TY  - JOUR
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Rončević, Aleksa
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
PY  - 2024
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6707
AB  - Schreiber’s bent-winged bat Miniopterus schreibersii (Chiroptera) is a widespread, cave-dwelling, regionally migrating species whose genetic diversity was studied throughout its distribution area using mitochondrial and nuclear markers. Previous studies revealed little to no structuring of populations and established Anatolia to be a single refugium during the last glacial maximum. The Balkans were well covered in these studies but usually lacked samples from Serbia. We sequenced the mitochondrial hypervariable region 1 (HV1) gene in M. schreibersii collected at seven sites in Serbia to assess their genetic relatedness to other European and Asia Minor populations and check whether the Balkans exhibit a higher genetic diversity than Western Europe due to its closeness to Anatolia. We recorded nine haplotypes from Serbia, six of which had not been previously reported, with a haplotype diversity of 0.585. The remaining three were shared with individuals from Portugal, Greece, and Turkey. A single most common haplotype was present throughout the species distribution range, pointing to a well-connected population and as indicated by the shape of the haplotype network, a common origin, and a sudden population expansion. Results complement existing data on M. schreibersii having a non-structured population, adding valuable new data from the Balkans supporting the previous hypothesis about its Anatolian origin.
PB  - Belgrade: Serbian Biological Society
T2  - Archives of Biological Sciences
T1  - A first look at mitochondrial genetic diversity in Miniopterus schreibersii in Serbia
IS  - 1
VL  - 76
DO  - 10.2298/ABS240208006B
SP  - 103
EP  - 110
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Bajić, Branka and Budinski, Ivana and Rajičić, Marija and Miljević, Milan and Rončević, Aleksa and Blagojević, Jelena",
year = "2024",
abstract = "Schreiber’s bent-winged bat Miniopterus schreibersii (Chiroptera) is a widespread, cave-dwelling, regionally migrating species whose genetic diversity was studied throughout its distribution area using mitochondrial and nuclear markers. Previous studies revealed little to no structuring of populations and established Anatolia to be a single refugium during the last glacial maximum. The Balkans were well covered in these studies but usually lacked samples from Serbia. We sequenced the mitochondrial hypervariable region 1 (HV1) gene in M. schreibersii collected at seven sites in Serbia to assess their genetic relatedness to other European and Asia Minor populations and check whether the Balkans exhibit a higher genetic diversity than Western Europe due to its closeness to Anatolia. We recorded nine haplotypes from Serbia, six of which had not been previously reported, with a haplotype diversity of 0.585. The remaining three were shared with individuals from Portugal, Greece, and Turkey. A single most common haplotype was present throughout the species distribution range, pointing to a well-connected population and as indicated by the shape of the haplotype network, a common origin, and a sudden population expansion. Results complement existing data on M. schreibersii having a non-structured population, adding valuable new data from the Balkans supporting the previous hypothesis about its Anatolian origin.",
publisher = "Belgrade: Serbian Biological Society",
journal = "Archives of Biological Sciences",
title = "A first look at mitochondrial genetic diversity in Miniopterus schreibersii in Serbia",
number = "1",
volume = "76",
doi = "10.2298/ABS240208006B",
pages = "103-110"
}

Bajić, B., Budinski, I., Rajičić, M., Miljević, M., Rončević, A.,& Blagojević, J.. (2024). A first look at mitochondrial genetic diversity in Miniopterus schreibersii in Serbia. in Archives of Biological Sciences
Belgrade: Serbian Biological Society., 76(1), 103-110.
https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS240208006B

Bajić B, Budinski I, Rajičić M, Miljević M, Rončević A, Blagojević J. A first look at mitochondrial genetic diversity in Miniopterus schreibersii in Serbia. in Archives of Biological Sciences. 2024;76(1):103-110.
doi:10.2298/ABS240208006B .

