Contact between European bison and cattle from the cattle breeders' perspective, in the light of the risk of pathogen transmission.

Pathogens transmitted between wildlife and domestic animals can pose a threat to endangered species, undermine conservation efforts in wildlife, and affect productivity and parasite control in domestic animals. There are several examples of pathogen transmission between European bison and other animals. The present study surveyed breeders from the vicinity of four large wisent populations in eastern Poland about observed contacts between wisent and cattle. Such contacts were noted by 37% of breeders, indicating a significant risk of contact between European bison and cattle in the study areas, even in the areas where the European bison live mainly in a forest complex, i.e., in the Borecka Forest. A higher potential risk of contacts between European bison and cattle was noted in the Bialowieska Forest and the Bieszczady Mountains than in the Borecka and Knyszynska Forests. In the Bialowieska Forest, the risk of viral pathogen transmission resulting from contacts is higher (more direct contacts), and in the case of the Bieszczady Mountains, the probability of parasitic diseases is higher. The chance of contacts between European bison and cattle depended on the distance of cattle pastures from human settlements. Moreover, such contact was possible throughout the year, not only in spring and fall. It appears possible to minimize the risk of contacts between wisent and cattle by changing management practices for both species, such as keeping grazing areas as close as possible to settlements, and reducing the time cattle graze on pastures. However, the risk of contact is much greater if European bison populations are large and are dispersed beyond forest complexes.

The Occurrence of Fascioloides Magna (Bassi, 1875) in the Wild Cervid Population in the Lower Silesian Wilderness - Epidemiological and Pathological Aspects.

Introduction: Fascioloides magna is a parasite of high veterinary importance due to its pathogenicity for wild and domestic ruminants. The aim of our study was to describe the presence of trematode infection in the red deer population in the Lower Silesian Wilderness, one of the established fascioloidosis foci in Central Europe, and to assess the overall prevalence of F. magna in the studied area. In order to achieve this, a coprological study of different cervid species was performed. Material and Methods: The livers of 99 red deer were collected over three years and examined for the presence of trematodes. Prevalence and infection intensity was estimated and a histopathological analysis was performed. In addition, 172 faecal samples from red deer, fallow deer and roe deer were examined. Results: By year, Fascioloides magna was isolated from the livers of 2/30 (6.7%), 9/34 (26.5%) and 10/35 (28.6%) red deer. Severe hepatic lesions, including massive tissue damage, extensive fibrosis, and cirrhotic changes in the liver parenchyma were observed. Faecal examination revealed the presence of F. magna eggs, with a prevalence of approximately 40%, 50% and 53% in roe deer, fallow deer and red deer, respectively. Conclusion: The eggs of F. magna may be commonly excreted in the faeces of roe deer, as well as those of red deer and fallow deer. The presence of F. magna throughout the cervid population in the Lower Silesian Wilderness favours the risk of the trematode's transmission to livestock or farmed deer.

Veterinary monitoring of gastrointestinal parasites in European bison, Bison bonasus designated for translocation: Comparison of two coprological methods.

It is important to monitor the level of parasitic loads in herds of European bison and to identify threats early enough to prevent their spread to other populations or species. The aim of the present study was to compare the detection sensitivity of two fecal flotation techniques, viz. the modified Willis method (WM) with centrifugation and modified McMaster flotation technique (MM), in the diagnostics of gastrointestinal parasites of European bison before the translocation of animals. Out of 166 feces samples, Eimeria spp. oocysts (84.3% in WM and 71.1% in MM) and Trichostrongylidae eggs (82.5% in WM and 53.6% in MM) predominated. These were accompanied by eggs from Capillaria spp. (prevalence: 13.9% in WM and 3.61% in MM), Nematodirus spp. (prevalence: 18.1% in WM and 4.8% in MM) and Trichuris spp. (prevalence: 12.7% in WM and MM) were identified. The lowest prevalence was noted for cestode eggs of Moniezia spp. (5.4% in WM and 3.0% in MM). The Willis method yielded a higher prevalence of eggs and oocysts than the modified McMaster method, and hence has a higher probability of detecting parasitic structures than the modified McMaster method, especially in cases of very low levels of invasion. As the two methods yield consistent results, it is recommended to use the Willis method for diagnosis of internal parasite infection in European bison. This test offers more sensitive method than McMaster technique of detecting the presence of low levels of a variety of parasite eggs and oocysts in feces, while also being inexpensive and adaptable to field work.