The European Observatory of Wildlife (EOW) as part of the ENETWILD project, aims to improve the European capacity for monitoring wildlife populations, implementing international standards for data ...collection, providing guidance on wildlife density estimation, and finally, to promote collaborative, open data networks to develop wildlife monitoring, initially focusing on terrestrial wild mammals. This report presents density estimates for species that are widely distributed (wild boar (Sus scrofa), European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus)) by following a standardised camera trapping (CT) protocol, in 48 areas from 28 different countries in Europe, during 2022. Density values are provided for 37 areas from 20 countries, while an additional 9 locations from 8 countries are currently completing the data analysis. The EOW involved different stakeholders over most European countries, which resulted for the first time in a number of reliable (known precision) wild ungulate density estimates, from areas representing different European bioregions. These estimates are the result of a collaborative effort from the network to apply practical systematic and rigorous protocols. The results presented from the first pilot campaign of the EOW cannot be used to accurately describe wildlife population gradients and trends at European level but can be used as first baseline data for future trend analyses. Our results show data gaps, but also provide relevant insights into some of the main drivers of demographic evolution of wild ungulate populations in Europe. We will expand and improve the EOW in the future to include more representative sites. The Agouti app, including photogrammetry methods to estimate CT detection zone size and animal speed of movement using a computer vision process proved useful to reduce the workload and to improve objectivity of measurements for REM method. We discuss the results obtained by the 2022 campaign in relation to the specific objectives of the EOW and propose the next steps.
Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with peptic ulcer and
gastric carcinoma. The oral cavity may be a reservoir for H. pylori;
however, the results of studies on this subject are ...controversial. We
employed single-step and nested polymerase chain reactions (PCR) to
detect the presence of the vacA, ureA and 16S rDNA genes of H. pylori
in the stomach, saliva and dental plaque of 30 subjects. The results
were confirmed by sequencing. Nested 16S rDNA and ureA amplification
was achieved in 80% of gastric, 30% of saliva and 20% of dental plaque
specimens. Sequencing of 10, seven and four 16S rDNA products from
stomach, saliva and dental plaque, respectively, showed > 99%
identity with H. pylori. Sequencing of the other four oral cavity PCR
products showed similarity with Campylobacter and Wolinella
species. Additionally, the vacA genotype identified in the samples of
different sites was the same within a given subject.H. pylori may be
found in the oral cavity of patients with gastric infection, thus it
could be a source of transmission. However, results obtained with
detection methods based only on PCR should be interpreted with caution
because other microorganisms that are phylogenetically very close to H.
pylori are also present in the mouth.