Bajić, Branka, Budinski, Ivana, Rajičić, Marija, Miljević, Milan, Rončević, Aleksa, Blagojević, Jelena, "A first look at mitochondrial genetic diversity in Miniopterus schreibersii in Serbia" in Archives of Biological Sciences, 76, no. 1 (2024):103-110,
https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS240208006B . .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Rončević, Aleksa
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
PY  - 2024
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6690
AB  - Lyme disease is a widespread zoonosis and a major health concern in Europe. This zoonosis is caused by tick-transmitted pathogenic Gram-negative spirochetes belonging to a group called Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.). The Borrelia transmission cycle includes the vector, vertebrate reservoir, and host species. At least five different genospecies have been identified as human pathogens in Europe. Previous studies showed that the most frequently detected genospecies in Belgrade is Borrelia afzelii, whose main reservoirs are small mammals. The most common small mammals in Belgrade forests are mice from the genus Apodemus (A. flavicollis and A. sylvaticus), which are infective for ticks throughout their lifespan with varying efficiency.
We investigated the prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in Apodemus species in six fragment urban forests in the Belgrade area, and Avala Mt. A total of 142 animals were analysed for the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in isolated DNA by RT-PCR. For positive samples, we performed PCR and sequencing of the OspA gene to identify the genospecies. 
Our study revealed varying prevalence rates of only one genospecies, B. afzelii, in Apodemus specimens across different localities. The highest prevalence was observed on Avala mountain (25%), followed by Miljakovačka šuma (16%), Kvantaš (9%), Ada Ciganlija (9%) and Zvezdara (8%). No infected animals were detected in Stepin Gaj and Košutnjak.
This is the study of Borrelia prevalence in small mammal reservoirs in the Belgrade area. Understanding the prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in the genus Apodemus in the Belgrade area is of great value for comprehending the ecology of this pathogen and potential risk zones.
AB  - Лајмска болест је широко распрострањена зооноза и данас представља велики здравствени проблем у Европи. Ову зоонозу изазивају патогене грам-негативне спирохете које припадају групи која се зове Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) и преносе се крпељима. Цео циклус преноса борелије укључује векторе, кичмењаке као резервоар и врсте крајњег домаћина. Најмање пет различитих геноврста идентификоване су као људски патогени у Европи. Досадашња истраживања су показала да је најчешће забележена геноврста у Београду Borrelia afzelii, чији су главни резервоари мали сисари. Најчешћи мали сисари у београдским шумама су мишеви из рода Apodemus (A. flavicollis and A. sylvaticus) који су, са различитом ефикасношћу, током целог свог животног века инфективни за крпеље.
Истраживали смо распрострањеност B. burgdorferi s.l. у врстама Apodemus у шест великих урбаних шума на подручју Београда и на планини Авали. Укупно 142 животиње су анализиране на присуство B. burgdorferi s.l. у изолованој ДНК помоћу РТ-ПЦР. За позитивне узорке, урадили  смо ПЦР и секвенцирање OspA гена да бисмо идентификовали геноврсте.
Наша студија је открила различите стопе преваленције само једне геноврсте, B. afzelii, у јединкама рода Apodemus, на различитим локалитетима. Највећа преваленција забележена је на планини Авали (25%), затим Миљаковачкој шуми (16%), Кванташу (9%), Ади Циганлији (9%) и Звездари (8%). У Степином Гају и Кошутњаку није откривена ни једна заражена животиња.
Ово је студија о распрострањености борелије у малим сисарима као резервоарима на подручју Београда. Разумевање распрострањености B. burgdorferi s.l. у роду Apodemus на подручју Београда је од великог значаја за сагледавање екологије овог патогена и потенцијалних ризичних зона.
PB  - Belgrade: Serbian Veterinary Society, Section for Zoonoses
C3  - Book of abstracts: 26th Symposium of epizootiologist and epidemiologist; 2024 Apr 10-12; Banja Koviljača, Serbia
T1  - The prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Apodemus species, the most common small mammal in Belgrade forests
