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
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
Trace elements concentrations (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Hg) were determined in the liver, kidney and muscle of 28 red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and 16 stone marten (Martes foina) from suburban and rural habitats ...from Croatia. Rural and suburban habitats affected Cd and Hg levels in the muscle, liver and kidney of red fox. Significant differences in metal concentrations in the muscle, liver and kidney were detected among species. Suburban stone marten accumulated the highest levels of trace elements (mg/kg w.w.): in muscle 0.019 for Hg; in liver 0.161 for Cd, 36.1 for Cu and 0.349 for Pb; in kidney 1.34 for Cd and 0.318 for Pb. Values observed were higher than those found in suburban red fox and therefore, may represent an important bioindicator for the accumulation of toxic metals in urbanized habitats.
A male roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) aged 2 years was shot near Nasice in Croatia, exhibiting polydactylism. Based on visual examination and radiographs, polydactylism was described on three limbs. ...On the front and hind right feet digit 2 was duplicated and on the hind left foot there was a 2nd extra metatarsal bone with 3 digits. Key words:: polydactyly, roe deer (Capreoluss capreolus), Croatia Slucaj polidaktilije opisan je u srnjaka (Capreolus capreolus) dobi od 2 godine, odstrijeljenoga kod Nasica u Hrvatskoj. Vizualnim pregledom te na osnovi rengenskih snimki, polidaktilija je utvrdena i opisana na tri noge. Na prednjoj i straznjoj desnoj nozi utvrdena je duplikacija 2. prsta, a na straznjoj lijevoj nozi pojava dodatne metatarzalne kosti s 3 prsta. Kljucne rijeci: polidaktilija, srnjak, Capreolus capreolus
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.
The aim of this research was to investigate the use of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting test with native excretory/secretory Fascioloides magna antigen ...(ES-Ag) in free-ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus). The research was performed on 48 red deer shot during routine culls from two different areas, considering the occurrence of fascioloidosis. After coprological examination and gross pathology examination of the livers for F. magna, serum samples were divided into three groups as infected (n = 32), uninfected (n = 13) and previously infected deer (n = 3). Indirect ELISA results were significantly higher for serum samples from infected deer (percentage of positivity (PP) 65.1 ± 18.4) than uninfected (PP 11.6 ± 13.7) and previously infected deer (PP 20.3 + or - 6.4). Samples from uninfected deer had fewer bands (30-33 and 104 kDa) on Western blotting than samples from infected deer (6, 17, 22, 27, 30-33, 40, 45 and 104 kDa). The number of alive flukes positively correlated with the ELISA results and the number of F. magna eggs per gram of faeces (EPG). The results indicated that ELISA and Western blotting test could be useful in the early diagnosis of fascioloidosis in red deer and also in control in the population of free-ranging red deer. Key words: Fascioloides magna, red deer, excretory/secretory antigens, indirect ELISA, Western blotting Cilj ovog rada bio je istraziti imunodijagnosticki potencijal ekskretomo/sekretomog antigena (ES-Ag) dobivenog od odraslih Fascioloides magna u populaciji slobodno zivucih jelena obicnih primjenom neizravnoga imunoenzimnog i Western blotting testa. Istrazivanje je provedeno na 48 jelena obicnih odstrijeljenih u okviru planiranog odstrjela na dva razlicita podrucja s obzirom na pojavu fascioloidoze. Nakon koproloske pretrage i razudbe jetara na prisutnost F. magna, uzorci seruma bili su podijeljeni u tri skupine: invadirani (n = 32), neinvadirani (n = 13) i prethodno invadirani jeleni (n = 3). Rezultati neizravnog ELISA testa bili su znacajno visi u uzorcima seruma od invadiranih