Mammarenaviruses are noteworthy zoonotic pathogens, and the main reservoirs are rodent species. We report the detection of a novel mammarenavirus in 6/183 (3.3%) in necropsied European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) collected in Italy. The whole-genome sequence obtained for 4 strains revealed a marked genetic diversity but a monophyletic origin.
Keywords: Arenaviridae; European hedgehog; Italy; mammarenaviruses; viruses; zoonoses.