T1  - Преваленца Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato код врста рода Apodemus, најчешћих малих сисара у београдским шумама
SP  - 192
EP  - 193
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6690
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Rajičić, Marija and Miljević, Milan and Bajić, Branka and Budinski, Ivana and Rončević, Aleksa and Blagojević, Jelena",
year = "2024",
abstract = "Lyme disease is a widespread zoonosis and a major health concern in Europe. This zoonosis is caused by tick-transmitted pathogenic Gram-negative spirochetes belonging to a group called Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.). The Borrelia transmission cycle includes the vector, vertebrate reservoir, and host species. At least five different genospecies have been identified as human pathogens in Europe. Previous studies showed that the most frequently detected genospecies in Belgrade is Borrelia afzelii, whose main reservoirs are small mammals. The most common small mammals in Belgrade forests are mice from the genus Apodemus (A. flavicollis and A. sylvaticus), which are infective for ticks throughout their lifespan with varying efficiency.
We investigated the prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in Apodemus species in six fragment urban forests in the Belgrade area, and Avala Mt. A total of 142 animals were analysed for the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in isolated DNA by RT-PCR. For positive samples, we performed PCR and sequencing of the OspA gene to identify the genospecies. 
Our study revealed varying prevalence rates of only one genospecies, B. afzelii, in Apodemus specimens across different localities. The highest prevalence was observed on Avala mountain (25%), followed by Miljakovačka šuma (16%), Kvantaš (9%), Ada Ciganlija (9%) and Zvezdara (8%). No infected animals were detected in Stepin Gaj and Košutnjak.
This is the study of Borrelia prevalence in small mammal reservoirs in the Belgrade area. Understanding the prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in the genus Apodemus in the Belgrade area is of great value for comprehending the ecology of this pathogen and potential risk zones., Лајмска болест је широко распрострањена зооноза и данас представља велики здравствени проблем у Европи. Ову зоонозу изазивају патогене грам-негативне спирохете које припадају групи која се зове Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) и преносе се крпељима. Цео циклус преноса борелије укључује векторе, кичмењаке као резервоар и врсте крајњег домаћина. Најмање пет различитих геноврста идентификоване су као људски патогени у Европи. Досадашња истраживања су показала да је најчешће забележена геноврста у Београду Borrelia afzelii, чији су главни резервоари мали сисари. Најчешћи мали сисари у београдским шумама су мишеви из рода Apodemus (A. flavicollis and A. sylvaticus) који су, са различитом ефикасношћу, током целог свог животног века инфективни за крпеље.
Истраживали смо распрострањеност B. burgdorferi s.l. у врстама Apodemus у шест великих урбаних шума на подручју Београда и на планини Авали. Укупно 142 животиње су анализиране на присуство B. burgdorferi s.l. у изолованој ДНК помоћу РТ-ПЦР. За позитивне узорке, урадили  смо ПЦР и секвенцирање OspA гена да бисмо идентификовали геноврсте.
Наша студија је открила различите стопе преваленције само једне геноврсте, B. afzelii, у јединкама рода Apodemus, на различитим локалитетима. Највећа преваленција забележена је на планини Авали (25%), затим Миљаковачкој шуми (16%), Кванташу (9%), Ади Циганлији (9%) и Звездари (8%). У Степином Гају и Кошутњаку није откривена ни једна заражена животиња.
Ово је студија о распрострањености борелије у малим сисарима као резервоарима на подручју Београда. Разумевање распрострањености B. burgdorferi s.l. у роду Apodemus на подручју Београда је од великог значаја за сагледавање екологије овог патогена и потенцијалних ризичних зона.",
publisher = "Belgrade: Serbian Veterinary Society, Section for Zoonoses",
journal = "Book of abstracts: 26th Symposium of epizootiologist and epidemiologist; 2024 Apr 10-12; Banja Koviljača, Serbia",
title = "The prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Apodemus species, the most common small mammal in Belgrade forests, Преваленца Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato код врста рода Apodemus, најчешћих малих сисара у београдским шумама",
pages = "192-193",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6690"
}

