en تخصصي Special پژوهشي Research <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:120%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:120%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">ERIC-PCR technique is a simple, fast and cost-effective genotyping technology to detect different types of Escherichia coli species and genetic fingerprinting. The present study was designed and carried out with the aim of determining the phylogenetic group and clonal relationship of <i>Escherichia coli</i> isolates obtained from hedgehogs.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:120%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><a name="_1fob9te"></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:120%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">In the present study, 20 hedgehog feces samples were collected in Kerman city within 1 month and immediately sent to the veterinary faculty laboratory in less than 24 hours, and with the help of culture methods, one <i>Escherichia coli</i> isolate was obtained from each sample. After DNA extraction, PCR test was performed to trace the phylogenetic group of <i>Escherichia coli</i> isolates and to check the clonal relationship of the isolates by ERIC-PCR method.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:120%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:120%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">In this study, among 100 isolates, 43 isolates belonged to phylogenetic group A, 52 isolates belonged to a phylogenetic group B1, 3 isolates belonged to group D, and 2 isolates were undetermined. Also, based on ERIC-PCR, these 100 isolates were grouped into 31 ERIC types with more than 98% similarity. Also, the strains in the porcupine population studied, which were related to a specific and limited geographical area, have a significant similarity to each other. <i>Escherichia coli</i> strains isolated from hedgehogs, have been shown to be mostly non-pathogenic in nature.</span></span></span></span></span></span> Escherichia coli, Phylogeny, ERIC-PCR, Kerman, Iran. 17 27 http://injvr.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-53-3&slc_lang=en&sid=1 M. Bayani shahri mbs1370and1991@gmail.com 10031947532846001243 10031947532846001243 No Graduated from Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman R. Ghanbarpour ghanbar@uk.ac.ir 10031947532846001244 10031947532846001244 No Faculty member, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman M. Jajarmi Maziar.jajarmi@uk.ac.ir 10031947532846001245 10031947532846001245 No Faculty member, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman M. Savari majid.savari@ut.ac.ir 10031947532846001246 10031947532846001246 Yes Semnan University, Faculty of Shahmirzad College of Veterinary Medicine