Search Results (27)

Porcine circoviruses are significant pathogens that affect swine populations worldwide, with implications for animal health and productivity. While PCV2 is well-documented, particularly due to widespread vaccination programs, PCV3 is less understood, and its epidemiological impact is still under investigation. This study screened for PCV2 and PCV3 in pigs and wild boars across Portugal to assess their prevalence. Also, nucleotide sequence determination was performed to evaluate the genetic diversity of these viruses. Stool samples from 160 pigs belonging to different groups (quarantine, nursery, fattening and adult pigs), as well as organ samples from 120 hunted wild boars, were analyzed. Samples were collected from twelve of the eighteen mainland Portuguese districts with positive cases being detected in nine of them. Pigs had a lower prevalence of PCV2 (1.9%) than PCV3 (11.2%), but the opposite was true in wild boars (76.7% for PCV2 and 55.0% for PCV3). The lower PCV2 prevalence in pigs can be attributed to the PCV2 vaccination program implemented. Additionally, these viruses were significantly more prevalent in wild boars (90.8% were infected with at least one of the viruses) than in domestic pigs (only 12.5%). This significant difference highlights the impact of the controlled environment in pig farms on disease prevention in contrast to the higher exposure risks faced by wild boars in their natural habitat. Compared to a previous study from 2023, we observed a slight decrease in the percentage of positive cases for both PCV2 and PCV3. Phylogenetic analysis of sequences obtained by Sanger sequencing allowed us to conclude that the samples from domestic pigs belong to the PCV2a and PCV3c clades, in contrast to the PCV2-positive cases detected in domestic pigs in 2023 that were classified in the PCV2d genotype. Conversely, samples from wild boars belong to the PCV2d and PCV3a clades. These results reveal genotype differences between wild and domestic pigs and shifts from 2023 to 2024. Our findings provide some information about the circulation of these viruses and emphasize the importance of vaccination and continued monitoring for a deeper understanding of their epidemiology to mitigate potential risks to swine health and production. Full article

This study examines the reproductive performance of the European brown hare in Italy, focusing on four hunting districts in Basilicata (A1, A2) and Emilia–Romagna (A3, A4) and using the number of endometrial scars as a fertility indicator. Fertility, measured as the number of scars during the entire reproductive period, was highest in A1 (11.50 ± 1.64) and A4 (11.43 ± 1.01), followed by A3 (9.56 ± 1.09) and A2 (6.08 ± 1.34). Significant differences were found when comparing the mountain area (A2) with A4 (p < 0.01) and with A1 and A3 (p < 0.05). Regarding the overall monthly number of scars per individual across the four study areas, the highest value (3.16 ± 0.18) was observed in May, followed by March (2.74 ± 0.18), April (2.67 ± 0.20), June (2.57 ± 0.20), February (2.53 ± 0.34), July (2.40 ± 0.22), and August (2.19 ± 0.31). A correlation analysis identified a weak yet statistically significant positive relationship (r = 0.532; p = 0.036) between the Kerner Oceanity Index (with values of 16.87, 15.00, 8.45, and 11.11 in A1, A2, A3, and A4, respectively) and the number of scars per pregnancy across the four study areas. Understanding species’ reproductive dynamics is vital for assessing habitat suitability and creating strategies to sustain hare populations and their ecosystem roles. Full article

The increase in acarological risk of tick bites is significantly driven by profound changes in landscape, which alter the density and distribution of wildlife that support tick populations. As a result of habitat shifts and land abandonment, which create environments conducive to tick proliferation, the risk of disease transmission to humans and animals is increasing. In this context, it is important to explore tick ecology by applying a comprehensive methodology. In this study, we examined the relationship between wildlife temporal occupancy and tick abundance in two distinct regions: an alpine hunting district and a natural park in the Apennines. For each sampling point, we calculated wildlife temporal occupancy from camera trap pictures and estimated ticks’ abundance from dragging transects in the area immediately surrounding camera traps. In modelling the relationship between those two variables, we included abiotic factors such as saturation deficit, normalized difference vegetation index, and altitude. Results show the importance of altitude and wildlife temporal occupancy (itself related to different habitat and land management characteristics) on the ecology of questing ticks. If employed in management decisions for natural environments, such information is useful to modulate the acarological risk and thus the risk of tick-borne pathogens’ transmission. Full article