Rajičić, M., Miljević, M., Bajić, B., Budinski, I., Rončević, A.,& Blagojević, J.. (2024). The prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Apodemus species, the most common small mammal in Belgrade forests. in Book of abstracts: 26th Symposium of epizootiologist and epidemiologist; 2024 Apr 10-12; Banja Koviljača, Serbia
Belgrade: Serbian Veterinary Society, Section for Zoonoses., 192-193.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6690

Rajičić M, Miljević M, Bajić B, Budinski I, Rončević A, Blagojević J. The prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Apodemus species, the most common small mammal in Belgrade forests. in Book of abstracts: 26th Symposium of epizootiologist and epidemiologist; 2024 Apr 10-12; Banja Koviljača, Serbia. 2024;:192-193.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6690 .

Rajičić, Marija, Miljević, Milan, Bajić, Branka, Budinski, Ivana, Rončević, Aleksa, Blagojević, Jelena, "The prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Apodemus species, the most common small mammal in Belgrade forests" in Book of abstracts: 26th Symposium of epizootiologist and epidemiologist; 2024 Apr 10-12; Banja Koviljača, Serbia (2024):192-193,
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6690 .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Paunović, Milan
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Vujošević, Mladen
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
PY  - 2024
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6496
AB  - Accurate species identification is crucial for ecological research and effective wildlife management. Advances in molecular genetic tools enable this, even for cryptic species complexes that are often morphologically confusing or indistinguishable. However, the costs of these methods and sequencing remain prohibitive for many researchers, particularly in less developed regions. The aim of this study was to test whether ISSR-PCR markers can be used to distinguish three similar horseshoe bat species that are often misidentified and occur in sympatry in Serbia. Samples from 64 Rhinolophus euryale, R. blasii, and
R. mehelyi bats were identified using this ISSR-PCR approach, and species identifications were additionally confirmed by sequencing D-loop fragment of mitochondrial DNA. ISSR-PCR yielded species-specific band patterns on the agarose gel that allowed the differentiation of three medium-sized horseshoe bat species. This approach does not require sequencing, making it a quick and inexpensive tool for the genetic identification of these species, and complements already existing methods. There is potential to scale up this method to other cryptic species complexes, reducing misidentifications that lead to inaccurate population trend assessments and have knock-on effects on our ability to monitor and conserve wildlife, especially rare and endangered species.
PB  - Springer Nature
T2  - Mammal Research
T1  - Rapid and reliable method for identification of three medium‑sized horseshoe bat species in Europe
DO  - 10.1007/s13364-023-00735-w
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Budinski, Ivana and Bajić, Branka and Rajičić, Marija and Paunović, Milan and Miljević, Milan and Vujošević, Mladen and Blagojević, Jelena",
year = "2024",
abstract = "Accurate species identification is crucial for ecological research and effective wildlife management. Advances in molecular genetic tools enable this, even for cryptic species complexes that are often morphologically confusing or indistinguishable. However, the costs of these methods and sequencing remain prohibitive for many researchers, particularly in less developed regions. The aim of this study was to test whether ISSR-PCR markers can be used to distinguish three similar horseshoe bat species that are often misidentified and occur in sympatry in Serbia. Samples from 64 Rhinolophus euryale, R. blasii, and
R. mehelyi bats were identified using this ISSR-PCR approach, and species identifications were additionally confirmed by sequencing D-loop fragment of mitochondrial DNA. ISSR-PCR yielded species-specific band patterns on the agarose gel that allowed the differentiation of three medium-sized horseshoe bat species. This approach does not require sequencing, making it a quick and inexpensive tool for the genetic identification of these species, and complements already existing methods. There is potential to scale up this method to other cryptic species complexes, reducing misidentifications that lead to inaccurate population trend assessments and have knock-on effects on our ability to monitor and conserve wildlife, especially rare and endangered species.",
publisher = "Springer Nature",
journal = "Mammal Research",
title = "Rapid and reliable method for identification of three medium‑sized horseshoe bat species in Europe",
doi = "10.1007/s13364-023-00735-w"
}

Budinski, I., Bajić, B., Rajičić, M., Paunović, M., Miljević, M., Vujošević, M.,& Blagojević, J.. (2024). Rapid and reliable method for identification of three medium‑sized horseshoe bat species in Europe. in Mammal Research
Springer Nature..
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-023-00735-w

Budinski I, Bajić B, Rajičić M, Paunović M, Miljević M, Vujošević M, Blagojević J. Rapid and reliable method for identification of three medium‑sized horseshoe bat species in Europe. in Mammal Research. 2024;.
doi:10.1007/s13364-023-00735-w .

