Hidden carriers: multidrug-resistant bacteria in hedgehogs from a wildlife rescue centre

More than half of the isolates (37/69; 54%) were multidrug-resistant, with resistance most frequently observed to ampicillin and nalidixic acid. No cefotaxime-resistant isolates or genes encoding extended-spectrum beta-lactamases or carbapenemases were detected. Whole-genome sequencing revealed substantial genetic diversity, including several sequence types that are commonly associated with human and animal infections, such as ST457, ST162, and ST624. Isolates carried a wide range of resistance determinants, including <i>bla</i> _TEM-1 and <i>qnrB2</i> genes, plasmid replicons, and virulence-associated genes, with phylogroup F showing the highest virulence gene content. Despite the modest sample size, our findings indicate that hedgehogs in rehabilitation settings can act as reservoirs of multidrug-resistant <i>E. coli</i> with diverse genomic backgrounds, contributing to the environmental dissemination of AMR. The presence of sequence types and resistance genes commonly associated with human and veterinary infections further supports the relevance of rehabilitated wildlife to the broader epidemiology of AMR. Enhancing biosafety practices and antimicrobial stewardship in wildlife rescue operations is therefore essential to mitigate zoonotic risks within a One Health framework.