Fascioloidosis is an allochthonous parasitic disease in Europe caused by the digenean trematode Fascioloides magna. The final hosts of F. magna in Europe are defined as definitive, aberrant and ...dead-end. Roe deer are aberrant hosts in which juvenile flukes permanently migrate through the liver parenchyma. Failure in pseudocysts formation leads to the death of both the host and the parasite. In this paper we present gross and histological findings of F. magna infection in 34 roe deer. The special emphasis is on the pseudocyst formation accompanied with new fluke's migratory channels observed in 7 animals, suggesting reinfection and prolonged survival of roe deer. No F. magna eggs were recovered from the faeces of the infected animals. These findings indicate that pseudocyst formation is essential for roe deer survival, but also point out the potential beginning of adaptation processes in roe deer, altering otherwise acute and fatal disease into a chronic one.
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•Allochthonous parasite.•Roe deer and F. magna in some parts of Europe form relatively new host-parasite association.•F. magna as a high risk for local survival of roe deer.•Pseudocyst formation and reinfection as indicators of chronic infection and prolonged survival of infected roe deer.
The study was undertaken to examine the effects of castration on plasma lipids and on the fatty acid profile of abdominal fat in male pheasants. Thirty pheasants reared in a commercial pheasantry ...were included in the experiment. Half the pheasants were castrated at 8 weeks of age and the other half underwent sham surgery at the same age. Plasma levels of triglycerides and high density lipoproteins (HDL) were significantly higher in the castrated pheasants. Values for cholesterol tended to be higher in castrated pheasants although without statistical significance. The fatty acid content of the abdominal fat from castrated and intact pheasants were primarily composed of oleic acid (42.58%-40.33%), followed by palmitic acid (25.25%-27.33%), linoleic (14.05%-12.65%) and stearic acid (8.95%-9.40%). Castration also significantly influenced the fatty acid composition of abdominal fat. Compared to the intact pheasants, the fatty acid content of abdominal fat from castrated pheasants contained higher values for saturated fatty acids (SFA) and lower values for unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), unsaturated to saturated fatty acids ratio (UFA/SFA) and polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids ratio (PUFA/SFA).
Fallow deer (Dama dama) are one of the most important game species in Europe and approximately 5 million animals are raised on farms globally. These deer are considered to be indigenous in Europe, ...but during the last ice age became extinct from most of their range except Sicily, the Balkan Peninsula and Anatolia. Research suggests that after the Middle Ages the indigenous population only survived in Anatolia (today's Turkey and Iran), so all present worldwide fallow deer populations were reintroduced from there. In Croatia, the species is mostly kept in fenced areas, while breeding in open hunting grounds or farms is rare. The goal of our research was to analyze the genetic diversity of fallow deer that live in the open grasslands of the Croatian island Veliki Brijun on an area of 5.72 km.sup.2. DNA was isolated from the muscle tissue of 22 animals and 405 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA control region were sequenced. One polymorphic site and two haplotypes were detected, both matching sequences from Germany, while one of the haplotypes was also previously detected in fallow deer in Hungary and Italy. The mtDN A diversity of Dama dama from Brijuni National park was rather low but, considering the island's isolation, the obtained results were in accordance with the diversity of previously researched European continental populations of fallow deer. Key words: haplotype diversity; mitochondrial DNA; control region; island population; Dama dama Jelen lopatar (Dama dama) jedna je od najvanijih vrsta divljaci u Europi, a na farmama diljem svijeta uzgaja se oko 5 milijuna ovih ivotinja. Smatra se da je vrsta autohtona u Europi, no tijekom posljednjeg ledenog doba izumrla je iz svih stanita osim Sicilije, Balkanskog poluotoka i Anatolije. Istraivanja pokazuju da je nakon srednjega vijeka autohtona populacija lopatara opstala samo u Anatoliji (dananja Turska i Iran) te da su sve dananje populacije reintroducirane iz tog podrucja. U Hrvatskoj je lopatar prisutan prije svega u gaterskim uzgojima, dok je slabije zastupljen u otvorenim lovitima i farmskom uzgoju. Cilj ovoga istraivanja bio je analizirati genetsku raznolikost slobodnoivuce populacije jelena lopatara na hrvatskom otoku Veliki Brijun, povrine 5,72 km.sup.2. DNK je izolirana iz uzoraka miicnog tkiva 22 razlicite ivotinje. Analizirani su sljedovi kontrolne regije mitohondrijske DNK ukupne duine 405 parova baza te je utvrdeno jedno polimorfno mjesto koje definira dva haplotipa. Dobiveni sljedovi kontrolne regije mtDNK usporedeni su s ostalim sljedovima pohranjenima u GenBank te su pronadene podudarnosti s uzorcima iz Njemacke kod oba haplotipa, a jedan se pojavljuje i u lopatara u Madarskoj i Italiji. Raznolikost mtDNK jelena lopatara iz NP Brijuni prilicno je niska, no s obzirom na otocnu izoliranost populacije takvi su rezultati u skladu s dosadanjim istraivanjima europskih populacija jelena lopatara. Kljucne rijeci: haplotipska raznolikost; mitohondrijska DNK; kontrolna regija; otocna populacija; Dama dama