Budinski, Ivana, Bajić, Branka, Rajičić, Marija, Paunović, Milan, Miljević, Milan, Vujošević, Mladen, Blagojević, Jelena, "Rapid and reliable method for identification of three medium‑sized horseshoe bat species in Europe" in Mammal Research (2024),
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-023-00735-w . .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Horvat, Žolt
AU  - Čabrilo, Borislav
AU  - Paunović, Milan
AU  - Karapandža, Branko
AU  - Josipović, Jelena
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Tošić, Božana
AU  - Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6630
AB  - Bats are the only true flying mammals, and their capacity for flight has contributed to their worldwide distribution. Consequently, they have important functional roles in terrestrial ecosystems in general. These
mammals are reliable bioindicators of the condition of the environments they inhabit and have a regulatory effect on the abundance of crepuscular and nocturnal insects. Many species of bats feed on insects that are either vectors of pathogens that cause diseases of animals and people, or agricultural pests that inflict grave economic losses. The endoparasitic helminths of bats have attracted relatively little attention from parasitologists; therefore, the aim of this study is to contribute to the knowledge on the intestinal Nematodes of Myotis bats in Serbia. We investigated the helminth fauna of 65 individual bats belonging to five different species of the genus Myotis (M. mystacinus, M. alcathoe, M. brandtii, M. blythii, M. myotis). The hosts were sampled from ten sites on the territory of Serbia. Four nematode species were identified: Molinostrongylus alatus, Capillaria neopulchra, Physaloptera sp. and Rictularia bovieri. Intestinal Nematodes infected 48 host individuals, resulting in a prevalence of 73.8%. Molinostrongylus alatus had the highest prevalence (64.6%) and mean abundance (8.2). None of the registered nematode species have zoonotic potential.
PB  - Plovdiv: Medical University of Plovdiv, University Publishing Center
C3  - Program and Abstract: International Conference One Health and Zoology; 2023 Sep 27–29; Hissarya, Bulgaria
T1  - The intestinal nematode fauna of bats of the genus Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Serbia
SP  - 127
EP  - 128
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6630
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Horvat, Žolt and Čabrilo, Borislav and Paunović, Milan and Karapandža, Branko and Josipović, Jelena and Budinski, Ivana and Tošić, Božana and Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera",
year = "2023",
abstract = "Bats are the only true flying mammals, and their capacity for flight has contributed to their worldwide distribution. Consequently, they have important functional roles in terrestrial ecosystems in general. These
mammals are reliable bioindicators of the condition of the environments they inhabit and have a regulatory effect on the abundance of crepuscular and nocturnal insects. Many species of bats feed on insects that are either vectors of pathogens that cause diseases of animals and people, or agricultural pests that inflict grave economic losses. The endoparasitic helminths of bats have attracted relatively little attention from parasitologists; therefore, the aim of this study is to contribute to the knowledge on the intestinal Nematodes of Myotis bats in Serbia. We investigated the helminth fauna of 65 individual bats belonging to five different species of the genus Myotis (M. mystacinus, M. alcathoe, M. brandtii, M. blythii, M. myotis). The hosts were sampled from ten sites on the territory of Serbia. Four nematode species were identified: Molinostrongylus alatus, Capillaria neopulchra, Physaloptera sp. and Rictularia bovieri. Intestinal Nematodes infected 48 host individuals, resulting in a prevalence of 73.8%. Molinostrongylus alatus had the highest prevalence (64.6%) and mean abundance (8.2). None of the registered nematode species have zoonotic potential.",
publisher = "Plovdiv: Medical University of Plovdiv, University Publishing Center",
journal = "Program and Abstract: International Conference One Health and Zoology; 2023 Sep 27–29; Hissarya, Bulgaria",
title = "The intestinal nematode fauna of bats of the genus Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Serbia",
pages = "127-128",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6630"
}

Horvat, Ž., Čabrilo, B., Paunović, M., Karapandža, B., Josipović, J., Budinski, I., Tošić, B.,& Bjelić Čabrilo, O.. (2023). The intestinal nematode fauna of bats of the genus Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Serbia. in Program and Abstract: International Conference One Health and Zoology; 2023 Sep 27–29; Hissarya, Bulgaria
Plovdiv: Medical University of Plovdiv, University Publishing Center., 127-128.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6630

Horvat Ž, Čabrilo B, Paunović M, Karapandža B, Josipović J, Budinski I, Tošić B, Bjelić Čabrilo O. The intestinal nematode fauna of bats of the genus Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Serbia. in Program and Abstract: International Conference One Health and Zoology; 2023 Sep 27–29; Hissarya, Bulgaria. 2023;:127-128.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6630 .

