Dusko Cirovic - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Dusko Cirovic
BMC Ecology and Evolution, 2021
BackgroundIn Europe, golden jackals (Canis aureus) have been expanding their range out of the sou... more BackgroundIn Europe, golden jackals (Canis aureus) have been expanding their range out of the southern and southeastern Balkans towards central Europe continually since the 1960s. Here, we investigated the level of functional diversity at the MHC class IIDLA-DQA1exon 2 in golden jackal populations from Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary. Specifically, we tested for positive selection on and geographic variation at that locus due to adaptation to supposedly regionally varying pathogenic landscapes. To test for potential fitness effects of different protein variants on individual body condition, we used linear modeling of individual body mass indexes (bmi) and accounted for possible age, sex, geographical, and climatic effects. The latter approach was performed, however, only on Serbian individuals with appropriate data.ResultsOnly three differentDLA-DQA1alleles were detected, all coding for different amino-acid sequences. The neutrality tests revealed no significant but positive values; t...
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
The Balkan Peninsula acted as a refugium for many steppic species during the Pleistocene, resulti... more The Balkan Peninsula acted as a refugium for many steppic species during the Pleistocene, resulting in a high genetic variability, which, in some cases, presents a northward decreasing latitudinal gradient. In the present study, we investigate the genetic diversity of the European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) in its Balkan distribution, sampled comprehensively across its entire distribution in Greece (133 samples from 21 localities). These samples are compared with others from Serbia (54 samples from eight localities) and the available published data from its range in Europe (124 sequences from GenBank). Our results show that the genetic diversity of the Greek and Serbian populations is not correlated with a latitudinal gradient. However, when the entire European range is considered, the model that best fits the genetic variation of the species is based on the ‘centre–periphery’ hypothesis. The founder (centre) populations of the species were most probably situated in sou...
Mammalian Biology
Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is considered as a core area for Dinaric-Pindos/Dinaric-Balkan large... more Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is considered as a core area for Dinaric-Pindos/Dinaric-Balkan large carnivore populations. Unfortunately, little is known about their population parameters as well as feeding ecology which represents a serious threat to the management of those populations. This particularly applies to wolves (Canis lupus), which are constantly, throughout the year, under hunting pressure in a large part of the country. This paper represents the first systematic analysis of wolf feeding habits in B&H, providing the first results on wolf-livestock depredation. Results suggest that wild ungulates were the most important source of food, with domestic animals being a secondary source. Other types of prey or food items were of little significance in the wolf diet. The proportion of dog remains were among the highest in Europe. The results of the questionnaire indicate that sheep were the most often depredated (69%) livestock species. Rare usage of guardian dogs and electric fences resulted in increased losses of domestic animals. This paper represents the first contribution to better knowledge and future management plans of the wolf in B&H.
Ecology and Evolution, 2021
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creat ive Commo ns Attri bution License, wh... more This is an open access article under the terms of the Creat ive Commo ns Attri bution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2021 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Dragana Šnjegota and Astrid Vik Stronen contributed equally to this work. 1Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina 2Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia 3Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia 4Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia 5Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
PLOS ONE, 2015
<p>Above diagonal—genetic differentiation calculated from mtDNA haplotype frequencies, belo... more <p>Above diagonal—genetic differentiation calculated from mtDNA haplotype frequencies, below diagonal—genetic differentiation calculated from microsatellites. Significant values (1,000 permutations; <i>P</i> < 0.05) are shown in bold.</p
Conservation Genetics, 2017
The grey wolves of Bosnia and Herzegovina form a subpopulation of the Dinaric-Balkan wolf populat... more The grey wolves of Bosnia and Herzegovina form a subpopulation of the Dinaric-Balkan wolf population and represent one of Europe's least studied wolf populations. Since the Dinaric-Balkan population is a valuable source of genetic diversity for neighboring populations, comprehensive assessments are warranted. We aimed to determine the genetic variability and structure of the grey wolf population from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as estimate levels of gene flow and inbreeding and evaluate genetic signals of a bottleneck. To do this, we analyzed the variability of eighteen microsatellite loci. We found moderately high genetic heterozygosity for wolves from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as described for other Dinaric-Balkan wolf populations. We reveal weak genetic structuring with two genetic clusters identified. Wolves from the eastern part of the region formed a relatively distinct cluster, whereas individuals in the second cluster overlapped quite considerably with admixed individuals. Despite the signal of genetic structure being weak, clustering of individuals from the eastern part of the country extended through all analyses. Thus, this cluster could be considered a separate management unit, perhaps requiring specific conservation attention.
