Publications

solar radiation determines site occupancy of coexisting tropical and temperate deer species introduced to new zealand forests.	assemblages of introduced taxa provide an opportunity to understand how abiotic and biotic factors shape habitat use by coexisting species. we tested hypotheses about habitat selection by two deer species recently introduced to new zealand's temperate rainforests. we hypothesised that, due to different thermoregulatory abilities, rusa deer (cervus timorensis; a tropical species) would prefer warmer locations in winter than red deer (cervus elaphus scoticus; a temperate species). since adult male ...	2015	26061426
contrary seasonal changes of rates of nutrient uptake, organ mass, and voluntary food intake in red deer (cervus elaphus).	northern ungulates acclimatize to winter conditions with restricted food supply and unfavorable weather conditions by reducing energy expenditure and voluntary food intake. we investigated in a study on red deer whether rates of peptide and glucose transport in the small intestines are also reduced during winter as part of the thrifty phenotype of winter-acclimatized animals, or whether transport rates are increased during winter in order to exploit poor forage more efficiently. our results supp ...	2015	26017492
analysis of annual changes in the concentrations of selected macro- and microelements, thyroxine, and testosterone in the serum of red deer (cervus elaphus) stags.	the aim of the study was to analyze seasonal changes in the concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and selenium as well as thyroxine and testosterone in adult red deer stags. the highest testosterone concentrations (mean 6.29±4.36 ng/ml) were observed from the end of august to november, confirming an increase in testicular secretory activity during the mating season. the changes in thyroxine concentration show circannual rhythms, most likely related to changes in the air temperature. ...	2015	25998797
investment in constitutive immune function by north american elk experimentally maintained at two different population densities.	natural selection favors individuals that respond with effective and appropriate immune responses to macro or microparasites. animals living in populations close to ecological carrying capacity experience increased intraspecific competition, and as a result are often in poor nutritional condition. nutritional condition, in turn, affects the amount of endogenous resources that are available for investment in immune function. our objective was to understand the relationship between immune function ...	2015	25992627
admixture of eastern and western european red deer lineages as a result of postglacial recolonization of the czech republic (central europe).	due to a restriction of the distributional range of european red deer (cervus elaphus l.) during the quaternary and subsequent recolonization of europe from different refugia, a clear phylogeographical pattern in genetic structure has been revealed using mitochondrial dna markers. in central europe, 2 distinct, eastern and western, lineages of european red deer are present; however, admixture between them has not yet been studied in detail. we used mitochondrial dna (control region and cytochrom ...	2015	25918430
authenticity control of game meat products--a single method to detect and quantify adulteration of fallow deer (dama dama), red deer (cervus elaphus) and sika deer (cervus nippon) by real-time pcr.	this contribution presents a single real-time pcr assay allowing the determination of the deer content (the sum of fallow deer (dama dama), red deer (cervus elaphus) and sika deer (cervus nippon)) in meat products to detect food adulteration. the pcr assay does not show cross-reactivity with 20 animal species and 43 botanical species potentially contained in game meat products. the limit of quantification is 0.5% for fallow deer and red deer and 0.1% for sika deer. the deer content in meat produ ...	2015	25306377
increased chromatin fragmentation and reduced acrosome integrity in spermatozoa of red deer from lead polluted sites.	vertebrates are constantly exposed to a diffuse pollution of heavy metals existing in the environment, but in some cases, the proximity to emission sources like mining activity increases the risk of developing adverse effects of these pollutants. here we have studied lead (pb) levels in spermatozoa and testis, and chromatin damage and levels of endogenous antioxidant activity in spermatozoa of red deer (cervus elaphus) from a pb mining area (n=37) and a control area (n=26). deer from the pb-poll ...	2015	25306093
effect of microsatellite selection on individual and population genetic inferences: an empirical study using cross-specific and species-specific amplifications.	although whole-genome sequencing is becoming more accessible and feasible for nonmodel organisms, microsatellites have remained the markers of choice for various population and conservation genetic studies. however, the criteria for choosing microsatellites are still controversial due to ascertainment bias that may be introduced into the genetic inference. an empirical study of red deer (cervus elaphus) populations, in which cross-specific and species-specific microsatellites developed through p ...	2015	25403329
the content of selected metals in muscles of the red deer (cervus elaphus) from poland.	the aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of pb, cu, zn, rb, cs, sr and ba in the muscles of red deer that were hunted in two regions of poland (south-western and north-eastern). the data obtained were evaluated with regards to benefits and potential risk to consumers' health. samples for the investigations were collected in 2008 and 2009 from 50 female red deer, and the metal concentrations were determined by using the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometric (icp-ms) method ...	2015	25548020
a comparison of food habits and prey preference of amur tiger (panthera tigris altaica) at three sites in the russian far east.	prey availability is one of the principal drivers of tiger distribution and abundance. therefore, formulating effective conservation strategies requires a clear understanding of tiger diet. we used scat analysis in combination with data on the abundance of several prey species to estimate amur tiger diet and preference at 3 sites in the russian far east. we also examined the effect of pseudoreplication on estimates of tiger diet. we collected 770 scats across the 3 sites. similar to previous stu ...	2015	25939758
incorporating anthropogenic effects into trophic ecology: predator-prey interactions in a human-dominated landscape.	apex predators perform important functions that regulate ecosystems worldwide. however, little is known about how ecosystem regulation by predators is influenced by human activities. in particular, how important are top-down effects of predators relative to direct and indirect human-mediated bottom-up and top-down processes? combining data on species' occurrence from camera traps and hunting records, we aimed to quantify the relative effects of top-down and bottom-up processes in shaping predato ...	2015	26336169
beyond mice and men: environmental change, immunity and infections in wild ungulates.	in the face of rapid environmental change, anticipating shifts in microparasite and macroparasite dynamics, including emergence events, is an enormous challenge. we argue that immunological studies in natural populations are pivotal to meeting this challenge: many components of environmental change--shifts in biotic assemblages, altered climate patterns and reduced environmental predictability--may affect host immunity. we suggest that wild ungulates can serve as model systems aiding the discove ...	2015	25354672