jelena (postotak pozitivnosti (PP) 65,08 ± 18,40) nego neinvadiranih (PP 11,6 ± 13,7) i prethodno invadiranih jelena (PP 20,31 ± 6,43). Uzorci od invadiranih imali su nekoliko linija (30-33 i 104 kDa) primjenom Western blottinga za razliku od uzoraka od invadiranih jelena (6, 17, 22, 27, 3033, 40, 45 i 104 kDa). Broj zivih metilja u pozitivnoj je korelaciji s rezultatima ELISA testa i broja F. magna jajasca po gramu izmeta (EPG). Rezultati ukazuju da neizravna ELISA i Western blotting test mogu biti korisni s ciljem ranog otkrivanja fascioloidoze u jelena obicnog te isto tako u njenoj kontroli u populaciji slobodno zivucih jelena obicnih. Kljucne rijeci: Fascioloides magna, jelen obicni, ekskretorno/sekretorni antigeni, neizravna ELISA, Western blotting
Mandibular osteomyelitis in free-ranging cervids is a rare, but eventually fatal, disease. We examined 41,895 defleshed mandibles of roe deer collected throughout Slovenia in 2007. Mandibles from ...14,679 fawns had no signs of osteomyelitis, and were excluded from further analysis. Of the remaining 27,216 specimens, chronic osteomyelitis ("lumpy jaw") was found in 113 mandibles (4.2%; 7.0% of adults). The majority of cases were observed from the Mediterranean and subalpine regions, near larger cities and thermal power plants. There was no statistically significant correlation between severity of the mandibular osteomyelitis and body weight. Females were more frequently affected than males. Coarse and abrasive food, and to some extent dental fluorosis, are the most probable triggers for development of lesions.
The purpose of this study was to measure the length and width proportions of the metapodial bones and phalanges of fallow deer (Dama dama L.) from the Brijuni Islands (Croatia) and correlate those ...osteometrical values with body mass. The osteometrical analysis included 28 metapodial bones and 168 phalanges of seven individual fallow deer of known age, sex and weight. The descriptive statistics for the obtained measurements show that the variability coefficient is less than 10% for the metapodial bone measurements and the phalanges length values, and greater than 10% for the width measurements. Comparison of osteometrical values for all the bones with body mass shows a negative correlation. After excluding the measurement values for the three juvenile individuals, the correlation becomes highly positive. Width measurements correlate better with body mass than the length measurements. Osteometrical studies are invaluable as only these data derived from recent populations can be compared with ancient animal populations in interdisciplinary archaeo-zoological investigations. Key words: fallow deer, Brijuni Islands, osteometrical analysis Osteometrijska analiza kostiju metapodija i clanaka prstiju jelena lopatara (Dama dama L.) s Brijuna (Hrvatska). Svrha ovog istrazivanja bila je izmjeriti duzinu i sirinu kostiju metapodija i clanaka prstiju jelena lopatara (Dama dama L.) s Brijuna i usporediti dobivene osteometrijske vrijednosti s tjelesnom masom. U radu je obavljena osteometrijska analiza 28 kostiju metapodija i 168 clanaka prstiju sedam jedinki jelena lopatara poznate dobi, spola i tezine. Opisna statistika izmjera pokazuje da je koeficijent varijabilnosti kod izmjera metapodija i duzinskih vrijednosti clanaka prstiju ispod 10%, dok je kod sirinskih izmjera clanaka prstiju iznad 10%. Usporedbom osteometrijskih vrijednosti svih kostiju s tjelesnom tezinom korelacija je negativna. Izuzecem mjernih vrijednosti tri juvenilne jedinke korelacija postaje visoko pozitivna. Sirinski su izmjeri bolje korelirani s tjelesnom tezinom od duzinskih. Osteometrijska istrazivanja su neprocjenjiva stoga sto se samo podatci dobiveni od danasnjih populacija mogu usporediti s populacijama drevnih zivotinja u interdisciplinarnim arheozooloskim istrazivanjima. Kljucne rijeci: jelen lopatar, Brijuni, osteometrijska analiza, Hrvatska
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