Ecology and Evolution, 2021
Most animals concentrate their movement into certain hours of the day depending on drivers such a... more Most animals concentrate their movement into certain hours of the day depending on drivers such as photoperiod, ambient temperature, inter‐ or intraspecific competition, and predation risk. The main activity periods of many mammal species, especially in human‐dominated landscapes, are commonly set at dusk, dawn, and during nighttime hours. Large carnivores, such as brown bears, often display great flexibility in diel movement patterns throughout their range, and even within populations, striking between individual differences in movement have been demonstrated. Here, we evaluated how seasonality and reproductive class affected diel movement patterns of brown bears of the Dinaric‐Pindos and Carpathian bear populations in Serbia. We analyzed the movement distances and general probability of movement of 13 brown bears (8 males and 5 females) equipped with GPS collars and monitored over 1–3 years. Our analyses revealed that movement distances and probability of bear movement differed be...
Parasitology Research, 2019
Thelazia callipaeda, originally known as an "Oriental eyeworm," is a small nematode parasitizing ... more Thelazia callipaeda, originally known as an "Oriental eyeworm," is a small nematode parasitizing the conjunctival sacs of domestic and wild animals and humans. Previous studies conducted in Serbia have reported the eyeworm infections in dogs, cats, and foxes, as well as in a human patient. As the data regarding thelaziosis from wildlife is still scarce, the aim of this study was to investigate the presence of T. callipaeda in gray wolf (Canis lupus) from Serbia. All collected nematodes were morphologically identified as T. callipaeda males (n = 64) or females (n = 225). Molecular characterization, conducted by PCR amplification followed by sequence analysis of partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1), revealed only haplotype 1 of T. callipaeda. The overall prevalence of thelaziosis was 38.1% (8/21). In all positive animals, both eyes were affected, with a total parasitic load ranging from four to 132 worms per animal. Our results indicate the important epidemiological role of wolves as wildlife reservoirs of T. callipaeda, expanding geographic range of infection, as well as intra-and interspecies contact rates, although the role of other wild carnivore species (i.e., foxes and jackals) should be investigated in future studies.
Biodiversity and Conservation, 2019
Grasslands are one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Spatial prioritization of high... more Grasslands are one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Spatial prioritization of high quality habitat in agricultural landscapes is needed to protect grassland biodiversity. Within this context, we focused on European ground squirrel, a keystone species in steppe and salt steppe ecosystems. Using historical data and habitat field mapping, this study evaluates species distribution and site occupancy along the southern margin of the species range (Serbia) and identifies priority conservation zones in an intensively used landscape. Using gap analysis to evaluate changes in distribution over time and land protection status of the occupied area, we found that the regional species range has been constricted by 70%, and that 43% of mapped areas were outside of conservation networks. We also used a landscape structure model and multivariate analysis to identify the effects of spatial heterogeneity on occupancy. After mapping potential conservation zones with a buffer radius of 4.6 km-the scale with significant effects on occupancy-we identified 19 potential agroecological zones that cover the full range of mapped species habitats. The proposed agroecological zones differ in percentage of occupancy, which was found to increase with the overall landscape heterogeneity. This study contributes to the ongoing effort to broaden the understanding of the ecology and conservation of the European ground squirrel and the grasslands they rely on. Conservation planning should be designed to protect grasslands occupied by ground squirrels, ensure that the agricultural matrix is permeable, and to sustain or enhance landscape heterogeneity.
Acta Veterinaria Hungarica, 2019
Human trichinellosis and Trichinella infection in pigs are both still endemic in the Balkans, inc... more Human trichinellosis and Trichinella infection in pigs are both still endemic in the Balkans, including Serbia. Because of the flow between the sylvatic and the domestic cycle of Trichinella spp., monitoring wildlife has been recommended for the risk assessment of Trichinella spp. infection in swine. We have previously shown the presence of Trichinella infection in wild carnivores including the wolf and the golden jackal, and here we report on Trichinella infection in several other mesocarnivore species. From a total of 469 animals collected between 1994 and 2013, Trichinella larvae were detected in 29 (6.2%, 95% CI = 4.0–8.4) animals, including 14 red foxes (4.7%), 7 wild cats (35%), 5 beech martens (4.8%), 2 pine martens (16.7%), and 1 European badger (6.25%). No Trichinella larvae were detected in the examined specimens of European polecats, steppe polecats and European otters. Species identification of the Trichinella larvae performed for 18 positive samples revealed T. spiralis...
