We present a case of
infection in laying hens on a farm in central Serbia. During the rearing period on litter, ascaridosis was diagnosed at 15 weeks of age by routine parasitological fecal ...examination. Pullets were treated with flubendazole for one week, and two weeks later the hens were moved to battery cages. The production results were within technological standards until the 23
week and the medical health status was without any clinical symptoms. After that period weight loss began, the egg production dropped to 70% and eggs were of poor quality. Subsequently, severe feather pecking and an increase of mortality were reported. The postmortal examination showed severe anemia and several gross lesions in the liver, intestines, lungs, and kidneys. Different sizes of
were found in the lumen of the duodenum and jejunum. Gross changes of the intestinal mucosa were present, such as a thickened intestinal wall with hemorrhagic spots, inflammation and necrotic patches. Histopathological examination showed marked changes in the intestines, liver and kidneys. All visible live parasites were collected and stored in Earle’s balanced salts, and females were used for
susceptibility testing. Median lethal concentration (LC
) of piperazine, levamisole and carvacrol for
was 119.7μM, 2.71μM and 3.26μM, were applied, respectively. Based on our results, it is likely that reinfection occurred after completed dehelmintization. In relation to the new circumstances and the regulation for laying hen welfare the deworming protocol should be changed in order to ensure successful dehelmintization. In order to prevent reinfection the treatment must be done at the end of the rearing period and thus be maximally effective.
A 3-year-old intact male African pygmy hedgehog was presented at the Teaching Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, with a growth on the left side of its abdomen. ...After clinical examination, the mass was surgically removed, and histopathological findings indicated a nerve sheath tumor. The hedgehog fully recovered after surgery and was euthanized eight months later due to the appearance of multicentric changes in the internal organs. Further necropsy and macroscopic, cytologic, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical findings revealed that the tumor was a multicentric high-grade T-cell lymphoma. This is an unusual case of an African pygmy hedgehog with two different neoplasms−a nerve sheath tumor followed by lymphoma.
The COVID-19 pandemic imposed a strict state of emergency on Belgrade residents with a curfew and restriction on movement. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine how the measures ...introduced as a consequence of this disease in the capital of Serbia affected the duration of walking time of owners and their dogs. The study allowed for sociodemographics of owners, characteristics of their homes and breeds of dog. The research was conducted in the period from March 22 to April 4, 2020. In general, the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions reduced the duration of dog walks and owners’ walking time. Of the 216 adult dog owners, 59% walked their dogs successfully (≥150 min/week) before the state of emergency. The number of owners who walked their dogs for ≥150 min/week decreased to only 44% (N = 96) during the state of emergency. The pandemic also decreased the number of owners who achieved total walking times of ≥150 min/week, so only 56% of them were successful in total walking time during the state of emergency (100% were successful before the pandemic, as this was one of inclusion criteria). This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). A Wilcoxon signed-rank test found significant differences in the total walking time before and during the state of emergency, with regard to characteristics of the owner, home and dog, with strong effect sizes for these differences (P < 0.01). McNemar's test showed that female owners, owners aged 45-64 years and owners with high income who were previously successful in walking their dogs (≥150 min/week) were more affected by the pandemic in regard to walking time with dogs (P < 0.01). Significant correlations (P < 0.01) were observed between dog breed and walking time before the state of emergency; age and walking time with the dog during the state of emergency and; age and total walking time during the state of emergency. Comparisons between different categories within the same characteristics (owner demographics, home characteristics and dog breed) by Fisher's exact test found significant differences only between younger and older dog owners in total walking time during the state of emergency (P < 0.01). Younger owners were significantly more successful in achieving ≥150 min/week total walking time than owners aged 45-64. The COVID-19 pandemic has left some owners jobless and allowed them to spend more time walking dogs. The occurrence of this disease has led to changes in the social structure of households and in the daily habits of household members. These factors have affected on the length of walking time of owners and their dogs in Belgrade.
This article presents findings from an assessment of owners' investments in the welfare of African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris), focusing on feeding, housing, enrichment, hygiene, and ...health practices. Participants were divided into three groups based on how they acquired information about hedgehog care: G1 consulted veterinarians, G2 consulted other owners and breeders, and G3 consulted the internet. Group G3 comprised the largest portion of participants (45%), while G1 had the fewest (22%). The majority of owners fed their hedgehogs commercial food (55%), supplemented with live worms, dry insects, or plants (79%). Most hedgehogs were housed in units smaller than 0.5 square meters (68%), and 84% lacked a hiding "house". Some owners did not provide a hedgehog wheel (17%). Owners consulting veterinarians (G1) were more likely to use commercial food (P < 0.05), spend time interacting with their pets (P < 0.01), wash the wheel daily (P < 0.01), seek veterinary check-ups upon acquisition (P < 0.01), schedule preventive examinations (P < 0.01), and consult veterinarians for health changes (P < 0.01) compared to internet consulters (G3). All G1 owners had hedgehog wheels, significantly more than G2 owners (P < 0.01), where 27% lacked them. Significant differences existed between G1 and G2 in wheel washing frequency, post-acquisition veterinary visits (P < 0.001), preventive check-ups (P < 0.001), and contacting veterinarians for health changes (P < 0.01). Overall, owners across all groups exhibited differences in care practices, including some errors such as inadequate housing.