variation of spermatogenic and sertoli cell number detected by fine needle aspiration cytology (fnac) in iberian red deer during and out of the breeding season.	the aim of the present study was to evaluate spermatogenesis in iberian red deer, a short-day seasonal breeder, using the fine needle aspiration cytology (fnac) technique. reports on spermatogenesis in deer are limited and here, for the first time, fnac has been used to evaluate changes in such physiological process during and out of the breeding season. testes were collected from 51 stags from november 2010 to february 2011. the sertoli index and spermatic index were significantly higher during ...	2015	25483787
pre-orbital gland opening during aggressive interactions in rusa deer (rusa timorensis).	the opening of the preorbital gland in cervids has a visual meaning and is frequently associated with agonistic and/or stress related situations. apart from in red deer, this behaviour has scarcely been studied and the range of situations when it may occur remains unclear. in this study we report the unusual case of preorbital gland opening in rusa deer, rusa timorensis, associated to direct aggressive agonistic interaction (biting/kicking) between two adult hinds. this case observed in tierpark ...	2015	25481309
combining small-vertebrate, marine and stable-isotope data to reconstruct past environments.	three very different records are combined here to reconstruct the evolution of environments in the cantabrian region during the upper pleistocene, covering ~35.000 years. two of these records come from antoliñako koba (bizkaia, spain), an exceptional prehistoric deposit comprising 9 chrono-cultural units (aurignacian to epipaleolithic). the palaeoecological signal of small-vertebrate communities and red deer stable-isotope data (δ(13)c and δ(15)n) from this mainland site are contrasted to marine ...	2015	26391668
ixodes ricinus (ixodidae), an occasional phoront on necrophagous and coprophagous beetles in europe.	for ticks, phoretic behaviour using insects associated with vertebrates might offer an alternative strategy to host-seeking. here we report for the first time the presence of immature stages of the most widespread tick species in western europe, ixodes ricinus (acari: ixodidae), on three beetle species belonging to families silphidae and geotrupidae (coleoptera). specimens were collected while performing fieldwork surveys on insect diversity during the peak of tick's questing behaviour, in july ...	2015	25491290
exploring the potential of laser ablation carbon isotope analysis for examining ecology during the ontogeny of middle pleistocene hominins from sima de los huesos (northern spain).	laser ablation of tooth enamel was used to analyze stable carbon isotope compositions of teeth of hominins, red deer, and bears from middle pleistocene sites in the sierra de atapuerca in northern spain, to investigate the possibility that this technique could be used as an additional tool to identify periods of physiological change that are not detectable as changes in tooth morphology. most of the specimens were found to have minimal intra-tooth variation in carbon isotopes (< 2.3‰), suggestin ...	2015	26673156
intramale variation in sperm size: functional significance in a polygynous mammal.	studies concerning the relationships between sperm size and velocity at the intraspecific level are quite limited and often yielded contradictory results across the animal kingdom. intramale variation in sperm size may represent a meaningful factor to predict sperm velocity, due to its relationship with the level of sperm competition among related taxa. because sperm phenotype is under post-copulatory sexual selection, we hypothesized that a reduced intramale variation in sperm size is associate ...	2015	26664807
[morphometry in development of red deer's adrenal glands].	histological structures and morphometric and some histochemical indicators of elk's adrenal gland development as subspecies of red deer in prenatal and postnatal ontogenies stages was studied. it was found that the growth of the fetus adrenal glands weight and the thickness of the structures adrenal glands fragments continue throughout the prenatal period of ontogeny. the cells of androgenic zone with single wandering sympathogoniae are differentiated in the adrenal glands in the second month of ...	2015	26480487
reduced glutathione addition improves both the kinematics and physiological quality of post-thawed red deer sperm.	the potential protective effect of reduced glutathione (gsh) and trolox (trx), an analogue of vitamin e, supplementation during in vitro culture (2h, 39°c) of electroejaculated frozen/thawed red deer sperm was investigated. cryopreserved sperm were thawed and incubated with no additive (control) and 1mm or 5mm of each antioxidant to find out whether these supplementations can maintain the sperm quality, considering the use of thawed samples for in vitro techniques such as in vitro fertilisation ...	2015	26474690
beyond testis size: links between spermatogenesis and sperm traits in a seasonal breeding mammal.	spermatogenesis is a costly process that is expected to be under selection to maximise sperm quantity and quality. testis size is often regarded as a proxy measure of sperm investment, implicitly overlooking the quantitative assessment of spermatogenesis. an enhanced understanding of testicular function, beyond testis size, may reveal further sexual traits involved in sperm quantity and quality. here, we first estimated the inter-male variation in testicular function and sperm traits in red deer ...	2015	26430740
cortisol but not testosterone is repeatable and varies with reproductive effort in wild red deer stags.	although it is known that hormone concentrations vary considerably between individuals within a population, how they change across time and how they relate to an individual's reproductive effort remains poorly quantified in wild animals. using faecal samples collected from wild red deer stags, we examined sources of variation in faecal cortisol and androgen metabolites, and the potential relationship that these might have with an index of reproductive effort. we also biologically validated an as ...	2015	26209865
manganese supplementation in deer under balanced diet increases impact energy and contents in minerals of antler bone tissue.	bone ash, collagen, ca and p composition, are considered the main factors affecting mechanical properties in bones. however, a series of studies in bone and antler have shown that some trace minerals, such as manganese, may play a role whose importance exceeds what may be expected considering their low content. a previous study showed that a reduction in manganese in antlers during a year of late winter frosts led to generalized antler breakage in spain, which included a reduction of 30% of cort ...	2015	26177083
vocal activity of the red deer and the acoustic structure of its rutting calls in the russian far east.		2015	26164336
mitochondrial genomes of giant deers suggest their late survival in central europe.	the giant deer megaloceros giganteus is among the most fascinating late pleistocene eurasian megafauna that became extinct at the end of the last ice age. important questions persist regarding its phylogenetic relationship to contemporary taxa and the reasons for its extinction. we analyzed two large ancient cervid bone fragments recovered from cave sites in the swabian jura (baden-württemberg, germany) dated to 12,000 years ago. using hybridization capture in combination with next generation se ...	2015	26052672
