Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Human sore throat bacteria identified in hedgehog
Hedghog
Scientists believe that the opportunities for direct and indirect contact between wild hedgehogs and humans could be a possible explanation for the finding.
S. pyogenes discovered in wild animal for first time

The human sore throat pathogen, Streptococcis pyogenes, has been discovered in a wild hedgehog for the first time.

Scientists at the Zoological Society of London carried out a post-mortem examination on a free-living hedgehog found dead in northern England in June 2014.  The examination confirmed the presence of S.pyogenes, which can cause sort throat or rash-like symptoms in people.

The strain was identified as emm 28, which can cause both superficial and invasive infections in humans and is similar to other strains of S.pyogenes. This is is the first time that S.pyogenes has been found in a hedgehog, or in any other free-living wild animal.

Scientists determined that the bacterium caused the death of the hedgehog, having likely entered the body via a tooth root abscess before spreading to other tissues.

The research, published in EcoHealth, suggests that the case may have resulted from the transfer of infection from human to hedgehog via antrhoponotic infection - a human disease which has been transferred to other animals - or reverse zoonosis.

It is believed that the opportunities for direct and indirect contact between wild hedgehogs and humans could be a possible explanation for the finding.

Author Lydia Franklinos, a wildlife veterinarian within ZSL’s Institute of Zoology, said: “While it is more common to hear about zoonotic diseases originating from wildlife, we rarely encounter disease transferring from human to animal, as appears to be the case here.

“While this is an isolated case, we need to be vigilant, and continue to monitor the threat to wildlife from humans and our activities. The hedgehog is in decline in the UK, and I would encourage further research on the pathogens of hedgehogs to better understand disease threats to the species in order to help conservation efforts.”

The post-mortem was carried out as part of Garden Wildlife Health - a project which aims to monitor the health of, and identify any disease threats, to wildlife in Britain.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Free event for the global unowned cat community

News Story 1
 International Cat Care (ICatCare) has announced a free, virtual event dedicated to caring for unowned cats to explore new ideas and ways of working.

iCatConnect 2025 takes place on Wednesday, 12 November, and is open to everyone working and volunteering with unowned cats. It will include a line-up of 12 international cat welfare experts, who will consider the bigger picture of unowned cats and explore practical, effective, and inclusive solutions.

Following the session, attendees can put their questions to the experts and share their views. They will also hear frontline challenges and real-world case studies shared by contributors working in shelters, TNR, community cat programmes, and veterinary teams from around the world. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue reaches Wales for first time in 2025

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has revealed that bluetongue has been confirmed in Wales for the first time in 2025.

In their latest statistics, APHA records a total of 109 cases of BTV-3 or BTV-8 in Great Britain in the 2025-2026 vector season.

The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain this season is 107. This includes 103 cases within the England restricted zone and four cases in Wales.

There has also been two cases of BTV-8, which were both in Cornwall.

As a result of the cases in Wales, a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is enforced in Monmouthshire. Animals can move freely under general license within the England Restricted Zone, however animals with suspected bluetongue must stay on their holding.

All premises testing positive for blue tongue can be viewed on this map.