François’ langur is an Endangered colobine inhabiting limestone habitats in southern China and northern Vietnam. Its global population has been estimated to be just more than 2000 mature individuals. Populations in Vietnam are highly fragmented with reportedly fewer than 200 adults in total and 50 in a single location. Although the François’ langur in Vietnam is highly imperiled as remnant populations persist in only three to four sites, little research has been carried out to provide a reliable estimate of its remaining population. In this study, we conducted field surveys in Lam Binh District, Tuyen Quang Province, northeastern Vietnam. In total, we recorded at least 16 groups of François’ langurs, with 156 individuals, raising the total number of individuals by approximately 10% compared to a previous study. The group structure, group size, activity budget, and density of the Lam Binh population resemble those reported in François’ langurs in China and other limestone langur species. The results show that the behavior ecology of limestone langurs significantly differs from that of forest langurs probably because they occupy separate habitats with distinctly different environmental variables. During our surveys, we detected a number of direct threats to this population, namely illegal logging, hunting, firewood collecting, hydropower development, grazing, and mining. It is recommended that the protection forest be elevated to the nature reserve status to better protect the most important population of the François’ langur in Vietnam. Full article

The research material included selected muscles and liver of mallard ducks obtained in two research areas. A total of 28 mallards were obtained for the study—six males and six females from the Siedlce hunting district and eight males and eight females from the Leszno hunting district. Zinc and copper concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). It was concluded from the study that the Leszno hunting district is more polluted than the Siedlce hunting district. Among the examined tissues of mallard ducks from both hunting districts, the highest content of zinc and copper was found in the liver. In this organ, birds shot in the Leszno hunting district were characterized by a significantly higher content of these elements compared to birds shot in the Siedlce hunting area. The significantly higher average zinc and copper concentrations in the liver of mallards harvested in this hunting district may have been influenced by fertilization of crop fields in this area with fertilizers containing these elements and by extraction of ore containing zinc and copper minerals in the Legnica-Głogów Copper District. This is an important problem with regard to the safety of consumers of game meat. It was shown that the tissues of male mallards were characterized by higher average levels of zinc and copper than those of females, but the differences were statistically significant only in the case of the average copper content in the leg muscles. Full article

The Peruvian guanaco (Lama guanicoe cacsilensis) is classified as being “in critical danger of extinction” by the government. In this study, we evaluate how the conflict between farmers and guanacos in the Susapaya and Estique Districts, Tacna Department (Southern Peru) may represent a threat to their survival. To evaluate the situation, we 1. Conducted field surveys to monitor guanaco presence, 2. Used available remote sensing data to map guanaco movement, and 3. interviewed the impacted farmers concerning their losses. Remote sensing data showed that sedentary guanaco family groups located in prime steppe vegetation habitats never entered agricultural areas, while field surveys showed that bachelor bands and solitary individuals did, perhaps seeking forage due to growing population pressure. Interview data found that 90% of community farmers felt that guanacos were a problem best resolved by better fencing (45%), hunting (19%), or increased security (16%), and 92% saw no value in the conservation of the species. Hunting is illegal, given the critically endangered status of guanacos in Peru, so additional efforts are needed to both educate those who feel guanacos are a menace and involve them in efforts to preserve the species. Full article

Kazakhstan is historically a livestock-producing country. For the first time in this study, we attempted to assess the vulnerability of nomadic pastoralists in Kazakhstan to climate change using the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI). To collect data, a survey of 100 household heads was conducted on fourteen main components and fifty-six sub-components. The study was conducted in the period from May to July 2022 in the Panfilov (PD) and Kerbulak (KD) districts of the Zhetysu region, where the Altyn-Emel State National Nature Park is located. The results of the study were combined using a composite index method and comparing different vulnerability indicators. Natural disasters, which manifest as the effects of drought, temperature fluctuations, and precipitation, contribute most to the vulnerability of nomads living in remote mountain areas with a complex infrastructure. According to the results of the study, nomads of both regions have high vulnerability in such components as natural resources, human–wildlife conflict, housing type, agriculture and food security, and social networks. High vulnerability in the “Finances and incomes” component was found only in the pastoralists of the PD. Identifying the levels of vulnerability of nomadic households to climate change, as well as understanding their adaptation strategies, will enable pastoralists to gain access to new ways of reducing the vulnerability of their livelihoods. Currently, the country practices a strategy to reduce the vulnerability of pastoral nomads’ livelihoods by insuring livestock against natural or natural hazards and other risks; involving the population in environmental-protection activities and helping them to obtain sustainable financial resources when they refuse to hunt endangered animals; non-agricultural diversification of high-altitude ecotourism in rural areas in their area of residence; and improving financial literacy by providing training and providing information on low-interest loans under state projects and livestock subsidy mechanisms, as well as training in organizing cooperatives within the framework of legal status, which will ensure them stable sales of products and income growth. The results of software research serve as a basis for taking measures within the framework of the development and implementation of state programs for climate change adaptation of the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where agriculture is one of the priority areas of management. Full article