Balkan Journal of Wildlife Research, 2017
Thelazia callipaeda is a vector-borne zoonotic eye worm, parasitizing at the conjunctiva sac of d... more Thelazia callipaeda is a vector-borne zoonotic eye worm, parasitizing at the conjunctiva sac of domestic and wild carnivores (dogs, cats, foxes, and wolves), and humans. Over the last decade, infection with that spirudida is increasingly occurring in dogs and cats in the numerous European countries including the Balkans area. In Serbia we also established infection with this parasites in foxes during 2014. Adult nematodes were retrieved from the conjunctival sacs of 3 animals (2 from Belgrade area and 1 from Braničevo district) hunted during control effect of oral vaccination of foxes against rabies. In total we extracted 23 parasites, 10 males and 13 females. This is the first report of autochthonous cases of T. callipaeda infection in red foxes in Serbia.
Sažetak U sklopu monitoringa dabrova u Hrvatskoj i Srbiji nakon njihove reintrodukcije, evidentir... more Sažetak U sklopu monitoringa dabrova u Hrvatskoj i Srbiji nakon njihove reintrodukcije, evidentiraju se gubici dabrova prema mjestu i vremenu uginuća, uzroku, spolu i starosti jedinke. Podaci se prikupljaju pomoću mreže suradnika, odnosno po evidenciji događaja. Na temelju analize prikupljenih podataka o stradanju dabrova u proteklih 18 godina, uočava se porast stradalih dabrova, posebice nakon porasta populacije i prostornog širenja dabrova, odnosno 10 godina nakon ispuštanja u Hrvatskoj. U promatranom razdoblju u Hrvatskoj je evidentirano ukupno 111 gubitaka dabrova, dok je u Srbiji taj broj znatno manji i iznosi 36 jedinki. U Srbiji nije primjetan proporcionalni porast stradanja dabrova u odnosu na dinamiku populacije. Najviše dabrova stradava u prometu, 40 % u Hrvatskoj i 17 % u Srbiji, te nezakonitim lovom i ribolovom 22 % u Hrvatskoj i 19 % u Srbiji. Iznimku čini jedna jedinka koja je stradala uslijed pada stabla na odraslog dabra. Često se kod pronalaska lešine ne može utvrdi...
Experimental and Applied Acarology, 2015
Ticks parasitizing bats have been largely understudied, especially in the central part of the Bal... more Ticks parasitizing bats have been largely understudied, especially in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula, where the last data from the field research date from almost 25 years ago. Bats are hosts to a large number of ectoparasites, including ticks, which can act as vectors of zoonotic agents. For this reason, it is important to identify the distribution of ticks and their relationship to different hosts, including wild animals, bats in particular. The present research was conducted at 16 localities throughout Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). We examined 475 individuals of bats belonging to 13 species. A total of three tick species were identified, I. simplex being the most numerous and widespread, followed by I. vespertilionis and A. vespertilionis. To the best of our knowledge, the presented data include the first records of I. simplex in Serbia and Montenegro, I. vespertilionis for Montenegro and A. vespertilionis in FYROM. Also, we identify a new possible host/parasite association between I. simplex and Rhinolophus euryale. Keywords Bats Á Ticks Á Balkan Peninsula Á Ixodes sp. Á Argas sp.
