI) — Association Between Dietary Regimen and Renal Function Parameters in African Pygmy Hedgehogs (<i>Atelerix albiventris</i>).. Abstract (opening): African pygmy hedgehogs (APHs) are increasingly kept as companion animals, yet evidence-based nutritional recommendations for this species remain limited. Commercial cat or kitten diets are still commonly used by owners and veterinarians in practice, despite being formulated exclusively for domestic cats rather than for hedgehogs with omnivorous-insectivorous feeding habits. This cross-sectional study evaluated the association between dietary regimen and serum biochemical parameters associated with renal function in APHs. Blood samples were collected from 19 client-owned APHs aged 12-68 months: 10 hedgehogs fed a commercial kitten diet and 9 fed a commercial APH-specific diet. Serum concentrations of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, phosphorus, and calcium were measured, and the nutritional composition of the two diets was compared using manufacturer declarations and targeted laboratory analyses. Hedgehogs fed the commercial kitten diet had significantly higher serum blood urea nitrogen (<i>p</i> = 0.0133), creatinine (<i>p</i> = 0.0279), and phosphorus (<i>p</i> = 0.0279) concentrations than those fed the APH-specific diet, whereas serum calcium concentrations did not differ significantly (<i>p</i> = 0.3846). These differences occurred despite similar dietary phosphorus content, while the commercial kitten diet had higher declared fat and lower fiber content. The findings suggest that dietary regimen may be associated with alterations in renal biochemical profiles in APHs and support the use of species-appropriate diets in clinical practice.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42450773/
- PMID 42121763 (2026, Animals : an open access journal from MDPI) — Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation.. Abstract (opening): In recent years, especially following the COVID-19 outbreak, wildlife studies and publications have focused on the roles of free-living animal species in the spillover of pathogens towards humans, livestock, and pets [...].
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42121763/
- PMID 42107876 (2026, Topics in companion animal medicine) — Retrospective analysis of reproductive tract disease incidence in intact female African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris).. Abstract (opening): <h4>Background</h4>Reproductive tract disease is frequently reported in African pygmy hedgehogs, yet the true prevalence and spectrum of lesions remain unclear. Clinical information is often limited to case description, and mild or chronic pathologies may be underdiagnosed.<h4>Objectives</h4>To determine the prevalence, types, and clinical characteristics of reproductive tract disease in female African pygmy hedgehogs, and to evaluate the diagnostic value of haematology, plasma biochemistry, vaginal cytology, ultrasonography, histopathology, and microbiological culture.<h4>Methods</h4>A retrospective study was performed of 53 female hedgehogs presented between May 2O22 and June 2024. Three previously sterilised animals were excluded. Clinical signs, diagnostic findings, and histopathological results were analysed descriptively.<h4>Results</h4>Reproductive tract disease was identified in 32% (16/50) of intact females. The median age of affected animals was 3.5 years. Uterine masses were detected in 56% (9/16) of affected females. Neoplasia was confirmed in 55% (5/9) cases of these presented uterine masses(stromal sarcoma, leiomyosarcoma an including endometrial polyp). Chronic superficial endometritis and cystic endometrial hyperplasia occurred in 50% (8/16)of cases. Bacterial culture was positive in 44% of the obtained samples (4/9), predominantly Escherichia coli, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Proteus vulgaris. Common haematological abnormalities included monocytosis and anaemia. Ultrasonography reliably detected uterine enlargement, fluid accumulation, cystic changes, and mass-like lesions. Vaginal cytology provided supportive evidence of inflammation.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Reproductive tract disease in female African pygmy hedgehogs presents a broader range of inflammatory and hyperplastic conditions than previously recognised. Ultrasonography, haematology, and vaginal cytology offer valuable diagnostic information, and preventive sterilisation should be considered to reduce the risk of reproductive pathology.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42107876/
