Radionuclide contamination is a serious health issue caused by nuclear experiments and plant accidents, as seen for the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear plants. Italy has been especially interested in ...northwestern alpine regions, as have several other nations. The aim of this work was to indagate .sup.134 Cs and .sup.137 Cs contamination in wild boars, which were considered bioindicators sampled in the Chisone/Germanasca Valley and the Pellice Valley districts (Piedmont, Italy) in two hunting seasons (2014 and 2016). In the 2014 season, only the livers of the animals (n = 48) were sampled, whereas in 2016, five different anatomical sampling sites were sampled for each animal (n = 16). The analyses were conducted in an accredited laboratory (Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente-ARPA) by the aid of an HPGe detector (Ortec) with a relative efficiency of 50%. In general, the contamination levels registered in 2014 were under the detection limit for .sup.134 Cs and low for .sup.137 Cs (Chisone/Germanasca valley: min: 0.0, max: 23.9 median 11.0 Bq/kg vs Pellice valley: min 0, max: 31.7, median: 9.6 Bq/kg) and no health concern can be supposed. In the first-year samples, the liver showed a negative correlation between age and contamination level. In the second year of sampling, low levels were confirmed (min: 3.1 Bq/kg, max: 113.3; median 17.7 Bq/kg). Multiple sampling from the same animal showed that the diaphragm (median = 27.7 Bq/kg) kidney (27.4) and tongue (27.6) were more contaminated than the liver (17.7) and spleen (15.3). Moreover, a linear mixed model revealed a negative organ-by-age interaction, meaning that interorgan differences in contamination level were greater in younger (5-11 months) than in older (18-36 months) animals. Different feeding habits can be the explanation. Our paper shows that muscle sites (diaphragm and tongue) can be useful for radionuclide pollution surveillance in wild boar populations and that younger animals show more interorgan variability in contamination levels than older animals. More investigations are needed to confirm this correlation and to fulfill the request for more data to achieve better risk assessment.
Radionuclide contamination is a serious health issue caused by nuclear experiments and plant accidents, as seen for the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear plants. Italy has been especially interested in ...northwestern alpine regions, as have several other nations. The aim of this work was to indagate .sup.134 Cs and .sup.137 Cs contamination in wild boars, which were considered bioindicators sampled in the Chisone/Germanasca Valley and the Pellice Valley districts (Piedmont, Italy) in two hunting seasons (2014 and 2016). In the 2014 season, only the livers of the animals (n = 48) were sampled, whereas in 2016, five different anatomical sampling sites were sampled for each animal (n = 16). The analyses were conducted in an accredited laboratory (Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente-ARPA) by the aid of an HPGe detector (Ortec) with a relative efficiency of 50%. In general, the contamination levels registered in 2014 were under the detection limit for .sup.134 Cs and low for .sup.137 Cs (Chisone/Germanasca valley: min: 0.0, max: 23.9 median 11.0 Bq/kg vs Pellice valley: min 0, max: 31.7, median: 9.6 Bq/kg) and no health concern can be supposed. In the first-year samples, the liver showed a negative correlation between age and contamination level. In the second year of sampling, low levels were confirmed (min: 3.1 Bq/kg, max: 113.3; median 17.7 Bq/kg). Multiple sampling from the same animal showed that the diaphragm (median = 27.7 Bq/kg) kidney (27.4) and tongue (27.6) were more contaminated than the liver (17.7) and spleen (15.3). Moreover, a linear mixed model revealed a negative organ-by-age interaction, meaning that interorgan differences in contamination level were greater in younger (5-11 months) than in older (18-36 months) animals. Different feeding habits can be the explanation. Our paper shows that muscle sites (diaphragm and tongue) can be useful for radionuclide pollution surveillance in wild boar populations and that younger animals show more interorgan variability in contamination levels than older animals. More investigations are needed to confirm this correlation and to fulfill the request for more data to achieve better risk assessment.