Journal of wildlife diseases, 2014
Wildlife is the most important reservoir of Trichinella spp. worldwide. Although the Balkans are ... more Wildlife is the most important reservoir of Trichinella spp. worldwide. Although the Balkans are a recognized European endemic region for Trichinella infections, data on wildlife are scarce. To monitor the circulation of these zoonotic parasites in the Central Balkan region, the wolf (Canis lupus) was selected because of its abundance (>2,000 individuals) and because it is at the top of the food chain. A total of 116 carcasses of wolves were collected in Serbia and in the neighboring areas of Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) between 2006 and 2013. Trichinella spp. larvae were found in 54 (46.5%) wolves. The great majority (90.5%) originated from Serbia, where 52 of the 105 examined animals were Trichinella positive (49.5%; 95% confidence interval =39.9-59.1). One positive animal each was found in B&H and Macedonia. All larvae were identified as Trichinella britovi. The high prevalence of Trichinella infection in wolves suggests that this carnivore can be a good indicat...
Archives of Biological Sciences, 2009
After becoming extinct in the second half of the 20th century, the European beaver (Castor fiber ... more After becoming extinct in the second half of the 20th century, the European beaver (Castor fiber L., 1758) was successfully reintroduced from Bavaria into Serbia during 2004-2005. In the necropsy of an adult female beaver (found dead in December of 2007), we discovered some parasites identified as Stichorchis subtriquetrus in the colon and peritoneal area. This is the first occurrence of the given specific parasite of beavers in Serbia. Decoding of a subcutaneous implanted microchip has confirmed that our specimen was one of the released beavers. We therefore conclude that the parasite in question was reintroduced into Serbia with the beavers originating from Bavaria.
Animal Conservation, 2004
Baird's tapir, Tapirus bairdii, is an endangered, large, Central American mammal whose shy behavi... more Baird's tapir, Tapirus bairdii, is an endangered, large, Central American mammal whose shy behaviour, solitary social structure and preference for deep tropical forests make it difficult to study using traditional field biology techniques. Despite great concern regarding its conservation status, very little is known about its population structure, mating system or dispersal patterns, information needed for designing appropriate management plans. Molecular genetic approaches can be of use in obtaining such information. In this study, we developed six polymorphic microsatellite genetic markers from genomic libraries of T. bairdii and T. terrestris. Using these markers, we completed the first assessment of genetic variability and population genetic structure in Baird's tapirs. Populations from southern Costa Rica and southern Panama were found to have low levels of genetic variability (allelic content, heterozygosity) but no indication of a recent population bottleneck. Bayesian and standard (F-statistic) analyses of genotype data indicate that the southern Costa Rican and southern Panamanian populations of Baird's tapirs were connected by some (at least one migrant per generation) gene flow prior to the destruction of intermittent habitat. These results indicate that the connection of these two populations by a MesoAmerican Biological Corridor (MBC) would be appropriate.
Acta Parasitologica, 2011
In Europe, Serbia ranks among countries with a high prevalence of Trichinella infection in pigs, ... more In Europe, Serbia ranks among countries with a high prevalence of Trichinella infection in pigs, which continues to be a serious human health problem. While in some Balkan countries, more than one Trichinella species/genotype has been described in both the sylvatic and domestic cycles, these data are lacking for Serbia. To date, only a few Serbian isolates of Trichinella have been genetically specified, and all were classified as T. spiralis. Although transmission of Trichinella from domestic pigs to wildlife could be assumed, neither the infection status nor the species of Trichinella circulating among wildlife in Serbia has been investigated. This study shows the presence of two Trichinella species, T. spiralis and T. britovi, in wild animals originating from five districts in Serbia, where Trichinella infections in domestic pigs and humans have been recorded. Trichinella spiralis was detected in jackals (n = 3), red foxes (n = 2) and a wild cat (n = 1). We also established that w...
Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, Mar 5, 2018
Linguatula serrata is a cosmopolitan, bloodsucking parasite found in both domestic and wild anima... more Linguatula serrata is a cosmopolitan, bloodsucking parasite found in both domestic and wild animals. Humans are not considered as its main hosts but can act as both intermediate (visceral linguatuliasis) and final hosts (nasopharyngeal linguatuliasis). Reports on wild canids as definitive hosts of this parasite are scarce. During 2009-2011 the autopsy was performed on 42 legally hunted grey wolves (Canis lupus) from Serbia and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Only one specimen was infected with a single adult female of L. serrata. The parasite was found in the nasal cavity of the grey wolf. The infected male wolf was shot in the eastern part of the territory of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). This finding is the first record of linguatuliasis in wolves from FYROM. Previous records of this parasite from the central Balkans region originated from dogs, cattle and hares. Only few records of this parasite are known for the grey wolf in general.