The study aimed to determine the effect of replacing 75% of inorganic calcium, iron, zinc, and copper salts with organic forms (glycine chelates of these elements) with or without the addition of l-carnitine on some reproductive traits and the blood lipid and mineral profile, as well as mineral and fatty acid profile of pheasant egg yolk. The study was performed on three groups of pheasant hens using glycine chelates with calcitriol (group II) or analogical treatment with the addition of l-carnitine at the level of 100 mg/kg of feed (group III) instead of Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn salts (control). The replacement of inorganic forms with glycinates contributed to an increase in the number of laid eggs with a concomitant lower share of rejected eggs. The supplementation of organic forms of minerals improved mineral absorption and bioavailability in blood serum as well as in the egg yolk of experimental groups. Egg yolk fat was characterized by a higher proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids and a favorable ratio of PUFA ω-3/ω-6. The proposed nutritional supplementation of the pheasant’s diet might be a good strategy for increasing the nutritional reserves of poultry and improving their reproduction. Full article

A property common to heavy metals is that even in small concentrations they can exert toxic effects on living organisms, including humans. The aim of this study was to analyze the quality of the tissues and organs of wild mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos L.) by estimating the potential hygiene and toxicological hazard associated with the concentrations of lead and cadmium in these tissues and organs, as well as the influence of the birds’ sex and place of origin on these parameters. A significantly higher average lead content was noted in the breast muscles and the livers of the mallards harvested in the Leszno hunting district compared to the birds from the Siedlce hunting district. A higher average cadmium concentration was recorded in the breast and leg muscles of the mallards harvested in the Leszno hunting district than the Siedlce hunting district. The concentration of cadmium in the tissues and organs of the mallards harvested in the Siedlce or the Leszno hunting district did not exceed the acceptable limits for the muscles and livers of slaughtered animals. This study found no significant effect of the sex of the wild crossbreeds on the content of lead and cadmium in tissues and organs. This study showed that the mallard has a measurable response to environmental pollution with lead and cadmium, and therefore it is a species that could to some extent be used as a bioindicator of the level of contamination of the environment with these xenobiotics. The ban on the use of lead pellets as ammunition in Poland may largely limit the degree of lead contamination of the tissues and organs of mallards. Full article

Tetragonula beekeeping is in high demand, and the activity of hunting wild Tetragonula bees in nature is increasing. The purpose of this study was to determine the type and distribution of wild stingless bee colonies in the Sumedang area of Indonesia, as well as the characteristics of their hives in nature. We used survey methods in this research. Data collection was accomplished by studying and collecting biotic and abiotic data around hives. Two species of Tetragonula bees were found, namely Tetragonula laeviceps Smith at 71 locations in 6 sub-districts and Tetragonula drescheri Schwarz at 9 locations in 5 districts. Tetragonula bees like to occupy building gaps and holes in the stems of tall plants. Differences were found in the length of the hive entrance, the thickness of the hive door, the texture of the hive door, and the direction of the hive door for each species. Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and light intensity greatly affect colony activity, whereas wind speed and weather conditions affect the condition of the hive door. The presence of food sources around the hive also affects the survival of the colony and colony activity. Full article

Lagomorphs, which include hares, rabbits, and pikas, are herbivorous animals renowned for their exceptional running abilities. The femur, the largest and strongest bone in their bodies, plays a crucial role in supporting their weight and facilitating movement. This study aimed to investigate the structural and functional changes in the femora of hares during their development in a sex-dependent manner, and the influence of aging on femur structure and function. Various mechanical properties, including stiffness and strength, as well as densitometry and morphology, were evaluated. The study was conducted on n = 24 hares collected from a hunting district in the Lublin region of Poland and divided into four groups: young females, adult females, young males and adult males (n = 6 animals each). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD), and a three-point bending test was performed to assess mechanical properties. The findings revealed age-related differences in bone properties, with adult males exhibiting increased BMC, and BMD compared to young males. Geometrical properties of the femora mid-diaphysis, such as cortical index and cross-sectional area, remained relatively unchanged during maturation. Regarding mechanical properties, the femora of young males exhibited higher elastic work compared to those of young females, while the femora of adult males exhibited higher elastic and breaking work than those of adult females. The stiffness of femora was higher in adult females compared to young females. The results provide insights into the development and aging of hare femora and contribute to our understanding of the relationship between bone mechanical properties, musculoskeletal system, and aging in the wild. This knowledge can inform animal husbandry practices in captivity and enhance our broader understanding of the ecological functions of lagomorphs. Full article