Wild boars, being a common game species, inhabit regions across Eurasia, the southern regions of Asia and certain Indonesian islands. Being omnivorous and due to their relatively long lifespan, wide ...distribution and a relatively high number of shot animals per annual legal hunting season, they are suitable to be biological indicators of occurrence of heavy metals. Concentrations of cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry and cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry in the livers of free-living wild boars (n = 58) from two locations in the Republic of North Macedonia. In all four examined heavy metals, no statistically significant difference between the locations was found (p > 0.05). The mean levels of heavy metals were Cd 0.391 mg/kg and 0.339 mg/kg; Pb 0.213 mg/kg and 0.204 mg/kg; Hg 0.034 mg/kg and 0.037 mg/kg; As 0.035 mg/kg and 0.029 mg/kg in the livers of boars from Bitola and Gevgelija hunting sites, respectively. Although some samples (two samples of Hg, ten samples of Cd and two samples of Pb) exceeded the legal limits, the average values for all heavy metals were far below the maximum permitted values. These findings are promising since they suggest that the ecosystem in the Republic of North Macedonia is stable concerning heavy metal pollution.
•African swine fever emerged in several European and Asian countries.•Review of current knowledge of African swine fever (ASF).•Focus on ASF virology, clinical disease, epidemiology, diagnosis, ...vaccines, and control.•Control has to integrate all stakeholders.•Discussion of ASF controversies and knowledge gaps.
African swine fever (ASF) is a viral hemorrhagic disease with exceptionally high lethality in domestic pigs and Eurasian wild boar. Over the last decade, ASF has emerged in several European and Asian countries and has now an unprecedented distribution. Against this background, the presented review focuses on current knowledge and advances in ASF virology, clinical disease upon infection with recent strains, epidemiology, diagnosis, and control. This review highlights knowledge gaps and controversial opinions related to ASF.
The African swine fever epizootic in central and eastern European Union member states has a newly identified component involving virus transmission by wild boar and virus survival in the environment. ...Insights led to an update of the 3 accepted African swine fever transmission models to include a fourth cycle: wild boar-habitat.
Research on reproduction and fertility is an essential fundament of management strategies in European wild boar. Concerning the examination of the reproductive tract, methods still lack conformity ...and comparability. So far the reproductive status of female wild boar has been assessed by ovarian macroscopic examination. In order to find out if this is a valid method, 21 ovaries of 8–34 months old animals covering (early) follicular phase and cyclic inactivity were evaluated microscopically. Number and dimension of follicles as well as the occurrence of atretic follicles were compared and related to age, weight, ovary weight and size of ovary.
For this study, 21 ovaries of the right side of each animal were weighed and measured. The diameter of the functional bodies was measured and functional bodies were counted. Size of ovary was calculated by length*width*height (cm3). Macroscopically, follicles were classified into four categories by diameter: F1 (0.2–0.3 cm), F2 (0.4–0.5 cm), F3 (0.6–0.8 cm) and F4 (0.9–1.3 cm).
Microscopically, antral follicles of every 10th slice per section of each ovary were counted and classified into three categories by diameter: F0 (≥2 mm), FS (1–2 mm) and FXS (≤1 mm). In follicles with a diameter greater than 2 mm (F0), length and width were measured from the beginning of theca interna.
Results showed that age and weight of wild boars were highly correlated (cor = 0.845, p < 0.001). Wild boar of higher age and weight showed higher ovary weight, but this was not significant (p = 0.135 (age), p = 0.329 (weight)). Although the number of macroscopically seen follicles differed widely by animal, microscopically only one ovary showed only small tertiary follicles. Animals with bigger follicles showed a significantly (p = 0.006) smaller number of small and smallest tertiary follicles. The number of tertiary follicles (F0) was not significantly influenced by age or carcass weight (p = 0.460, 0.159). Older and heavier animals showed significantly less FX and FXS (p < 0.001). Comparison of the follicular composition of young wild boar ovaries with domestic pig research allows the conclusion that assessment of cyclic activity and near puberty is possible. However, due to the fact that puberty is a long term biological progress, defining the time of sexual maturity will always be an estimate. Nevertheless, microscopic examination confirmed the macroscopic findings, including follicular dimensions and developmental stage allowing the conclusion that macroscopic evaluation of ovarian functional bodies in wild boar is an easy and reliable way to assess reproductive performance.