BMC Ecology and Evolution, 2021
BackgroundIn Europe, golden jackals (Canis aureus) have been expanding their range out of the sou... more BackgroundIn Europe, golden jackals (Canis aureus) have been expanding their range out of the southern and southeastern Balkans towards central Europe continually since the 1960s. Here, we investigated the level of functional diversity at the MHC class IIDLA-DQA1exon 2 in golden jackal populations from Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary. Specifically, we tested for positive selection on and geographic variation at that locus due to adaptation to supposedly regionally varying pathogenic landscapes. To test for potential fitness effects of different protein variants on individual body condition, we used linear modeling of individual body mass indexes (bmi) and accounted for possible age, sex, geographical, and climatic effects. The latter approach was performed, however, only on Serbian individuals with appropriate data.ResultsOnly three differentDLA-DQA1alleles were detected, all coding for different amino-acid sequences. The neutrality tests revealed no significant but positive values; t...
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
The Balkan Peninsula acted as a refugium for many steppic species during the Pleistocene, resulti... more The Balkan Peninsula acted as a refugium for many steppic species during the Pleistocene, resulting in a high genetic variability, which, in some cases, presents a northward decreasing latitudinal gradient. In the present study, we investigate the genetic diversity of the European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) in its Balkan distribution, sampled comprehensively across its entire distribution in Greece (133 samples from 21 localities). These samples are compared with others from Serbia (54 samples from eight localities) and the available published data from its range in Europe (124 sequences from GenBank). Our results show that the genetic diversity of the Greek and Serbian populations is not correlated with a latitudinal gradient. However, when the entire European range is considered, the model that best fits the genetic variation of the species is based on the ‘centre–periphery’ hypothesis. The founder (centre) populations of the species were most probably situated in sou...
Mammalian Biology
Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is considered as a core area for Dinaric-Pindos/Dinaric-Balkan large... more Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is considered as a core area for Dinaric-Pindos/Dinaric-Balkan large carnivore populations. Unfortunately, little is known about their population parameters as well as feeding ecology which represents a serious threat to the management of those populations. This particularly applies to wolves (Canis lupus), which are constantly, throughout the year, under hunting pressure in a large part of the country. This paper represents the first systematic analysis of wolf feeding habits in B&H, providing the first results on wolf-livestock depredation. Results suggest that wild ungulates were the most important source of food, with domestic animals being a secondary source. Other types of prey or food items were of little significance in the wolf diet. The proportion of dog remains were among the highest in Europe. The results of the questionnaire indicate that sheep were the most often depredated (69%) livestock species. Rare usage of guardian dogs and electric fences resulted in increased losses of domestic animals. This paper represents the first contribution to better knowledge and future management plans of the wolf in B&H.
Ecology and Evolution, 2021
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creat ive Commo ns Attri bution License, wh... more This is an open access article under the terms of the Creat ive Commo ns Attri bution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2021 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Dragana Šnjegota and Astrid Vik Stronen contributed equally to this work. 1Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina 2Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia 3Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia 4Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia 5Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
PLOS ONE, 2015
<p>Above diagonal—genetic differentiation calculated from mtDNA haplotype frequencies, belo... more <p>Above diagonal—genetic differentiation calculated from mtDNA haplotype frequencies, below diagonal—genetic differentiation calculated from microsatellites. Significant values (1,000 permutations; <i>P</i> < 0.05) are shown in bold.</p
Conservation Genetics, 2017
The grey wolves of Bosnia and Herzegovina form a subpopulation of the Dinaric-Balkan wolf populat... more The grey wolves of Bosnia and Herzegovina form a subpopulation of the Dinaric-Balkan wolf population and represent one of Europe's least studied wolf populations. Since the Dinaric-Balkan population is a valuable source of genetic diversity for neighboring populations, comprehensive assessments are warranted. We aimed to determine the genetic variability and structure of the grey wolf population from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as estimate levels of gene flow and inbreeding and evaluate genetic signals of a bottleneck. To do this, we analyzed the variability of eighteen microsatellite loci. We found moderately high genetic heterozygosity for wolves from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as described for other Dinaric-Balkan wolf populations. We reveal weak genetic structuring with two genetic clusters identified. Wolves from the eastern part of the region formed a relatively distinct cluster, whereas individuals in the second cluster overlapped quite considerably with admixed individuals. Despite the signal of genetic structure being weak, clustering of individuals from the eastern part of the country extended through all analyses. Thus, this cluster could be considered a separate management unit, perhaps requiring specific conservation attention.
