Potential drivers of vector-borne pathogens in urban environments: European hedgehogs () in the spotlight.

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are considered as (re-)emerging, but information on the transmission cycles and wildlife reservoirs is often incomplete, particularly with regard to urban areas. The present study investigated blood samples from European hedgehogs () presented at wildlife rehabilitation centres in the region of Hanover. Past exposure to sensu lato (s.l.) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was assessed by serological detection of antibodies, while current infections with spp., , spp., , spp., spp. and were investigated by (q)PCR. Of 539 hedgehogs tested for anti- antibodies, 84.8% (457/539) were seropositive, with a higher seropositivity rate in adult than subadult animals, while anti-TBEV antibodies were detected in one animal only (0.2%; 1/526). By qPCR, 31.2% (168/539) of hedgehog blood samples were positive for spp., 49.7% (261/525) for , 13.0% (68/525) for spp., 8.2% for (43/525), 8.0% (42/525) for spp. and 1.3% (7/525) for spp., while was not detected. While further differentiation of spp. infections was not successful, 63.2% of the infections were assigned to the zoonotic ecotype I and among spp. infections, 50.0% to by ecotype- or species-specific qPCR, respectively. Sequencing revealed the presence of a sp. closely related to in addition to a sp. previously described from hedgehogs, as well as and . These findings show that hedgehogs from rehabilitation centres are valuable sources to identify One Health pathogens in urban areas. The hedgehogs are not only exposed to pathogens from fleas and ticks in urban areas, but they also act as potent amplifiers for these vectors and their pathogens, relevant for citizens and their pets.