Extended-Spectrum β-Lactam Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli in Wild European Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europeus) Living in Populated Areas

Simple Summary:& nbsp;The alarming emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in human and veterinary medicine has activated awareness for monitoring the levels of AMR pollution in the environment and wildlife. European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are common wild species habiting urban areas in Europe. In this study, the occurrence and distribution of extended-spectrum beta-lactam (ESBL) resistant enterobacteria and AMR genes were assessed in wild European hedgehogs in Catalonia, NE Spain. The results showed that 36.8% of the animals were detected as carriers of beta-lactamase/carbapenemase resistance genes, with a special occurrence of human nosocomial bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Citrobacter freundii. In addition, more than half of the enterobacteria presented a multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype and 31% of the isolates had an extended XDR profile. No differences in the spatial distribution of animals with AMR genes were observed within the study region. The results of this study suggest that the close contact with human areas predispose the transmission of AMR genes to wild hedgehogs because they either inhabit and/or feed in an anthropogenic environment. In conclusion, hedgehogs could be good sentinels or bioindicators of AMR environmental pollution, especially in highly populated areas with high human activity. Wildlife has been suggested to be a good sentinel of environmental health because of its close interaction with human populations, domestic animals, and natural ecosystems. The alarming emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in human and veterinary medicine has activated/triggered the awareness of monitoring the levels of AMR pollution in wildlife. European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are common wild species habiting urban areas in Europe. However, there are few studies conducted in hedgehogs as reservoirs of AMR bacteria or genes. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence and distribution of ESBL, AmpC, and carbapenem-resistant enterobacteria and AMR genes in wild European hedgehogs in Catalonia, a densely populated region of NE Spain. A total of 115 hedgehogs admitted at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Torreferrussa were studied. To our knowledge, this is the first description of beta-lactam resistant enterobacteria in wild hedgehogs. Interestingly, 36.8% (42/114) of the animals were detected as carriers of beta-lactamase/carbapenemase resistance genes. Klebsiella spp. (59.6%), a