Ecology and Evolution, 2021
Most animals concentrate their movement into certain hours of the day depending on drivers such a... more Most animals concentrate their movement into certain hours of the day depending on drivers such as photoperiod, ambient temperature, inter‐ or intraspecific competition, and predation risk. The main activity periods of many mammal species, especially in human‐dominated landscapes, are commonly set at dusk, dawn, and during nighttime hours. Large carnivores, such as brown bears, often display great flexibility in diel movement patterns throughout their range, and even within populations, striking between individual differences in movement have been demonstrated. Here, we evaluated how seasonality and reproductive class affected diel movement patterns of brown bears of the Dinaric‐Pindos and Carpathian bear populations in Serbia. We analyzed the movement distances and general probability of movement of 13 brown bears (8 males and 5 females) equipped with GPS collars and monitored over 1–3 years. Our analyses revealed that movement distances and probability of bear movement differed be...
Parasitology Research, 2019
Thelazia callipaeda, originally known as an "Oriental eyeworm," is a small nematode parasitizing ... more Thelazia callipaeda, originally known as an "Oriental eyeworm," is a small nematode parasitizing the conjunctival sacs of domestic and wild animals and humans. Previous studies conducted in Serbia have reported the eyeworm infections in dogs, cats, and foxes, as well as in a human patient. As the data regarding thelaziosis from wildlife is still scarce, the aim of this study was to investigate the presence of T. callipaeda in gray wolf (Canis lupus) from Serbia. All collected nematodes were morphologically identified as T. callipaeda males (n = 64) or females (n = 225). Molecular characterization, conducted by PCR amplification followed by sequence analysis of partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1), revealed only haplotype 1 of T. callipaeda. The overall prevalence of thelaziosis was 38.1% (8/21). In all positive animals, both eyes were affected, with a total parasitic load ranging from four to 132 worms per animal. Our results indicate the important epidemiological role of wolves as wildlife reservoirs of T. callipaeda, expanding geographic range of infection, as well as intra-and interspecies contact rates, although the role of other wild carnivore species (i.e., foxes and jackals) should be investigated in future studies.
Biodiversity and Conservation, 2019
Grasslands are one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Spatial prioritization of high... more Grasslands are one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Spatial prioritization of high quality habitat in agricultural landscapes is needed to protect grassland biodiversity. Within this context, we focused on European ground squirrel, a keystone species in steppe and salt steppe ecosystems. Using historical data and habitat field mapping, this study evaluates species distribution and site occupancy along the southern margin of the species range (Serbia) and identifies priority conservation zones in an intensively used landscape. Using gap analysis to evaluate changes in distribution over time and land protection status of the occupied area, we found that the regional species range has been constricted by 70%, and that 43% of mapped areas were outside of conservation networks. We also used a landscape structure model and multivariate analysis to identify the effects of spatial heterogeneity on occupancy. After mapping potential conservation zones with a buffer radius of 4.6 km-the scale with significant effects on occupancy-we identified 19 potential agroecological zones that cover the full range of mapped species habitats. The proposed agroecological zones differ in percentage of occupancy, which was found to increase with the overall landscape heterogeneity. This study contributes to the ongoing effort to broaden the understanding of the ecology and conservation of the European ground squirrel and the grasslands they rely on. Conservation planning should be designed to protect grasslands occupied by ground squirrels, ensure that the agricultural matrix is permeable, and to sustain or enhance landscape heterogeneity.
Acta Veterinaria Hungarica, 2019
Human trichinellosis and Trichinella infection in pigs are both still endemic in the Balkans, inc... more Human trichinellosis and Trichinella infection in pigs are both still endemic in the Balkans, including Serbia. Because of the flow between the sylvatic and the domestic cycle of Trichinella spp., monitoring wildlife has been recommended for the risk assessment of Trichinella spp. infection in swine. We have previously shown the presence of Trichinella infection in wild carnivores including the wolf and the golden jackal, and here we report on Trichinella infection in several other mesocarnivore species. From a total of 469 animals collected between 1994 and 2013, Trichinella larvae were detected in 29 (6.2%, 95% CI = 4.0–8.4) animals, including 14 red foxes (4.7%), 7 wild cats (35%), 5 beech martens (4.8%), 2 pine martens (16.7%), and 1 European badger (6.25%). No Trichinella larvae were detected in the examined specimens of European polecats, steppe polecats and European otters. Species identification of the Trichinella larvae performed for 18 positive samples revealed T. spiralis...
