Non-tuberculous Mycobacterial Granulomatous Dermatitis in an African Pygmy Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris)

Summary A 2-year-old female African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) with a cutaneous nodular lesion on the dorsal surface of the right forelimb was presented for clinical examination. Histopathological findings included granulomatous dermatitis with extensive necrosis. Long and slender acid-fast bacilli were seen within the cytoplasm of macrophages and in extracellular spaces. Bacteriological culture of skin revealed acid-fast bacilli and non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection was confirmed by gene sequencing and identity analysis using the BLAST tool. To our knowledge, this is the first report of non-tuberculous granulomatous dermatitis in hedgehogs.