use of androcoll-s after thawing improves the quality of electroejaculated and epididymal sperm samples from red deer.	single layer centrifugation is a useful technique to select sperm with good quality. the use of selection methods such as androcoll could become an important tool to improve the quality of sperm samples and therefore to improve other artificial reproductive techniques such as sperm sex sorting, in vitro fertilization or ai. the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single layer centrifugation with androcoll-s on the sperm quality of red deer sperm samples of two different origins, el ...	2015	26002696
framing the relationship between people and nature in the context of european conservation.	a key controversy in conservation is the framing of the relationship between people and nature. the extent to which the realms of nature and human culture are viewed as separate (dualistic view) or integrated is often discussed in the social sciences. to explore how this relationship is represented in the practice of conservation in europe, we considered examples of cultural landscapes, wildlife (red deer, reindeer, horses), and protected area management. we found little support, for a dualistic ...	2015	25997474
hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of peptides from red deer antlers in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.	diabetes mellitus is a serious chronic metabolic disorder. to develop novel anti-diabetic drugs from nature sources has always been the focus of research. red deer (cervus elaphu linnaeus) antler is one of the most famous chinese traditional medicines. we found that the peptides of 5-10 kda from red deer antlers (prda) promoted the growth of cultured rat islet cells. the purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-diabetic actions of prda in vivo and purify a pure active peptide. we theref ...	2015	25985857
correction: toxoplasma gondii infection in alpine red deer (cervus elaphus): its spread and effects on fertility.		2015	26517869
toxoplasma gondii infection in alpine red deer (cervus elaphus): its spread and effects on fertility [corrected].	in contrast to the depth of knowledge on the pathological effects of parasitism in domestic animals, the impact of the vast majority of parasites on wildlife hosts is poorly understood and, besides, information from domestics is rarely usable to disclose the parasites' impact on free-ranging populations' dynamics. here we use toxoplasmosis as a study model since, until now, the infection process and the protozoan's effects in natural conditions has received little attention. we analysed 81 sera ...	2015	26405785
high prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (mrsa) carrying the mecc gene in a semi-extensive red deer (cervus elaphus hispanicus) farm in southern spain.	the objective was to determine the prevalence of staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage in red deer of a semi-extensive farm and in humans in contact with the estate animals, and to characterize obtained isolates. nasal swabs of 65 deer and 15 humans were seeded on mannitol-salt-agar and oxacillin-resistance-screening-agar-base. isolates were identified by microbiological and molecular methods. antimicrobial susceptibility profile was determined for 16 antibiotics by disk-diffusion and the presenc ...	2015	25912021
report of theileria luwenshuni and theileria sp. rsr from cervids in gansu, china.	theileria parasites are important tick-borne pathogens of animals and cause huge economic losses worldwide. here, we undertook to assess the prevalence of theileria spp. in cervids in gansu, china, based on pcr analysis and sequencing of the 18s rrna genes. molecular survey showed that theileria luwenshuni and theileria sp. rsr were frequently found in gansu cervids, and the prevalence of t. luwenshuni was 66.7% (n = 9, 6/9) in roe deer in zhengning county, 58.3% (n = 12, 7/12) in sika deer in n ...	2015	25820647
factors affecting the ecology of tick-borne encephalitis in slovenia.	recognition of factors that influence the formation of tick-borne encephalitis (tbe) foci is important for assessing the risk of humans acquiring the viral infection and for establishing what can be done (within reasonable boundaries) to minimize that risk. in slovenia, the dynamics of the tbe vector, i.e. ixodes ricinus, was studied over a 4-year period and the prevalence of infection in ticks was established. two groups of tick hosts were investigated: deer and small mammals. red deer have bee ...	2015	25918865
parapoxvirus (ppv) of red deer reveals subclinical infection and confirms a unique species.	parapoxvirus (ppv) infections are of worldwide importance, particularly in sheep and goat herds. owing to the zoonotic potential of all ppv species, they are a permanent threat to human health as well. the virus is also known to affect wildlife, as reported for pinnipeds, red deer and several other wild ruminants. ppvs found in red deer have been claimed as a unique species according to certain genomic features. so far infection of wildlife has been recognized because of clinical manifestation s ...	2015	25701822
milk drop due to leptospirosis in dairy cows.	leptospiral milk drop in dairy cows. pseudomonas aeruginosa mastitis in a cow. systemic pasteurellosis in lambs. encephalopathy due to water deprivation/salt poisoning suspected in weaned lambs. biliary cystadenoma in a red deer hind. these are among matters discussed in the disease surveillance report for november 2014 from sac consulting: veterinary services (sac c vs).	2015	25748187
recovering aspen follow changing elk dynamics in yellowstone: evidence of a trophic cascade?	to investigate the extent and causes of recent quaking aspen (populus tremuloides) recruitment in northern yellowstone national park, we measured browsing intensity and height of young aspen in 87 randomly selected aspen stands in 2012, and compared our results to similar data collected in 1997-1998. we also examined the relationship between aspen recovery and the distribution of rocky mountain elk (cervus elaphus) and bison (bison bison) on the yellowstone northern ungulate winter range, using ...	2015	26236910
dna left on browsed twigs uncovers bite-scale resource use patterns in european ungulates.	fine-scale resource use by large herbivores is often difficult to quantify directly. this is particularly true for browsing ungulates due to the challenges in observing shy subjects in forested environments of low visibility. as a consequence we know relatively little about resource use by diverse browsing ungulates. when browsing, ungulates leave behind saliva on the browsed twig that includes their dna, which can be used to identify the species that was responsible for browsing the twig. we us ...	2015	25543852
characteristics of spermatozoa and reproductive organs in relation to age and body weight in swedish moose (alces alces).	knowledge of the reproductive biology of game species is vital for sustainable management. in moose (alces alces), research in reproductive characteristics has focused on the female, whereas there are few studies in male moose. the aim of the present study was to investigate sperm morphology and chromatin integrity (scsa), and their relationships with testicular and epididymal features, as well as temporal aspects with respect to the hunting season. in total, 143 male moose aged 1.5-11.5 years w ...	2015	25576030