The cumulative impact of human activities has driven many species into severe declines across the globe. However, the recent focus on conservation optimism has begun to highlight case studies that go ...against this trend. Reforestation, agricultural abandonment, reintroduction and legislative change have led to a situation where large mammals have recovered and are now widespread across the European continent. This study summarizes the knowledge about wild ungulate distribution in Europe and review the diversity of ways in which they interact with humans. Drawn from a wide range of sources, we built distribution maps of European wild ungulates. Results show that 90% of Europe is home to at least 1 species of wild native ungulate, with roe deer and wild boar occupying 74% and 64% of Europe respectively. In contrast, wild native mountain ungulates only occupy 5% of Europe, and are often associated with protected areas. The wide distribution of most European ungulates combined with the extensive human activity within Europe result in a wide range of interactions between ungulates and humans. These interactions can be classified as services or disservices depending on the value orientation and economic position of the various stakeholders perceiving this relationship. Overall, our survey highlights the success of wildlife management policies in Europe and the potential for continental scale conservation of large mammals in human-dominated landscapes. However, maintaining the success of wild ungulate conservation requires actions from national and European institutions to improve coordinated management across jurisdictional borders and sectorial coordination for the whole landscape.
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•We summarize knowledge on wild ungulates distribution in Europe.•About 90% of Europe is home to at least one species of wild ungulates.•75% of wild ungulate distribution is located outside protected areas.•We explore the complex interactions between ungulates and humans in Europe's anthropogenic landscape.•More than 7 million ungulates are harvested each year in Europe.
A captured Japanese wild boar (Sus scrofa leucomystax) fetus was dicephalic. The fetus had two heads, but one body from the cranial neck region. Computed tomography imaging revealed that the two ...crania merged at the occipital bone, and the vertebral bodies between the atlas and the seventh thoracic vertebra were deformed. The fetus was found to have two tongues and laryngopharynges, but its esophagus and trachea were not duplicated. Each head contained a cerebrum and cerebellum, but the brains merged at the obex of the medulla oblongata, and the cervical spinal cord had duplicated ventral clefts. The heart was composed of three atria and four ventricles. This is the first report of a dicephalus with cardiac malformation in a wild boar.
The aim of our study was to determine the effect of age on protein, fat and water content in venison of wild boar (Sus scrofa). The musculus semimembranosus was sampled for the analyses. Monitoring ...of wild boar was realized in November and December 2016 in hunting region JXXVIII Tribeč (Western Slovakia, mountain range of Tribeč). Analysis of basic nutritive components of venison were determined with FoodScan LAB Analyzer (FOSS, Denmark) – NIR technology. The highest obtained average value of fat content was detected in piglets 4.45%, the lowest average value was in one year old individuals, 2.85%. There was no statistically significant difference in fat content (P˃0.05).The highest average value of protein content was found out in two years old animals and presents 23.31%. The lowest value was determined in group of piglets that reached 22.08%. A statistically significant difference was determined in protein content values (P<0.05). The lowest average value of water content was found out in the group of three years old individuals (69.87%) and the highest content, 72.47% in one year old group in the water content. There was no statistically significant difference (P˃0.05) in water content of venison. However, the age is still considered as a factor influencing the meat quality also from the point of view of human nutrition both of chemical traits.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of sex on content of some chosen fatty acids in wild boar venison. Soxhlet method of extraction and gravimetric method were used. Relative content ...of fatty acids in clear intramuscular fat was determined by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector on Agilent 689A GC apparatus. Analyses of each fatty acid show differences in all samples of meat being analysed. The differences are as follows: the average values reached 0,81 % in males and 0,82 % in females in alpha – linolenic acid, the average values reached 15,86 % in males and 14,01 % in females in linoleic acid, the average values reached 2,71 % in males and 2,98 % in females in palmitoleic acid. No statistical significance were determined in this differences (P>0.05). The next analyses show follow differences: the average values reached 43,15 % in males and 44,62 % in females in oleic acid, acid the average values reached 0,42 % in males and 0,48 % in females in arachidonic, significant importance (P<0.05) were determined. According to our result we can state that gender present relevant factor influencing the fatty acids content in intramuscular fat in some fatty acids.
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