•Different source of knowlegde caused differences in caring practice for hedgehogs.•The majority of hedgehog owners search the internet for the hedgehog caring tips.•The fewest hedgehog owners try to solve hedgehog health issues on their own.•Consulting a veterinarian ensures optimal pet care and welfare maintenance.
The prevalence and the incidence of dog bite studies are mainly based on hospital records. However, in this study, the information about dog bites to children was obtained by searching Serbian online ...newspapers, between January 2008 and May 2018. Sixty-nine articles from Serbian online newspaper report dog bites to 79 children between January 2008 and June 2018. Children over 6 years old (school class) constituted 65% of the sample and 51% were boys. Most commonly, children were bitten by dogs of known owners (59%). Stray dogs were involved in fewer bites to children (41%; P < 0.05). Children sustained the greatest number of dog bites during the spring months (37%) and the lowest in the summer (14%). Mongrels were involved in 37% of all bites followed by terriers in bull type (21%). Head, face, and neck (32%) were the most common individual site of injury from dog bites. Most children (68%) sustained bites without previous interaction with dogs. Data collected from newspapers on dog bites to children cannot provide a real insight into the scale and severity of the problem. However, these data can be the trigger for further studying of this problem by health workers, veterinarians and scientists, and a warning to local authorities to tackle the problem of irresponsible dog ownership.
In mid-March 2020, a state of emergency was declared in Serbia in order to prevent the spread of COVID 19. Many activities of Serbian citizens were limited or completely stopped. Citizens had to ...spend most of their time confined in their homes. However, some still wanted and managed to acquire pets. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine which kinds of pets (dogs, cats and non-traditional animals) the residents of Serbia acquired during the first year of the COVID 19 pandemic and in which manner (purchase, adoption or gift). If the pets were acquired by adoption, the participants were asked from what sources they adopted them. Finally, how the characteristics of the owner and their household influenced the adoption of pets was examined. A total of 566 pet owners who acquired pets in the pre-COVID 19 and COVID 19 periods participated in the research. The COVID pandemic reduced the number of pet owners 2.7-fold in 2020 compared to 2019. Dogs were the most favourite pets acquired before (43%) and during (43%) the pandemic. During the pandemic, 61% of pets were acquired by adoption and the percentage of dogs, cats and non-traditional pets adopted directly from previous owners increased by 32%, 13% and 12%, respectively. The probability of acquiring pets by adoption was significantly increased by the presence of people older than 65 in the household (OR=2.56; P=0.02), the absence of children up to 5 years of age (OR=0.17; P<0.001) in the household, lower monthly incomes (OR=0.47; P<0.001), the greater available free time of the owner (OR=2.09; P<0.001), and the period of adoption (OR=2.42; P<0.001).
The eight-year study (2015-2023) was performed on a large sample of poached European pond turtles infected with
and held in a pond that belongs to a quarantine section of Belgrade Zoo. The protected ...species of European pond turtles have been found in poor health, with general weakness, anorexia, and low motility. Comprehensive cytological, hematological, molecular, and postmortem evaluations have been performed. Initially, Diff Quick staining of the blood smears revealed rounded or elongated erythrocytes, often bearing premeront or U-shaped gamont of the hemogregarines inside. The reduced erythrocyte numbers, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values found in the examined population of infected turtles indicated anemia. Macroscopically, shell necrosis and massive skin hemorrhages were the most prominent findings observed in diseased turtles. Microscopically, the lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen revealed hyperemia, hemorrhages, and the presence of parasitic stages in tissue samples in 31 of 40 necropsied turtles. Cytological and microscopic examination of the samples proved to be sufficient for establishing the infection, but molecular analyses of the 18S sequence were used for phylogenetic studies. Over the years, the number of diseased and dead turtles has decreased, which could be hypothetically attributed to the elimination of leeches as the definitive host.
Eight lovebirds of both sexes and different age were admitted showing alterations in behaviour and apathy. During the initial examination delamination of the beak was noted in all birds and discrete ...areas of alopecia in three of eight birds. Based on clinical experience, molecular diagnostic on PBFD, sequencing of obtained amplicons, and histopathological examination were performed. All birds tested positive on the presence of PBFD virus, despite the fact they did not exhibit expected clinical signs for PBFD. Sequencing results showed 100% match with sequences previously isolated from parrots with PBFD exhibiting classical PBFD manifestation. Histopathological examination showed similar findings as in previously described cases of PBFD in parrots. Other studies on psittacine birds correlate clinical manifestations and nucleotide variations with geographic localization. Our results indicate that the clinical manifestation of the disease is more dependent on bird species than on the genetic variation of the virus or the geographical distribution.
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