quality attributes and composition of meat from red deer (cervus elaphus), fallow deer (dama dama) and aberdeen angus and holstein cattle (bos taurus).	the consumption of venison from deer species has increased in recent years owing to presumably positive health effects. therefore a comparison was made of the physical characteristics, chemical composition and sensory attributes of meat obtained from red deer, fallow deer and aberdeen angus and holstein cattle raised under conditions typical for commercial farming practice and slaughtered at similar ages.	2015	25298298
the region of difference four is a robust genetic marker for subtyping mycobacterium caprae isolates and is linked to spatial distribution of three subtypes.	alpine mycobacterium caprae isolates found in cattle and red deer display at least three genetic variations in the region of difference four (rd4) that can be used for further differentiation of the isolates into the subtypes 'allgäu', 'karwendel' and 'lechtal'. each genomic subtype is thereby characterized by a specific nucleotide deletion pattern in the 12.7-kb rd4 region. even though m. caprae infections are frequently documented in cattle and red deer, little is known about the transmission ...	2015	26518998
red deer as maintenance host for bovine tuberculosis, alpine region.	to estimate the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in the alpine region, we studied the epidemiology of mycobacterium caprae in wildlife during the 2009-2012 hunting seasons. free-ranging red deer (cervus elaphus) were a maintenance host in a hot-spot area, mainly located in austria.	2015	25695273
protein tyrosine phosphorylation during capacitation in sperm of a rare red deer, tarim wapiti (cervus elaphus yarkandensis).	high efficiency of in vitro capacitation of deer sperm has not yet been achieved as low sperm penetration rates were reported in in vitro fertilization studies. our main goal in this study was to identify the changes of frozen-thawed sperm of the rare red deer tarim wapiti (cervus elaphus yarkandensis) and detect the effect of bovine serum albumin (bsa), serum, and heparin on the protein tyrosine phosphorylation of frozen-thawed sperm. the frozen-thawed sperm of tarim wapiti was suspended in imp ...	2015	25638741
patch-use dynamics by a large herbivore.	an adaption of the optimal foraging theory suggests that herbivores deplete, depart, and finally return to foraging patches leaving time for regrowth [van moorter et al., oikos 118:641-652, 2009]. inter-patch movement and memory of patches then produce a periodic pattern of use that may define the bounds of a home range. the objective of this work was to evaluate the underlying movements within home ranges of elk (cervus elaphus) according to the predictions of this theory. using a spatial tempo ...	2015	27408724
time-dependence of ¹³⁷cs activity concentration in wild game meat in knyszyn primeval forest (poland).	wild game meat samples were analysed from the region of the podlasie province (knyszyn primeval forest). (137)cs content in meat was determined by gamma spectrometry in 2003 (33 samples), 2009 (22 samples) and 2012 (26 samples). the samples were collected in the autumn of 2003, 2009 and 2012 and were compared with data from 1996. mean concentrations of (137)cs in the respective years were as follow: 42.2 bq kg(-1), 33.7 bq kg(-1) and 30.5 bq kg(-1), respectively. on the basis of mean values of ( ...	2015	25559242
sarcocystosis in cervus elaphus: comparison of diagnostic methods.	red deer (cervus elaphus) from a national wildlife reserve near toledo in central spain were surveyed for sarcocystis infection. a total of 61 deer were examined. tissue compression and histology were used to examine samples from diaphragm and heart from each animal included in the study, and results from the two techniques and the two tissues were compared to determine the tissue and technique that provide the most accurate measure of prevalence and intensity. prevalence and intensity were then ...	2015	26767167
genetic differentiation between red deer from different sample sites on the tianshan mountains (cervus elaphus), china.	about 273 individuals were identified from 471 fecal samples from six different red deer populations in china. the genetic structure showed that the red deer from the western and eastern tianshan mountains was different. a total number of 12 haplotypes were defined by 97 variable sites by the control region (cr), and 10 haplotypes were defined by 34 variable sites by cytochrome b. there was no haplotype sharing between red deer populations from western and eastern tianshan mountains by the cr an ...	2015	25431826
factors that influence mycobacterium bovis infection in red deer and wild boar in an epidemiological risk area for tuberculosis of game species in portugal.	bovine tuberculosis (btb) is a worldwide zoonotic disease of domestic and wild animals. eradication has proved elusive in those countries with intensive national programmes but with ongoing transmission between wildlife and cattle. in portugal, a high-risk area for btb was defined and specific measures implemented to assess and minimize the risk from wildlife. data from the 2011 to 2014 hunting seasons for red deer (cervus elaphus) and wild boar (sus scrofa) were analysed with bovine demographic ...	2015	26519121
[bovine tuberculosis still not to be forgotten even in the czech republic].	bovine tuberculosis is caused by two obligate pathogenic species, mycobacterium bovis and m. caprae, that cause severe disease in animals and humans. the oral route of infection causing extrapulmonary forms of the disease in humans is more common than aerogenic infection causing pulmonary tuberculosis. significant risk factors for the development of diseases in humans are mainly consuming insufficiently heat-treated milk or meat from infected animals. since 2004, the czech republic has been list ...	2015	26312376
levels of infection, pathology and nodule size of onchocerca flexuosa (nematoda: onchocercidae) in red deer (cervus elaphus) from northern spain.	between 2005 and 2007, the presence of onchocerca flexuosa (wedl, 1856) was discovered and investigated in 110 red deer (cervus elaphus) shot in the riaño regional hunting reserve, in the province of león (north-western spain). nodules containing o. flexuosa were located in the dorsal region and flanks of the deer. these were collected and measured, and some adult parasites were extracted from the nodules and identified by morphology and by obtaining mitochondrial 12s rdna sequences, which were ...	2015	24622346
development of an interspecies nested dose-response model for mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis.	mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (map) causes chronic inflammation of the intestines in humans, ruminants, and other species. it is the causative agent of johne's disease in cattle, and has been implicated as the causative agent of crohn's disease in humans. to date, no quantitative microbial risk assessment (qmra) for map utilizing a dose-response function exists. the objective of this study is to develop a nested dose-response model for infection from oral exposure to map utiliz ...	2015	25809926
molecular identification of mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum by duplex high-resolution melt analysis and subspecies-specific real-time pcr.	accurate identification of mycobacterial species and subspecies is essential to evaluate their significance and to perform epidemiological studies. the subspecies of mycobacterium avium have different attributes but coincide in their zoonotic potential. our knowledge about m. avium subsp. silvaticum is limited, since its identification is uncertain. mycobacterium avium subsp. avium and m. avium subsp. silvaticum can be discriminated from each other based only on phenotypic characteristics, as th ...	2015	25740770