- PMID 42111335 (2026, One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)) — Sequencing of Betacoronavirus erinacei from faeces of pet hedgehogs demonstrates a continuity of MERS-CoV like viruses in European and Eurasian hedgehog species.. Abstract (opening): Hedgehogs have been recently identified as carriers of <i>Betacoronavirus erinacei</i> (also known as Erinaceus coronavirus, EriCoV) a virus closely related to <i>B. cameli</i> responsible for human Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), raising questions about the risk of hedgehog-to-human transmission and suggesting the need for coronavirus (CoV) surveillance in hedgehogs. This study investigated the presence of CoVs in fecal samples of hedgehogs kept as pets in Italy in 2021-2022. A pan-CoV nested RT-PCR targeting the RdRp gene was used for screening and positive samples were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. Two (6.2%) out of 30 hedgehogs analyzed were positive for <i>B. erinacei</i> represented by 2/3 (66.7%) long eared hedgehog <i>(Hemiechinus auritus</i>) while all the 27 tested African pygmy hedgehog <i>(Atelerix albiventris</i>) were negative. Whole genome sequence obtained from one <i>B. erinacei</i>-positive sample showed closest homology (85.7%) with <i>B. erinacei</i> previously detected in <i>Erinaceus</i> sp. from Eastern Russia. Phylogeny showed that the virus of this study formed a separate clade in the cluster with other <i>B. erinacei</i> identified in Europe and European Russia and did not cluster with other <i>B. erinacei</i> identified in China in Amur hedgehog (<i>E. amurensis)</i>. No recombination events were observed. Analysis of the Spike protein revealed the presence of six out of the 11 key receptor binding residues, including two out of the three critical residues recently identified for the binding of <i>Erinaceus europaeus</i> receptor APN and <i>B. erinacei</i>. Results of this study suggest the presence of a long-eared hedgehog-specific strain of <i>B. erinacei</i>. Overall results support the circulation of coronaviruses along a phylogenetic continuum among different species of hedgehogs and geographic locations, suggesting the need for further CoV surveillance in both domestic and wild animals. There is also a need for studies on the affinity of EriCoV with the <i>H. auritus</i> APN specific receptor to confirm its involvement in the viral entry process.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42111335/
- PMID 42484231 (2026, Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria) — Health profile of captive African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) in Paraná State, Southern Brazil.. Abstract (opening): African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) are omnivorous mammals native to sub-Saharan Africa and popular exotic pets worldwide. Although their trade is illegal, it remains common in Brazil. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the health status of hedgehogs from illegal breeding sites, through hematological, biochemical and fecal analyses, skin pathogen screening and molecular assays for hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. and tick-borne pathogens. Real-time PCR assays for hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. (16S rRNA) and conventional PCR assays for Theileria/Babesia spp. (18S rRNA) and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp. (16S rRNA) were applied. No ectoparasites were found at the time of sampling, and hematological and biochemical results indicated a good health status. Candida tropicalis (15/25, 60%), Mucor spp. (12/25, 48%), and Proteus vulgaris (10/25, 40%) were identified in fecal analysis. Skin's microbiological examinations revealed Staphylococcus spp. (25/25 - 100%) and Streptococcus spp. (13/25 - 52%). All samples tested negative for hemotropic Mycoplasma spp., Theileria/Babesia spp., and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp. These findings suggest that the evaluated animals were not infected with harmful pathogens. Understanding their potential role in zoonotic diseases is necessary, particularly in the context of exotic species.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42484231/
- PMID 42304598 (2026, Journal of veterinary dentistry) — Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas in African Pygmy Hedgehogs (<i>Atelerix albiventris</i>): A Case Series and Literature Review.. Abstract (opening): Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) are commonly diagnosed in animals, particularly African pygmy hedgehogs (<i>Atelerix albiventris</i>) (APHs). This study reviews individual hedgehog and tumor characteristics of 17 OSCCs in APHs, as well as 94 OSCC cases currently recorded in the scientific literature, to assess common trends and potential risk factors for these neoplasms in the species. A single detailed case of OSCC is described in the case series; it was submitted for autopsy with cytological and diagnostic imaging data while the remaining cases were routine histological biopsies. Histologically, OSCCs showed infiltrative trabeculae and nests of squamous epithelial cells with variable degrees of keratinization. Bone and nasal invasion were observed in some OSCCs (<i>n</i> = 3), consistent with the literature. Metastasis has been rarely reported and was not recorded in this case series. Inflammation was observed in examined OSCCs, as well as in literature cases, including in the mucosa adjacent to OSCCs, suggesting a potential role of chronic inflammation in tumor promotion. This study highlights that individuals older than 2 years old with chronic stomatitis are potentially at higher risk of developing OSCCs, with the maxilla (66.0%) being the most common site of tumor development. No sex predilection is evident. Recurrence and metastatic potential remain insufficiently documented, warranting further investigation.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42304598/
