Exotic animals, including hedgehogs, have gained particular popularity in recent years. A rough estimate is that about 40,000 Americans keep them as pets. During this time, hedgehogs can become a source of various diseases, from an allergic reaction in the form of blisters to an injection with needles and a number of zoonotic infections of a bacterial, viral or fungal nature (Table 1). Children, the elderly, and people with immunodeficiency conditions of various origins are at increased risk of infection.

Salmonellosis is one of the main infections carried by hedgehogs. Although most infected animals show symptoms of anorexia, diarrhea and weight loss, asymptomatic carriage can occur in about 28% of cases. Hedgehogs are known to be the main source of Tilene Salmonella infection. Between 1995 and 1997, in Canada, 9 cases of infection caused by this microorganism were recorded in children and 1 in an adult with a history of contact with hedgehogs. Hedgehogs can also be a source of infection with Salmonella typhymurium in humans. As studies have shown, up to 40% of individuals are infected with this strain. A number of microorganisms have been found repeatedly in hedgehogs, but so far there has been no case of human infection with these animals (Y.pestis, Y.pseudotuberculosis, M.marinum, C.psittaci, C.burnetii and T.gondii ).

Hedgehogs are often affected or asymptomatic carriers of dermatophyte fungi, mainly Trychophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei, and they can infect people with them, which leads to the development of microsporia. In addition, Candida albicans has been detected in several individuals, which makes it possible to consider them as a potential source of this infection.

Herpesvirus infection with liver damage has been described in European and African hedgehogs. These animals are also the reservoir of a certain number of viral infections (tick-borne encephalitis virus, Tahyna virus, arbovirus, paramyxovirus).

The prevention of infections in contact with hedgehogs consists in scrupulously respecting the rules of personal hygiene. Owners of hedgehogs, as well as those who work with them, should wash their hands regularly after contact with animals. Hedgehogs must not be in the cooking zones. Veterinarians should provide buyers with complete information on the risk of infection by these animals. If there are signs of a disease in a hedgehog, appropriate treatment should be carried out immediately. In addition, the acquisition of exotic animals should not be encouraged, since their natural habitat is wildlife and, as a rule, they are difficult to tame.