prevalence and molecular typing of giardia duodenalis in wildlife from eastern poland.	faecal samples from 162 wild animals were collected from 32 distinct sites of łęczyńsko-włodawskie lakeland (eastern poland). the presence of giardia duodenalis (stiles, 1902) was assessed by a direct fluorescence assay (dfa) and by polymerase chain reaction (pcr) and sequencing of a fragment of the beta-giardin gene. dfa showed the presence of cysts of g. duodenalis in 12 of 162 faecal samples (7%), namely in four wild boars (15%), four foxes (19%), two roe deer (4%), and two wolves (29%). pcr ...	2015	26278650
hepatitis e virus antibody prevalence in wildlife in poland.	hepatitis e is an important public health problem mostly in developing but occasionally also in industrialized countries. domestic and wildlife animals are considered reservoirs of the hepatitis e virus (hev). since no information on the prevalence of autochthonous hev infections in human and animal in poland is available, the aim of the study was to investigate the hev seroprevalence of different wildlife species as potential virus reservoirs in the country. no hev antibodies were found in any ...	2015	24655475
belgian wildlife as potential zoonotic reservoir of hepatitis e virus.	hepatitis e is an acute human liver disease in healthy individuals but may become chronic in immunocompromised patients. it is caused by the hepatitis e virus (hev) and can have a zoonotic origin, particularly in high-income countries. in this study, 383 sera from wild boars were selected for serology; for virological analyses, 69 sera and 61 livers from young wild boars were used. a total of 189 and 235 sera of, respectively, red deer and roe deer were collected for serological analysis. for vi ...	2015	26518619
prevalence of hepatitis e virus in populations of wild animals in comparison with animals bred in game enclosures.	hepatitis e virus (hev) is now accepted as a zoonotic virus, and domestic pigs, wild boars and deer are recognised as natural reservoirs of the pathogen. in this study, 762 animals (wild boars, fallow deer, red deer, sika deer, roe deer and mouflons) originating from the wild and from game enclosures were tested for the presence of hev rna by qrt-pcr. hev rna was detected in wild boars (96/450), red deer (2/169), roe deer (1/30) and mouflons (5/39). the sequence relationship between hev isolates ...	2015	25771162
fascioloides magna--epizootiology in a deer farm in germany.	after initial observations of suspicious cases in 2009, the occurrence of fascioloides (f.) magna in deer of a deer farm located in northeastern bavaria, germany, at the border to the czech republic was confirmed in autumn 2011. in march 2012, the deer were treated for fascioloidosis with triclabendazole. to monitor the epizootiology of fascioloidosis in the farm, 80-100 faecal samples were examined for fascioloides eggs at monthly intervals from june 2012 to june 2013 inclusive. in addition, li ...	2015	26054221
extension of occurrence area of the american fluke fascioloides magna in south-western poland.	liver fluke fascioloides magna is a typical parasite of american cervids. the reason for f. magna to appear in poland territory was bringing the american wapiti deer to those forests around 1850. along with these deer the aforementioned fluke was also introduced. the aim of this study was to present the case of finding of this species in cervids in bory zielonogórskie. samples of deer feces were collected in february 2015 in forest district krzystkowice. a total of 16 samples of feces were exami ...	2015	26342504
molecular characterization of fascioloides magna (trematoda: fasciolidae) from south-western poland based on mitochondrial markers.	the giant liver fluke, fascioloides magna, is a veterinary important liver parasite of free living and domestic ruminants. this originally north american parasite was introduced along with its cervid hosts to europe where it has established three permanent natural foci - in northern italy, central and southern parts of the czech republic and the danube floodplain forests. the first record on fascioloidosis in poland originated from the lower silesian forest in south-western poland and since then ...	2015	26204195
prevalence of subtilase cytotoxin-encoding subab variants among shiga toxin-producing escherichia coli strains isolated from wild ruminants and sheep differs from that of cattle and pigs and is predominated by the new allelic variant subab2-2.	subtilase cytotoxin (subab) is an ab5 toxin produced by shiga toxin (stx)-producing escherichia coli (stec) strains usually lacking the eae gene product intimin. three allelic variants of subab encoding genes have been described: subab1, located on a plasmid, subab2-1, located on the pathogenicity island se-pai and subab2-2 located in an outer membrane efflux protein (oep) region. subab is becoming increasingly recognized as a toxin potentially involved in human pathogenesis. ruminants and cattl ...	2015	25488108
experimental studies of microbial populations and incidence of zoonotic pathogens in the faeces of red deer (cervus elaphus).	wild animals can serve as hosts, amplifiers or reservoirs for various zoonotic diseases. most species of deer in highly fragmented agricultural landscapes, search out maximum cover from intrusive human activity. hence, the likelihood of zoonosis transmission is likely to increase the more humans and wildlife interact. in our study, we conducted a comparative analysis of bacteria isolated from the faeces of red deer (cervus elaphus) living in their natural environment in south-western poland and ...	2015	26222832
antimicrobial resistance in wildlife: implications for public health.	the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant (amr) bacteria in natural environments is a major concern with serious implications for human and animal health. the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of amr escherichia coli (e. coli) in wild birds and mammalian species. thirty faecal samples were collected from each of the following wildlife species: herring gulls (larus argentatus), black-headed gulls (larus ridibundus), lesser black-back gulls (larus fuscus), hybrid deer spe ...	2015	25639901
granuloma coinfection with mycobacterium bovis, mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, and corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in five hunted red deer (cervus elaphus) in portugal.	we report granulomatous lymphadenitis in red deer (cervus elaphus) in portugal caused by coinfection with corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, mycobacterium bovis, and mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, as demonstrated by molecular methods.	2015	25932668
prion amplification and hierarchical bayesian modeling refine detection of prion infection.	prions are unique infectious agents that replicate without a genome and cause neurodegenerative diseases that include chronic wasting disease (cwd) of cervids. immunohistochemistry (ihc) is currently considered the gold standard for diagnosis of a prion infection but may be insensitive to early or sub-clinical cwd that are important to understanding cwd transmission and ecology. we assessed the potential of serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification (spmca) to improve detection of cwd prior ...	2015	25665713