Balkan Journal of Wildlife Research, 2017
Thelazia callipaeda is a vector-borne zoonotic eye worm, parasitizing at the conjunctiva sac of d... more Thelazia callipaeda is a vector-borne zoonotic eye worm, parasitizing at the conjunctiva sac of domestic and wild carnivores (dogs, cats, foxes, and wolves), and humans. Over the last decade, infection with that spirudida is increasingly occurring in dogs and cats in the numerous European countries including the Balkans area. In Serbia we also established infection with this parasites in foxes during 2014. Adult nematodes were retrieved from the conjunctival sacs of 3 animals (2 from Belgrade area and 1 from Braničevo district) hunted during control effect of oral vaccination of foxes against rabies. In total we extracted 23 parasites, 10 males and 13 females. This is the first report of autochthonous cases of T. callipaeda infection in red foxes in Serbia.
Sažetak U sklopu monitoringa dabrova u Hrvatskoj i Srbiji nakon njihove reintrodukcije, evidentir... more Sažetak U sklopu monitoringa dabrova u Hrvatskoj i Srbiji nakon njihove reintrodukcije, evidentiraju se gubici dabrova prema mjestu i vremenu uginuća, uzroku, spolu i starosti jedinke. Podaci se prikupljaju pomoću mreže suradnika, odnosno po evidenciji događaja. Na temelju analize prikupljenih podataka o stradanju dabrova u proteklih 18 godina, uočava se porast stradalih dabrova, posebice nakon porasta populacije i prostornog širenja dabrova, odnosno 10 godina nakon ispuštanja u Hrvatskoj. U promatranom razdoblju u Hrvatskoj je evidentirano ukupno 111 gubitaka dabrova, dok je u Srbiji taj broj znatno manji i iznosi 36 jedinki. U Srbiji nije primjetan proporcionalni porast stradanja dabrova u odnosu na dinamiku populacije. Najviše dabrova stradava u prometu, 40 % u Hrvatskoj i 17 % u Srbiji, te nezakonitim lovom i ribolovom 22 % u Hrvatskoj i 19 % u Srbiji. Iznimku čini jedna jedinka koja je stradala uslijed pada stabla na odraslog dabra. Često se kod pronalaska lešine ne može utvrdi...
Experimental and Applied Acarology, 2015
Ticks parasitizing bats have been largely understudied, especially in the central part of the Bal... more Ticks parasitizing bats have been largely understudied, especially in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula, where the last data from the field research date from almost 25 years ago. Bats are hosts to a large number of ectoparasites, including ticks, which can act as vectors of zoonotic agents. For this reason, it is important to identify the distribution of ticks and their relationship to different hosts, including wild animals, bats in particular. The present research was conducted at 16 localities throughout Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). We examined 475 individuals of bats belonging to 13 species. A total of three tick species were identified, I. simplex being the most numerous and widespread, followed by I. vespertilionis and A. vespertilionis. To the best of our knowledge, the presented data include the first records of I. simplex in Serbia and Montenegro, I. vespertilionis for Montenegro and A. vespertilionis in FYROM. Also, we identify a new possible host/parasite association between I. simplex and Rhinolophus euryale. Keywords Bats Á Ticks Á Balkan Peninsula Á Ixodes sp. Á Argas sp.
Journal of wildlife diseases, 2014
Wildlife is the most important reservoir of Trichinella spp. worldwide. Although the Balkans are ... more Wildlife is the most important reservoir of Trichinella spp. worldwide. Although the Balkans are a recognized European endemic region for Trichinella infections, data on wildlife are scarce. To monitor the circulation of these zoonotic parasites in the Central Balkan region, the wolf (Canis lupus) was selected because of its abundance (>2,000 individuals) and because it is at the top of the food chain. A total of 116 carcasses of wolves were collected in Serbia and in the neighboring areas of Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) between 2006 and 2013. Trichinella spp. larvae were found in 54 (46.5%) wolves. The great majority (90.5%) originated from Serbia, where 52 of the 105 examined animals were Trichinella positive (49.5%; 95% confidence interval =39.9-59.1). One positive animal each was found in B&H and Macedonia. All larvae were identified as Trichinella britovi. The high prevalence of Trichinella infection in wolves suggests that this carnivore can be a good indicat...
