BIOREpository (Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade)
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Dinaric land leech Xerobdella anulata (Autrum, 1958)(Hirudinea: Xerobdellidae) in Serbia-the easternmost record in Europe
No full textZagreb. Xerobdella anulata is a rare species of land leech endemic to the Dinaric Alps, distributed from southern Slovenia to northern Montenegro. Previously, the only known locality where this species had been recorded in Serbia was the village of Rastište on Mt. Tara, in the far west of the country. In this article, we present the second record of X. anulata in Serbia, found in the village of Sokolac, near Ljubovija. A single specimen was discovered on land near a stream in an area with a limestone substrate. We briefly describe the collected specimen, with particular emphasis on the arrangement of the gonopores. Despite the significant lack of distributional data for this species, we believe that western Serbia and the Podrinje region represent easternmost limit of species' complete distribution. Xerobdella anulata rijetka je vrsta kopnene pijavice koja je endem Dinarida i rasprostranjena je od južne Slovenije do sjeverne Crne Gore. Do sada je jedino poznato nalazište ove vrste u Srbiji bilo u selu Rastište na planini Tari, na krajnjem zapadu zemlje. U ovom članku predstavljamo drugi nalaz X. anulata u Srbiji, u selu Sokolac u blizini Ljubovije. Jedan primjerak pronađen je na tlu, u blizini potoka, na području s vapnenačkom podlogom. Ukratko opisujemo prikupljeni primjerak, s posebnim naglaskom na raspored gonopora. Unatoč značajnom nedostatku podataka o rasprostranjenosti ove vrste, smatramo da zapadna Srbija i područje Podrinja predstavljaju njezinu istočnu granicu rasprostranjenosti.M240034
Movement ecology of golden jackals (Canis aureus) and its implications for endoparasite spread: a step selection analysis approach
No full textThe golden jackal is a highly adaptive mesocarnivore currently expanding in population and range across Europe. The species has been shown to host a variety of parasite species, partly due to its opportunistic feeding, while overlapping space use with humans and domestic animals facilitates parasite transmission. To investigate possible parasite transmission patterns, the movement behaviour of golden jackals in Serbia was analysed with respect to different land cover variables (agriculture, pastures, built up areas and forests) as well as proximity to water bodies and roads. Golden jackals (n = 9) were captured, fitted with GPS collars and tracked from 2023 to 2025 in a mixed forest-agricultural landscape. Fixes were recorded every 1-3 h, and derived steps were analysed using integrated step selection functions (iSSF) to assess movement preferences. The overall results showed that jackals strongly preferred forested areas, pastures and agricultural plots, and proximity to water bodies in their movement patterns while deliberately avoiding roads. Interestingly, land cover interactions revealed that jackals are less likely to traverse through forests and agricultural plots as the proximity to water bodies increases. Cumulatively, these findings show that jackal movement corridors are aligned with water bodies and may also indicate a preference for habitats near water. As the Sava and Danube rivers surround Belgrade, these preliminary results raise important One Health concerns regarding the transmission of environmentally resistant forms (eggs, cysts, oocysts) of various parasite species hosted by the golden jackal, which may be additionally spread over a much greater territory by river water. These findings highlight that movement ecology is vital for mitigating potential public health risks posed by expanding jackal populations.M3
Long-term surveillance of Dirofilaria immitis in wild carnivores from Serbia (2013–2025).
No full textIntroduction:
Dirofilaria immitis is a parasitic nematode primarily affecting domestic dogs but also found in wild carnivores. This study builds on previous findings 1, to further assess the prevalence of D. immitis in wild carnivores in Serbia and explore potential transmission risks to domestic dogs.
Methods:
A total of 962 wild carnivore hearts were obtained in collaboration with hunters or as a roadkill. The hearts were macroscopically examined, and the Dirofilaria immitis specimens from the positive hosts were stored in ethanol for further analysis.
Results:
During the research period from 2013 to 2025, total of 82 wild animals were positive for D. immitis. Infected species included 76 golden jackals (Canis aureus)2, 1 wolf (Canis lupus), 1 otter (Lutra lutra)3, and 4 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). No infection was found in beavers, wild cats, beech martens, pine martens, badgers, weasels, or brown bears. A higher prevalence in golden jackals was observed, likely due to their habitat preferences in areas of lower altitudes, and riverine regions where mosquito vectors are abundant.