- PMID 40400115 (2026, Integrative zoology) — Hedgehogs and Angiostrongylus cantonensis: Uncovering the Role of Atelerix albiventris in the Parasite Life Cycle.. Abstract (opening): The ongoing invasion of the zoonotic parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis threatens humans, other mammals, and birds. In Mallorca, neurological disorders associated with this parasite are increasingly reported in free-living Algerian hedgehogs, Atelerix algirus, raising public health concerns. Experimental infections in the related species Atelerix albiventris were conducted to investigate the role of hedgehogs in the life cycle of the parasite. Captive-born hedgehogs were orally inoculated with 200 and 2000 third-stage larvae and monitored for 50 days by behavioral observations, blood tests (hematology and biochemistry), histopathology, and qPCR analysis. Baermann's larvoscopy was used to examine feces starting from day 39 post-infection (DPI). Neuropathological symptoms were only observed in the high-dose group, with larvae detected in brain tissue at 5, 15, 23, and 44 DPI. In contrast, no clinical symptoms or larvae in tissues were found in the low-dose group. Parasite DNA was present in the organs of both groups, but neurological migration occurred exclusively in the high-dose group. Blood tests showed no specific patterns indicating infection. Hedgehogs are aberrant hosts of A. cantonensis, showing severe neuropathological symptoms at high infection levels (2000 third-stage larvae), while lower doses remain asymptomatic. The parasite cannot complete its life cycle in A. albiventris hedgehogs, which do not contribute to its ecological circulation. However, hedgehogs can serve as sentinels for the spread of A. cantonensis in newly invaded regions like Mallorca. Monitoring neurological disease in wildlife could provide valuable insights into the potential spread of this zoonotic parasite in temperate latitudes.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40400115/
- PMID 40905502 (2026, Veterinary pathology) — Lymphoma in European hedgehogs (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>): A case series.. Abstract (opening): Neoplasia is rarely reported in European hedgehogs (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>). A retrospective search was conducted by contacting multiple veterinary diagnostic laboratories for cases of lymphoma in European hedgehogs. This resulted in 5 cases, from which clinical, gross, histologic, and immunophenotyping findings were recorded. Most animals (3/5) had skin masses involving the cervical region, 1 hedgehog had dyspnea and lethargy associated with hydrothorax, whereas another exhibited icterus and lethargy. The primary site of the lymphoma was the skin, particularly the neck or head (3/5), the thymus (1/5), and multicentric (1/5). Immunophenotyping confirmed B-cell lymphoma in 2 skin cases, a T-cell lineage for the thymic and multicentric cases, and undetermined for the remaining skin lymphoma. CD3, PAX5, and CD79a were reliable immunohistochemistry markers in formalin-fixed tissues in European hedgehogs. Although uncommon, lymphoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis for adult European hedgehogs with skin nodules, especially those seeming to originate from the neck.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40905502/
- PMID 41180242 (2025, Frontiers in veterinary science) — Case Report: Metastatic renal giant-cell sarcoma in an African pygmy hedgehog (<i>Atelerix albiventris</i>).. Abstract (opening): The scientific literature referring to tumors in African pygmy hedgehog (<i>Atelerix albiventris</i>) is expanding, enhanced by an increased lifespan under human care. This study compiles the clinical records and pathologic findings in a 2-year and 7-month-old male African pygmy hedgehog (<i>Atelerix albiventris</i>) with a metastatic giant-cell renal sarcoma. Metastases to the lungs, retroperitoneum, lymph nodes, pericardium, and mediastinal adipose tissue were observed. Immunohistochemical assessment with a panel of 11 antibodies (cytokeratins [AE1/AE3, CK19, and CK20], vimentin, thyroid transcription factor-1, thyroglobulin, Ki67, Iba-1, S100, synaptophysin, and CD31) was performed, yielding negative immunolabeling in the neoplastic cells. To the author's knowledge, neoplasms arising from the kidney in African pygmy hedgehogs are rarely reported, and a metastatic giant-cell renal sarcoma has not been previously described. This case report aims to contribute to the growing body of knowledge regarding neoplasm development and help veterinary specialists with the characterization of the pathologic conditions affecting this species.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41180242/
Source text: pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_hedgehog_husbandry_health_2026-08-01.txt (Europe PMC first-hand abstracts, pulled 2026-08-01).