Archives of Biological Sciences, 2009
After becoming extinct in the second half of the 20th century, the European beaver (Castor fiber ... more After becoming extinct in the second half of the 20th century, the European beaver (Castor fiber L., 1758) was successfully reintroduced from Bavaria into Serbia during 2004-2005. In the necropsy of an adult female beaver (found dead in December of 2007), we discovered some parasites identified as Stichorchis subtriquetrus in the colon and peritoneal area. This is the first occurrence of the given specific parasite of beavers in Serbia. Decoding of a subcutaneous implanted microchip has confirmed that our specimen was one of the released beavers. We therefore conclude that the parasite in question was reintroduced into Serbia with the beavers originating from Bavaria.
Animal Conservation, 2004
Baird's tapir, Tapirus bairdii, is an endangered, large, Central American mammal whose shy behavi... more Baird's tapir, Tapirus bairdii, is an endangered, large, Central American mammal whose shy behaviour, solitary social structure and preference for deep tropical forests make it difficult to study using traditional field biology techniques. Despite great concern regarding its conservation status, very little is known about its population structure, mating system or dispersal patterns, information needed for designing appropriate management plans. Molecular genetic approaches can be of use in obtaining such information. In this study, we developed six polymorphic microsatellite genetic markers from genomic libraries of T. bairdii and T. terrestris. Using these markers, we completed the first assessment of genetic variability and population genetic structure in Baird's tapirs. Populations from southern Costa Rica and southern Panama were found to have low levels of genetic variability (allelic content, heterozygosity) but no indication of a recent population bottleneck. Bayesian and standard (F-statistic) analyses of genotype data indicate that the southern Costa Rican and southern Panamanian populations of Baird's tapirs were connected by some (at least one migrant per generation) gene flow prior to the destruction of intermittent habitat. These results indicate that the connection of these two populations by a MesoAmerican Biological Corridor (MBC) would be appropriate.
Acta Parasitologica, 2011
In Europe, Serbia ranks among countries with a high prevalence of Trichinella infection in pigs, ... more In Europe, Serbia ranks among countries with a high prevalence of Trichinella infection in pigs, which continues to be a serious human health problem. While in some Balkan countries, more than one Trichinella species/genotype has been described in both the sylvatic and domestic cycles, these data are lacking for Serbia. To date, only a few Serbian isolates of Trichinella have been genetically specified, and all were classified as T. spiralis. Although transmission of Trichinella from domestic pigs to wildlife could be assumed, neither the infection status nor the species of Trichinella circulating among wildlife in Serbia has been investigated. This study shows the presence of two Trichinella species, T. spiralis and T. britovi, in wild animals originating from five districts in Serbia, where Trichinella infections in domestic pigs and humans have been recorded. Trichinella spiralis was detected in jackals (n = 3), red foxes (n = 2) and a wild cat (n = 1). We also established that w...
Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, Mar 5, 2018
Linguatula serrata is a cosmopolitan, bloodsucking parasite found in both domestic and wild anima... more Linguatula serrata is a cosmopolitan, bloodsucking parasite found in both domestic and wild animals. Humans are not considered as its main hosts but can act as both intermediate (visceral linguatuliasis) and final hosts (nasopharyngeal linguatuliasis). Reports on wild canids as definitive hosts of this parasite are scarce. During 2009-2011 the autopsy was performed on 42 legally hunted grey wolves (Canis lupus) from Serbia and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Only one specimen was infected with a single adult female of L. serrata. The parasite was found in the nasal cavity of the grey wolf. The infected male wolf was shot in the eastern part of the territory of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). This finding is the first record of linguatuliasis in wolves from FYROM. Previous records of this parasite from the central Balkans region originated from dogs, cattle and hares. Only few records of this parasite are known for the grey wolf in general.