Investigation of Salmonella types and its antibiotic resistance profile and determination of parasite carrier in free-living hedgehogs in Istanbul, Türkiye

Hedgehogs, which are kept as pets worldwide, are prohibited from being sold or kept as pets in Türkiye. The aim of the study was to investigate Salmonella and endo-parasite carriage in hedgehogs and to determine the antibacterial resistance profiles of isolated Salmonella agents. Free-range hedgehogs living in parks and gardens of Istanbul that were brought to veterinary clinics by animal lovers for check-up and treatment were used for sampling. Thirty faecal samples were taken from the animals. For bacteriological examinations, samples were seeded on selective media, and then the isolates were identified by conventional methods as Salmonella spp. Identification and antibiotic susceptibilities of the isolates were determined by the BD Phoenix Automated Microbiology System. All faecal samples were also investigated by PCR for Salmonella spp. specific gene regions. The aminoglycoside and quinolone resistance profiles of the strains were analysed by PCR. On parasitological examination, samples were analysed for parasites’ eggs, oocysts, and larvae. Two Salmonella isolates were determined as Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium), whose antigenic formula was 4,5,12:i:1,2. The isolates were phenotypically resistant to ciprofloxacin but did not harbour any of the genes examined. Out of 30 faecal samples, 19 (63.3%) were positive for one or more genera of parasites. The hedgehogs were infected with the species of Capillaria spp. (60%), Crenosoma spp. (13.3%), Eimeria spp. (10%) and Acanthocephala spp. (6.6%). This study is the first report of Salmonella carrier and internal parasite fauna of hedgehogs in Istanbul, Türkiye.