host and environmental factors modulate the exposure of free-ranging and farmed red deer (cervus elaphus) to coxiella burnetii.	the control of multihost pathogens, such as coxiella burnetii, should rely on accurate information about the roles played by the main hosts. we aimed to determine the involvement of the red deer (cervus elaphus) in the ecology of c. burnetii. we predicted that red deer populations from broad geographic areas within a european context would be exposed to c. burnetii, and therefore, we hypothesized that a series of factors would modulate the exposure of red deer to c. burnetii. to test this hypoth ...	2015	26150466
development of a multiplex pcr for identification of dictyocaulus lungworms in domestic and wild ruminants.	dictyocaulus lungworms are the causative agents of parasitic bronchitis (dictyocaulosis) characterised by coughing and severe lung pathology in domestic and wild ruminants. the objective of this study was to design a simple molecular test that could detect of lungworm dna from both adult and larval lungworms and could distinguish between the most common dictyocaulus species found in cattle and in some species of wild ruminants. a multiplex pcr test with four novel primers targeting species-speci ...	2015	26266883
establishment rate of sheep gastrointestinal nematodes in farmed red deer (cervus elaphus).	to investigate the establishment of sheep gastrointestinal nematodes (gin) in red deer, five red deer and five sheep aged 5-6 months were challenged with a mixed burden of sheep gin at a rate of 327l3/kg bodyweight. the lsmean (se) establishment rates (%) for haemonchus contortus, teladorsagia circumcincta, cooperia curticei, trichostrongylus spp. and oesophagostomum+chabertia spp. were 18.6 (0.03), 35.5 (0.04), 30.7 (0.04), 74.9 (0.05), 19.9 (0.06), respectively in sheep and 10.5 (0.03), 1.0 (0 ...	2015	25657087
coxiella burnetii shedding by farmed red deer (cervus elaphus).	wildlife and notably deer species--due to the increasing relevance of deer farming worldwide--may contribute to the maintenance of coxiella burnetii, the causal agent of q fever. currently, there are no precedents linking exposure to deer species with human q fever cases. however, a human case of q fever was recently diagnosed in a red deer (cervus elaphus) farm, which led us to investigate whether deer could be a source for environmental contamination with c. burnetii and ascertain the implicat ...	2015	24127840
novel sequence types of chlamydia pecorum infect free-ranging alpine ibex (capra ibex) and red deer (cervus elaphus) in switzerland.	chlamydia pecorum, a recognized pathogen of domesticated ruminants and koalas (phascolarctos cinereus), has been recently reported in a broad range of other wildlife species including water buffalo (bubalus bubalis), ibex (capra ibex), chamois (rupicapra rupicapra), red deer (cervus elaphus), and birds. this identification raises questions as to whether cross-host transmission may be a factor in the epidemiology of infections in these species. to begin to address this question, we employed a c. ...	2015	25647593
progressive accumulation of the abnormal conformer of the prion protein and spongiform encephalopathy in the obex of nonsymptomatic and symptomatic rocky mountain elk (cervus elaphus nelsoni) with chronic wasting disease.	the purpose of our study was to describe the progressive accumulation of the abnormal conformer of the prion protein (prp(cwd)) and spongiform degeneration in a single section of brain stem in rocky mountain elk (cervus elaphus nelsoni) with chronic wasting disease (cwd). a section of obex from 85 cwd-positive elk was scored using the presence and abundance of prp(cwd) immunoreactivity and spongiform degeneration in 10 nuclear regions and the presence and abundance of prp(cwd) in 10 axonal tract ...	2015	26185123
early detection of chronic wasting disease prions in urine of pre-symptomatic deer by real-time quaking-induced conversion assay.	chronic wasting disease (cwd) is a prion disease of captive and free-ranging deer (odocoileus spp), elk (cervus elaphus nelsonii) and moose (alces alces shirasi). unlike in most other prion diseases, in cwd prions are shed in urine and feces, which most likely contributes to the horizontal transmission within and between cervid species. to date, cwd ante-mortem diagnosis is only possible by immunohistochemical detection of protease resistant prion protein (prp (sc) ) in tonsil or recto-anal muco ...	2015	23764839
bluetongue in europe and the role of wildlife in the epidemiology of disease.	the article reviews a current bluetongue (bt) epidemiological situation in europe, bt restricted zones and the role of wild ungulates as a reservoir for bluetongue virus (btv) and its transmission. bt has been eradicated from central and northern europe, however it is still circulating in some regions of southern and south-eastern europe. according to the recent information of the directoriate general for health and consumer affairs (dg sanco) disease caused by btv1 was spreading at the beginnin ...	2015	26172200
parasite infections in red deer cervus elaphus from krakow area, southern poland.	the study describes the parasitofauna of red deer cervus elaphus from kraków area (southern poland). the study was done in years 2011-2012 and included altogether 6 animals. five deer originated from the forest areas (hunted) and one came from the urban site (it died in a road accident). in addition to post-mortem examination, coproscopic analyses with sporulation were performed to define eimeria species diversity. the deer were infected with four species of nematodes: ashworthius sidemi, spicul ...	2015	25911038
detection of invasive borrelia burgdorferi strains in north-eastern piedmont, italy.	following reports of human cases of lyme borreliosis from the ossola valley, a mountainous area of piemonte, north-western italy, the abundance and altitudinal distribution of ticks, and infection of these vectors with borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato were evaluated. a total of 1662 host-seeking ixodes ricinus were collected by dragging from april to september 2011 at locations between 400 and 1450 m above sea level. additional 104 i. ricinus were collected from 35 hunted wild animals (4 chamois, ...	2015	25220838
vertical transmission of bartonella schoenbuchensis in lipoptena cervi.	lipoptena cervi (diptera: hippoboscidae) is a hematophagous ectoparasite of cervids, which is considered to transmit pathogens between animals and occasionally to humans. the principal life stage that is able to parasitize new hosts is a winged ked that just emerged from a pupa. to facilitate efficient transmission of pathogens between hosts, vertical transmission from female deer keds to their offspring is necessary. we investigated vertical transmission of several vector-borne pathogens associ ...	2015	25889985
susceptibility of european red deer (cervus elaphus elaphus) to alimentary challenge with bovine spongiform encephalopathy.	european red deer (cervus elaphus elaphus) are susceptible to the agent of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, one of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, when challenged intracerebrally but their susceptibility to alimentary challenge, the presumed natural route of transmission, is unknown. to determine this, eighteen deer were challenged via stomach tube with a large dose of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent and clinical signs, gross and histological lesions, presence and dist ...	2015	25615837
sequence analysis of bitter taste receptor gene repertoires in different ruminant species.	bitter taste has been extensively studied in mammalian species and is associated with sensitivity to toxins and with food choices that avoid dangerous substances in the diet. at the molecular level, bitter compounds are sensed by bitter taste receptor proteins (t2r) present at the surface of taste receptor cells in the gustatory papillae. our work aims at exploring the phylogenetic relationships of t2r gene sequences within different ruminant species. to accomplish this goal, we gathered a colle ...	2015	26061084