African swine fever (ASF) has been detected in many European countries since its introduction in Georgia in 2007. Serbia suffered its first case of ASF in the domestic pig population in 2019. At the beginning of 2020, ASF was detected in wild boars in open hunting grounds in the southeastern region of the country in districts along the country’s borders with Romania and Bulgaria. Since then, all ASF outbreaks in wild boar were clustered in the population located in the same bordering areas. Despite the newly implemented biosecurity protocols for hunters in 2019, ASF was detected for the first time in June 2021 in the wild boar population located in an enclosed hunting ground in the northeast region of the country. In this study, we reported the first ASF outbreak in a wild boar population located in an enclosed hunting ground in close proximity to the Serbian–Romanian border. The epizootiological data on the field investigation of the ASF outbreak, with descriptions of the clinical signs and gross pathological lesions detected, including the total number as well as the estimated age, sex, and postmortem interval, were analyzed. Clinical signs were detected only in nine diseased wild boars, while in total, 149 carcasses were found in the open and enclosed part of the hunting ground. In addition, 99 carcasses from which samples (parts of spleen or long bones) were collected for molecular diagnostics (RT-PCR) were confirmed as ASF-positive. The results of the epidemiological investigations indicate the central role of wild boar movements as well as the constant risk of human-related activities in the countries bordering area. Full article

The African tropical forests host an inestimable number of resources, including food, medicine, vegetal and animal species. Among them, chimpanzees are threatened with extinction by human activities affecting their habitats, such as forest product harvesting, and/or more directly, snaring and trafficking. We aimed to better understand the spatial distribution of these illegal activities, and the reasons for setting snares and consuming wild meat in an agricultural landscape (subsistence farming and cash crops) densely populated near a protected area (Sebitoli, Northern part of Kibale National Park, Uganda). To carry out this study, we combined GPS records of illegal activities collected with group counts (in total, n = 339 tea workers, 678 villagers, and 1885 children) and individual interviews (n = 74 tea workers, 42 villagers, and 35 children). A quarter of illegal activities collected (n = 1661) targeted animal resources and about 60% were recorded in specific areas (southwest and northeast) of the Sebitoli chimpanzee home range. Wild meat consumption, which is illegal in Uganda, is a relatively common practice among participants (17.1% to 54.1% of respondents depending on actor types and census methods). However, consumers declared that they eat wild meat unfrequently (0.6 to 2.8 times per year). Being a young man coming from districts contiguous to Kibale National Park particularly raises the odds of consuming wild meat. Such an analysis contributes to the understanding of wild meat hunting among traditional rural and agricultural societies from East Africa. Full article

Nowadays, forest management focuses on nature- and environmentally-friendly methods in Europe with less fossil fuel use; however, animal-powered logging is rarely covered by scientific papers despite the fact that it is considered to be less harmful to topsoil, wood stands, saplings, and natural values than heavy machines. The main goal of this study is to determine its characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages based on structured and semi-structured interviews with loggers and foresters in every Hungarian state-owned forest area. Our results show that while 39 out of the total 116 Hungarian forest districts hired teams that applied horses for logging in 2013, their number fell to 24 in 2021. Despite this negative tendency, 34 out of the 44 forest districts that operate in hilly and mountainous areas still find horses to be useful for timber extraction. Five forest districts own horses, but none of them use animal power for logging (only for touristic and hunting activities). The productivity of a logging team depends on the timber extraction distance, terrain slope, number of workers, and cut timber volume per turn. The average logging capacity of a brigade with horses is 0.78 m³ per load, 15 m³ per day, and 2413 m³ per year. The average terrain slope angle is 15°, situated 350–450 m above sea level. The average timber extraction distance is 185 m, and the width of a track made by a horse is 96 cm. The average distance from the barn to the cut-block area is 11 km. Lower impact of horse logging on the affected area is more important than the amount of the harvested wood. Therefore, from a nature conservation aspect, it is essential to maintain animal logging and promote it with training and financial incentives. Full article

Small-scale forestry and sustainable forest operations represent a key interest in Europe. Although animal-powered logging could be, in part, considered less harmful to topsoil, wood stands, saplings, and natural values than heavy machines, this method is rarely covered by scientific studies. Our main aim was to explore the occurrences of horse logging in Hungarian state-owned forests, especially those that are close to nature areas. We contacted every forest district in Hungary (n = 116) by phone in 2013 and 2021. While 39 out of the total 116 Hungarian state forestries hired teams that apply animal logging (a draft horse in every case) in 2013, their number fell to 24 in 2021. Within this data, the number of constantly hired horse logging contractors fell by 53.3% (from 30 to 14). Only three forest districts owned a horse stock in 2013 (the others employed contractors), while five owned them in 2021. However, none of them used horses for logging (only for touristic and hunting activities). All teams operated at least partially on nature conservation areas in both studied years. Despite this negative tendency, 34 out of the 44 forestries that operate on hilly and mountainous areas still claim horse logging in 2021, but they cannot find suitable people and horses. It is important to conserve animal logging and promote it among potential loggers with training and financial incentives. Full article