The effects of castration on growth performance, carcass characteristics and chemical composition of m. iliotibilais cranialis and m. pectoralis superficialis of pheasants were examined. Forty ...pheasants reared in commercial pheasantry were included in the experiment. Half of the pheasants were castrated at 8 weeks of age. Values for live weight tended to be higher in castrated pheasants in the 24
th
week (P<0.1) and values for weight gain were significantly higher between the 16
th
and 24
th
weeks (P<0.05). Feed-to-gain-ratio (8
th
- 32
nd
week) was significantly better (P<0.05) in castrated pheasants. Eviscerated weight and dressing percentage at 32nd week were not significantly different between treatments. The chemical composition of m. iliotibilais cranialis and m. pectoralis superficialis showed significantly higher values of fat (P<0.01) and moisture (P<0.05) in castrated pheasants in comparison with intact ones. Protein content of both muscles was higher in intact pheasants (P<0.05). Body part weights were not influenced by the treatment with the exception of heart weight, which was significantly higher in the intact pheasants (P<0.05).
We concluded that castration tended to improve growth performance only in the first 24 weeks of the fattening period and, therefore, continuation of fattening after that period is no longer feasible. The most important characteristic of the castrated pheasant's meat was an increased amount of fat. More studies under different feeding and alternative breeding systems are necessary to improve production.
Monitoring of the faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM) of various wildlife species has become an important non-invasive tool for wildlife managers that enables them to understand the influences ...of the season, sex, age and physiological status on the animal's organism and to discover potential stressors in order to adjust management practices and thus minimize their negative impact. Here we present a one-year study on fallow deer kept in extensive captive breeding in inland Croatia. We measured fGCM by 11-oxoaetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay. The obtained results confirmed the seasonal pattern of cortisol release with the highest concentrations of 11.17-dioxoandrostanes (11,17-DOA) during the winter period (950; 430-2385 ng/g faeces, expressed as median, min. and max. values), followed by early summer (864; 186-3271 ng/g) and spring (610; 129-2896 ng/g). Significantly lower concentrations were determined during the late summer period (306; 95-2071 ng/g). Compared with fGCM levels in free-ranging fallow deer, concentrations in captive animals followed the same pattern, but with lower values in every season. This may be attributed to habituation and to the less challenging and more predictable environment under captive conditions. Key words: fallow deer, cortisol metabolites, 11,17-DOA faeces Pracenje metabolita glukokortikoida u izmetu (fGCM) razlicitih vrsta divljih zivotinja predstavlja znacajnu neinvazivnu metodu koja omogucava razumijevanje utjecaja godisnjeg doba, spola, dobi i fizioloskog statusa na organizam zivotinje. Pored toga omogucava i prepoznavanje mozebitnih stresora s ciljem prilagodbe modela gospodarenja/upravljanja i posljedicnog ublazavanja negativnih posljedica stresa. U ovom radu prikazani su rezultati pracenja aktivnosti kore nadbubrezne zlijezde gaterski uzgajanih jelena lopatara na podrucju kontinentalne Hrvatske. Vrijednosti fGCM u izmetu jelena lopatara odredivane su imunoenzimnim testom. Dobiveni rezultati potvrdili su sezonski ritam lucenja kortizola pri cemu su najvise koncentracije 11,17-dioksoandrostana (11,17-DOA) zabiljezene tijekom zime (950; 430-2385 ng/g, prikazane kao srednja, minimalna i maksimalna vrijednost), a nesto nize tijekom ranog ljeta (864; 186-3271 ng/g) i proljeca (610; 129-2896 ng/g). Znacajno nize koncentracije utvrdene su tijekom kasnog ljeta (306; 95-2071 ng/g). Razvidno je da dinamika lucenja fGCM u gaterski uzgajanih jelena lopatara prati istu u slobodno zivucih jedinki, ali su vrijednosti nize za svako godisnje doba. Uocene razlike mogu biti posljedica prilagodbe na blizinu covjeka i rutinske zahvate u uzgoju, kao i manje zahtjevnog i predvidljivog okolisa u zatocenistvu. Kljucne rijeci: jelen lopatar, metaboliti kortizola, 11,17-DOA, izmet
Deer fascioloidosis is a serious and potentially fatal disease caused by the non-native trematode Fascioloides magna. Infections of red deer with F. magna in Croatia have been reported for the first ...time in 2000 in the Baranja region. Subsequently, the disease spread throughout the Eastern parts of the country, involving all 3 deer species (red, roe, and fallow) and mouflons. Within the disease control programme (DCP), livers from all shot deer were thoroughly analysed and all detected trematodes and gross lesions were counted and categorized. Prevalence of positive animals, in this study for Spačva region, in the period ranging from 2007 to 2012 was 36.42% (46.39% when fawns are not considered). Epidemiological analysis was applied to evaluate risk factors and disease patterns at the population level with the aim to understand factors with negative influence on therapeutic effect. Each demographic variable was tested at the seasonal, individual and location level. Model for pathological lesions suggested that the likelihood of lesions was dependent on age (p = 0.003). We did not find any locality or sex related significant differences. Finally, environmental characteristics and migratory patterns were analysed using Geographic Information System (GIS) and showed that Spačva region represents an epidemiological unit for red deer fascioloidosis.