temporal dynamics of seed excretion by wild ungulates: implications for plant dispersal.	dispersal is a key process in metapopulation dynamics as it conditions species' spatial responses to gradients of abiotic and biotic conditions and triggers individual and gene flows. in the numerous plants that are dispersed through seed consumption by herbivores (endozoochory), the distance and effectiveness of dispersal is determined by the combined effects of seed retention time in the vector's digestive system, the spatial extent of its movements, and the ability of the seeds to germinate o ...	2015	26257875
prevalence and genetic diversity of rhodococcus equi in wild boars (sus scrofa), roe deer (capreolus capreolus) and red deer (cervus elaphus) in poland.	rhodococcus equi is now considered an emerging zoonotic pathogen. sources and routes of human infection remain unclear but foodborne transmission seems to be the most probable way. strains of pig or bovine type are most often isolated from human cases and moreover r. equi is present in submaxillary lymph nodes of apparently healthy pigs and wild boars intended for human consumption. the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of r. equi in submaxillary lymph nodes in wild boars, roe dee ...	2015	25997952
seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii in wild boars, red deer and roe deer in poland.	little is known about the prevalence of toxoplasma gondii in wild life, particularly game animals in poland. meat juice collected during the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 hunting seasons from 552 red deer (cervus elaphus), 367 wild boars (sus scrofa) and 92 roe deer (capreolus capreolus) was tested for t. gondii antibodies using the multi-species id screen toxoplasmosis indirect kit (idvet, montpellier, france). antibodies to t. gondii were detected in 24.1% of red deer (95% ci: 20.7%, 27.8%), 37.6% o ...	2015	25993468
long-term dynamics of coxiella burnetii in farmed red deer (cervus elaphus).	several aspects of the dynamics of coxiella burnetii that are relevant for the implementation of control strategies in ruminant herds with endemic q fever are unknown. we designed a longitudinal study to monitor the dynamics of exposure to c. burnetii in a red deer herd with endemic infection in order to allow the design of q fever-specific control approaches. other relevant aspects of the dynamics of c. burnetii - the effect of herd immune status, age, season, and early infection on exposure, t ...	2015	26697437
patterns of mycobacterium tuberculosis-complex excretion and characterization of super-shedders in naturally-infected wild boar and red deer.	wild boar (sus scrofa) and red deer (cervus elaphus) are the main maintenance hosts for bovine tuberculosis (btb) in continental europe. understanding mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (mtc) excretion routes is crucial to define strategies to control btb in free-ranging populations, nevertheless available information is scarce. aiming at filling this gap, four different mtc excretion routes (oronasal, bronchial-alveolar, fecal and urinary) were investigated by molecular methods in naturally inf ...	2015	26518244
sensitivity of bovine tuberculosis surveillance in wildlife in france: a scenario tree approach.	bovine tuberculosis (btb) is a common disease in cattle and wildlife, with an impact on animal and human health, and economic implications. infected wild animals have been detected in some european countries, and btb reservoirs in wildlife have been identified, potentially hindering the eradication of btb from cattle populations. however, the surveillance of btb in wildlife involves several practical difficulties and is not currently covered by eu legislation. we report here the first assessment ...	2015	26517372
patterns of lynx predation at the interface between protected areas and multi-use landscapes in central europe.	in central europe, protected areas are too small to ensure survival of populations of large carnivores. in the surrounding areas, these species are often persecuted due to competition with game hunters. therefore, understanding how predation intensity varies spatio-temporally across areas with different levels of protection is fundamental. we investigated the predation patterns of eurasian lynx (lynx lynx) on roe deer (capreolus capreolus) and red deer (cervus elaphus) in both protected areas an ...	2015	26379142
a geographic cluster of malignant catarrhal fever in moose (alces alces) in norway.	three cases of lethal sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (sa-mcf) in free-ranging moose (alces alces) were diagnosed in lesja, norway, december 2008-february 2010. the diagnosis was based on pcr identification of ovine herpesvirus 2 (ovhv-2) dna (n = 3) and typical histopathologic lesions (n = 1). to study the possibility of subclinical or latent mcf virus (mcfv) infection in this moose population and in red deer (cervus elaphus), we examined clinically normal animals sampled during hunt ...	2015	25574807
the power of oral and nasal calls to discriminate individual mothers and offspring in red deer, cervus elaphus.	in most species, acoustical cues are crucial for mother-offspring recognition. studies of a few species of ungulates showed that potential for individual recognition may differ between nasal and oral contact calls.	2015	25610491
state-space modelling of the drivers of movement behaviour in sympatric species.	understanding animal movement behaviour is key to furthering our knowledge on intra- and inter-specific competition, group cohesion, energy expenditure, habitat use, the spread of zoonotic diseases or species management. we used a radial basis function surface approximation subject to minimum description length constraint to uncover the state-space dynamical systems from time series data. this approximation allowed us to infer structure from a mathematical model of the movement behaviour of shee ...	2015	26580801
foraging ecology of three sympatric ungulate species - behavioural and resource maps indicate differences between chamois, ibex and red deer.	the spatial distribution of forage resources is a major driver of animal movement patterns. understanding where animals forage is important for the conservation of multi-species communities, since interspecific competition can emerge if different species use the same depletable resources. however, determining forage resources in a spatially continuous fashion in alpine grasslands at high spatial resolution was challenging up to now, because terrain heterogeneity causes vegetation characteristics ...	2015	26807258
the epidemiology of mycobacterium bovis in wild deer and feral pigs and their roles in the establishment and spread of bovine tuberculosis in new zealand wildlife.	in new zealand, wild deer and feral pigs are assumed to be spillover hosts for mycobacterium bovis, and so are not targeted in efforts aimed at locally eradicating bovine tuberculosis (tb) from possums (trichosurus vulpecula), the main wildlife host. here we review the epidemiology of tb in deer and pigs, and assess whether new zealand's tb management programme could be undermined if these species sometimes achieve maintenance host status. in new zealand, tb prevalences of up to 47% have been re ...	2015	25295713
