Hazardous Hedgehogs
The African pygmy hedgehog has recently become a fashionable exotic pet in the United States, particularly in the South. As illustrated by the three cases reported, this mammalian insectivore can be a carrier of fungi that cause human dermatomycoses. The African pygmy hedgehog has also been associated with contact urticaria and human salmonellosis.

Eleven species of hedgehogs exist, the most numerous of which are the European hedgehog, the African pygmy hedgehog, the Pruner's (Cape) hedgehog, and the Egyptian (long-eared) hedgehog. Atelerix albiventris, the African pygmy hedgehog, has become a popular exotic household pet, with some 8,000 to 10,000 such animals presently estimated to be within the United States. Although relatively easy to maintain, African pygmy hedgehogs do pose some unique risks for their human owners. Three cases of hedgehog-related dermatophytosis are reported, and other problems associated with hedgehogs are briefly reviewed.