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and organochlorine pesticide (OCP) levels in fat tissue of red and fallow deer (
Cervus elaphus
L. and
Dama dama
L.) from two inland and an Adriatic area were ...established. Of 17 analysed PCBs, PCB-28, PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-180 and PCB-118 were found in all samples, whilst PCB-101 and PCB-170 were found in more than 50% of samples. They ranged between 0.03 and 5.98 ng g
−1
fat weight. Of seven analysed OCPs, HCB, γ-HCH and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-di(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE) were found in all samples, whilst β-HCH was found in more than 50% of samples. They ranged between 0.17 and 22.14 ng g
−1
fat weight. The dominating compounds were DDE, PCB-138, PCB153, PCB-118 and PCB-180. According to the Duncan multistage test, the levels of PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB 170 and PCB-180 were significantly higher in perirenal fat samples of specimens taken from the Adriatic area. DDE was significantly higher in the inland deer samples. Some species differences were determined and were mostly related to higher PCB and β-HCH levels in fallow deer samples and higher DDE levels in red deer samples. No sex difference was established. As for age, significantly higher levels of PCB-118 and PCB-52 were found in fawns.
Concentrations of cadmium, lead and mercury were determined in muscle, liver and kidney tissue from three different age groups of red deer (young animals aged 6 or 7 months, middle-aged animals aged ...3 to 5 years, old animals aged over 8 years) from the Baranja region of Croatia. Median cadmium concentrations were low in the muscles of all investigated age groups (0.0002; 0.0009 and 0.0020 μg/g), higher in the liver (0.0279; 0.0656 and 0.1463 μg/g) and highest in the kidneys (0.4792; 2.8531 and 6.1657 μg/g). A positive correlation was established between cadmium concentration and age. In all analyzed tissues the median lead concentration was higher in young (muscle 0.0024; liver 0.0364 and kidney 0.0618 μg/g), compared to middle-aged animals (muscle 0.0001; liver 0.0184 and kidney 0.0160 μg/g). In contrast to cadmium, mercury had a negative correlation to age but median concentrations were very low (in muscle: 0.0011; 0.0001 and 0.0006 μg/g; in liver: 0.0051; 0.0037 and 0.0022 μg/g and in kidney: 0.0145; 0.0183 and 0.0106 μg/g) especially compared to cadmium. From the hygienic point of view all the examined tissues are edible since concentrations of the analyzed metals do not exceed values proposed by the official regulations, with the exception of a few kidney samples, which contained cadmium above the recommended value. Furthermore, mercury concentrations are no longer (since 2008) a matter of legislation.
Measurement of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites is increasingly used as a non-invasive tool to examine disturbances in various domestic and wild animals. Because measurements of faecal ...glucocorticoid metabolites has previously never been reported in fallow deer, we determined 11,17-dioxoandrostanes (11,17-DOA), a group of cortisol metabolites, in the faeces of four fallow deer yearlings after an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge or control saline injection by an 11-oxoaetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay (EIA), to validate a method. A 2.9- to 4.3-fold increase in measured cortisol metabolites in challenged animals after approximately 22 h demonstrated the suitability of this group-specific EIA to monitor adrenocortical activity in respective deer species. To determine faecal cortisol metabolites in fallow deer from a Mediterranean habitat, we collected samples during a 1-year study at Veliki Brijuni Island. The study confirmed seasonal pattern of cortisol release in fallow deer. Higher 11,17-DOA concentrations (median; min-max) were determined for November (99; 50-2,035), March (112; 25-315) and May (92; 40-196 ng/g faeces). Significantly lower concentrations were measured during July (30; 10-195 ng/g faeces). This study indicates that the analysis of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites is a valuable non-invasive technique for monitoring adrenocortical activity in fallow deer. This, together with information about the seasonal pattern of glucocorticoid excretion, could help to improve fallow deer management and welfare, especially in the case of farmed and park animals.
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