Conclusions:
The high prevalence of D. immitis in golden jackals suggests that they may represent an important reservoir for the parasite, especially in Serbia, where jackals have preference toward anthropogenically modified habitats. These habitats, which are often located in lower altitudes, and riverine areas, likely provide an abundance of mosquito vectors that facilitate the transmission of D. immitis. This finding highlights the increased risk of transmission to domestic dogs, particularly in regions with high jackal populations, and emphasises the need to monitor D. immitis in both wildlife and domestic dogs to prevent zoonotic transmission.M34616
Comparative Study of Ion Channels in Filamentous Fungi Following the Novel Development of Laser Nanosurgery for Cell Wall Removal
No full textStrana 43M3
Multimodal optical imaging and label-free sensing on-chip for monitoring intracellular and extracellular cellular processes
No full textStrana 92M3
DO THE COMBINED COMPOUNDS OF MILLIPEDE`S MEGAPHYLLUM BOSNIENSE (VERHOEFF, 1897) DEFENSIVE SECRETION EXHIBIT SYNERGISTIC EFFECT IN THE ARTEMIA SALINA TEST?
No full textStr. 121M3
Smart biofertilizers and bacterial community profiles: from maturation to impact in the field
No full textAbstract book, 355.17P, p. 1606M3
Cotoneaster bullatus Bois. (Rosaceae), a new non-native species to the flora of the Balkan Peninsula
No full textAt the beginning of their establishment, alien species appear as a peculiar subject of
the new habitat. Their further encroachment can lead to noxious effects on overall ecosystem services and native biodiversity. The moment they become invasive, a multi-level intervention is required to remove them. Therefore, after prevention, the identification of a new non-native species is the most important step in monitoring. Higher altitude areas are not resistant to negative anthropogenic influences, which are also reflected in the flora. The distribution patterns and abundance of non-native species have not been sufficiently studied in the mountain areas of Serbia and the Balkan Peninsula. The floristic survey of the Zlatibor Mountain and Nature Park (western Serbia) took place in the period 2020–2024. The species Cotoneaster bullatus Bois, from SW China, was recorded with 16 individuals in a semi-natural
forest of Pinus nigra and P. sylvestris, right next to the motorway in the wider surroundings of the locality Partizanske vode. In 2024, an expansion of the population was observed up to 50 individuals with the appearance of shoots. Hollyberry cotoneaster is a new allochthonous taxon for the flora of Serbia and the Balkan Peninsula. The newly recorded Cotoneaster taxon is presented on the basis of its morphology, distribution, habitat preferences, ecology and population size.
The only known population is most likely of subspontaneous origin and was established by ornithochory. The species does not yet represent an aggravating factor for native plant communities. However, there is a risk that the population of C. bullatus will spread to the surrounding natural forest habitats.M221.548749914
The Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) as a Reservoir of Toxocara spp.
No full textRecent large-scale expansion of the golden jackal (Canis aureus) across Europe has
resulted in its rapid spread outside of its historic distribution and an increase in population.
High adaptability to different habitats, opportunistic omnivorous feeding, climate change,
changes in land use, and the absence of large predators are considered the main drivers
for its spread. Golden jackal expansion has raised concerns about its potential role in
disease dissemination, as this species is a host to numerous pathogens, including parasitic
roundworms of the Toxocara genus. Domestic dogs and wild Canidae are definitive hosts
for Toxocara spp., while many other species of animals, including humans, can be
paratenic hosts. Toxocariasis is usually benign in adult definitive hosts but in others it can
present with a variety of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. Infection commonly
occurs after ingestion of the roundworm’s eggs, which are excreted by definitive hosts, or
larvae (L3), which reside in tissues of paratenic hosts. Toxocara spp. eggs are shed into the
environment via feces of the definitive host, where they mature and become infectious. As
with many other environmentally transmitted parasites, the eggs are highly resistant and
remain viable for extended periods in soil and water, thereby increasing the odds for
infection. While the infection is easily controlled in pets by administration of antiparasitic
compounds, controlling infection in wildlife and in particular, preventing the spread of
roundworm eggs in the environment is a daunting challenge. To evaluate the jackals’
importance as a reservoir of Toxocara spp., 69 digestive tracts of legally hunted animals
were examined for the presence of the parasite. Toxocara spp. were recovered from 21.7%
of jackals of which 46.7% were co-infected with tapeworms and/or other roundworms.
These findings, together with the population growth dynamics and movement patterns of
golden jackals, suggest a need for the development of surveillance programs for Toxocara spp. in areas with large jackal populations, while targeted control measures may need to
be introduced in the future.M3