country, cover or protection: what shapes the distribution of red deer and roe deer in the bohemian forest ecosystem?	the bohemian forest ecosystem encompasses various wildlife management systems. two large, contiguous national parks (one in germany and one in the czech republic) form the centre of the area, are surrounded by private hunting grounds, and hunting regulations in each country differ. here we aimed at unravelling the influence of management-related and environmental factors on the distribution of red deer (cervus elaphus) and roe deer (capreolus capreolus) in this ecosystem. we used the standing cr ...	2015	25781942
anaplasma phagocytophilum prevalence in ticks and rodents in an urban and natural habitat in south-western slovakia.	ixodes ricinus is the principal vector of anaplasma phagocytophilum, the ethiological agent of granulocytic anaplasmosis in europe. anaplasmosis is an emerging zoonotic disease with a natural enzootic cycle. the reservoir competence of rodents is unclear. monitoring of a. phagocytophilum prevalence in i. ricinus and rodents in various habitat types of slovakia may contribute to the knowledge about the epidemiology of anaplasmosis in central europe.	2015	25980768
avoiding toxic levels of essential minerals: a forgotten factor in deer diet preferences.	ungulates select diets with high energy, protein, and sodium contents. however, it is scarcely known the influence of essential minerals other than na in diet preferences. moreover, almost no information is available about the possible influence of toxic levels of essential minerals on avoidance of certain plant species. the aim of this research was to test the relative importance of mineral content of plants in diet selection by red deer (cervus elaphus) in an annual basis. we determined minera ...	2015	25615596
multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis potentially reveals the existence of two groups of anaplasma phagocytophilum circulating in cattle in france with different wild reservoirs.	anaplasma phagocytophilum is the causative agent of tick-borne fever, a disease with high economic impact for domestic ruminants in europe. epidemiological cycles of this species are complex, and involve different ecotypes circulating in various host species. to date, these epidemiological cycles are poorly understood, especially in europe, as european reservoir hosts (i.e. vertebrate hosts enabling long-term maintenance of the bacterium in the ecosystem), of the bacterium have not yet been clea ...	2016	27876073
markers for ongoing or previous hepatitis e virus infection are as common in wild ungulates as in humans in sweden.	hepatitis e virus (hev) is a human pathogen with zoonotic spread, infecting both domestic and wild animals. about 17% of the swedish population is immune to hev, but few cases are reported annually, indicating that most infections are subclinical. however, clinical hepatitis e may also be overlooked. for identified cases, the source of infection is mostly unknown. in order to identify whether hev may be spread from wild game, the prevalence of markers for past and/or ongoing infection was invest ...	2016	27657108
prevalence of liver fluke (fasciola hepatica) in wild red deer (cervus elaphus): coproantigen elisa is a practicable alternative to faecal egg counting for surveillance in remote populations.	red deer (cervus elaphus) are hosts of liver fluke (fasciola hepatica); yet, prevalence is rarely quantified in wild populations. testing fresh samples from remote regions by faecal examination (fe) can be logistically challenging; hence, we appraise frozen storage and the use of a coproantigen elisa (celisa) for f. hepatica surveillance. we also present celisa surveillance data for red deer from the highlands of scotland. diagnoses in faecal samples (207 frozen, 146 fresh) were compared using a ...	2016	27598003
effects of repeated comparative intradermal tuberculin testing on test results: a longitudinal study in tb-free red deer.	diagnosing tuberculosis (tb) in farmed red deer (cervus elaphus) is challenging and might require combining cellular and humoral diagnostic tests. repeated skin-testing with mycobacterial purified protein derivatives (ppds) might sensitize or desensitize the subjects to both kinds of diagnostic tools. we evaluated the effect of repeated (every 6 months) comparative tuberculin skin testing on skin test and elisa responsiveness in farmed red deer hinds from a tb-free herd. eighteen 8-month old hin ...	2016	27596591
spatio-temporal trends and risk factors affecting west nile virus and related flavivirus exposure in spanish wild ruminants.	during the last decade, the spread of many flaviviruses (genus flavivirus) has been reported, representing an emerging threat for both animal and human health. to further study utility of wild ruminant samples in west nile virus (wnv) surveillance, we assessed spatio-temporal trends and factors associated with wnv and cross-reacting flaviviruses exposure, particularly usutu virus (usuv) and meaban virus (mbv), in wild ruminants in spain. serum samples from 4693 wild ruminants, including 3073 fre ...	2016	27829427
molecular survey on the presence of zoonotic arthropod-borne pathogens in wild red deer (cervus elaphus).	to estimate the prevalence of some zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in red deer (cervus elaphus) living in italian areas with high risk of arthropod exposure, blood samples from 60 red deer were tested by pcr for a. phagocytophilum, borrelia burgdorferi s.l., coxiella burnetii, francisella tularensis, and piroplasms. thirty-four (56.67%) animals resulted positive for one or more pathogens. in particular, 24 (40%) red deer were positive for a. phagocytophilum, 16 (26.67%) for babesia divergens, 6 (1 ...	2016	27477510
wild boar (sus scrofa) - reservoir host of toxoplasma gondii, neospora caninum and anaplasma phagocytophilum in slovakia.	in central europe the wild boar population is permanently growing and consequently cf foodborne infections. in this study serological and molecular detection of toxoplasma gondii and neospora caninum in wild boars was evaluated. moreover, same samples were screened for the presence and genetic variability of tick-borne bacterium anaplasma phagocytophilum. blood samples collected from 113 wild boars from southern slovakia were examined for antibodies to t. gondii by indirect and to n. caninum by ...	2016	27078648
detection of anaplasma phagocytophilum genotypes that are potentially virulent for human in wild ruminants and ixodes ricinus in central italy.	human granulocytic anaplasmosis (hga) is an emerging tick-borne zoonosis worldwide. as is the case for many tick-borne diseases, the epidemiological cycle is associated to the environmental conditions, including the presence of wild vertebrate reservoir hosts, vectors, climate and vegetation. in this study a total number of 87 spleen samples of wild ruminants carcasses from central italy, and 77 ixodes ricinus collected from the same dead animals were screened for anaplasma phagocytophilum by us ...	2016	27020736
late pleistocene/early holocene migratory behavior of ungulates using isotopic analysis of tooth enamel and its effects on forager mobility.	zooarchaeological and paleoecological investigations have traditionally been unable to reconstruct the ethology of herd animals, which likely had a significant influence on the mobility and subsistence strategies of prehistoric humans. in this paper, we reconstruct the migratory behavior of red deer (cervus elaphus) and caprids at the pleistocene-holocene transition in the northeastern adriatic region using stable oxygen isotope analysis of tooth enamel. the data show a significant change in δ18 ...	2016	27275784