Horvat, Žolt, Čabrilo, Borislav, Paunović, Milan, Karapandža, Branko, Josipović, Jelena, Budinski, Ivana, Tošić, Božana, Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera, "The intestinal nematode fauna of bats of the genus Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Serbia" in Program and Abstract: International Conference One Health and Zoology; 2023 Sep 27–29; Hissarya, Bulgaria (2023):127-128,
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6630 .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Tošić, Božana
AU  - Čabrilo, Borislav
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6509
AB  - As part of research activities focused on rodent helminth fauna in Serbia, over the course of the previous decade, we registered the pres-ence of species with zoonotic potential, Moniliformis moniliformis, an acan-thocephalan (or spiny-headed worm) intestinal parasite that primarily in-fects rats, mice and voles. The adult form of the species M. moniliformis was found in the small intestine of three individuals of the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) in the localities of Donji Milanovac, Cer Moun-tain and Senokos. Another species of Acanthocephala, reported in earlier studies of Spermophilus citellus in Serbia, is Macracanthorhynchus hirudi-naceus, which also has zoonotic potential. Data on human infection with the aforementioned acanthocephalans are scarce all over the world, in-cluding Serbia, but they should not be ignored. Considering that the pres-ence of spiny-headed worms with zoonotic potential in our country was established during the last years of research, it is necessary to develop awareness of the potential risk for public health and actively monitor this group of helminths and their definitive hosts throughout the country. Reg-ular deratisation and disinsection in order to regulate the number of pop-ulations of rodents and insects that transmit acanthocephalans among other helminths in urban areas, are of great importance for the prevention of infection with these helminths. Implementing basic hygiene measures, as well as maintaining a healthy environment are essential measures to prevent the transmission of infection to humans. These proposed activities are in line with the One health approach, which stands at the intersection of human, animal and environmental health.
PB  - Plovdiv: Medical University of Plovdiv, University Publishing Center
C3  - Program and Abstract: International Conference One Health and Zoology; 2023 Sep 27–29; Hissarya, Bulgaria
T1  - Acanthocephalans in Serbia: rare, but not unimportant
SP  - 65
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6509
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Tošić, Božana and Čabrilo, Borislav and Miljević, Milan and Blagojević, Jelena and Bajić, Branka and Rajičić, Marija and Budinski, Ivana and Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera",
year = "2023",
abstract = "As part of research activities focused on rodent helminth fauna in Serbia, over the course of the previous decade, we registered the pres-ence of species with zoonotic potential, Moniliformis moniliformis, an acan-thocephalan (or spiny-headed worm) intestinal parasite that primarily in-fects rats, mice and voles. The adult form of the species M. moniliformis was found in the small intestine of three individuals of the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) in the localities of Donji Milanovac, Cer Moun-tain and Senokos. Another species of Acanthocephala, reported in earlier studies of Spermophilus citellus in Serbia, is Macracanthorhynchus hirudi-naceus, which also has zoonotic potential. Data on human infection with the aforementioned acanthocephalans are scarce all over the world, in-cluding Serbia, but they should not be ignored. Considering that the pres-ence of spiny-headed worms with zoonotic potential in our country was established during the last years of research, it is necessary to develop awareness of the potential risk for public health and actively monitor this group of helminths and their definitive hosts throughout the country. Reg-ular deratisation and disinsection in order to regulate the number of pop-ulations of rodents and insects that transmit acanthocephalans among other helminths in urban areas, are of great importance for the prevention of infection with these helminths. Implementing basic hygiene measures, as well as maintaining a healthy environment are essential measures to prevent the transmission of infection to humans. These proposed activities are in line with the One health approach, which stands at the intersection of human, animal and environmental health.",
publisher = "Plovdiv: Medical University of Plovdiv, University Publishing Center",
journal = "Program and Abstract: International Conference One Health and Zoology; 2023 Sep 27–29; Hissarya, Bulgaria",
title = "Acanthocephalans in Serbia: rare, but not unimportant",
pages = "65",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6509"
}

Tošić, B., Čabrilo, B., Miljević, M., Blagojević, J., Bajić, B., Rajičić, M., Budinski, I.,& Bjelić Čabrilo, O.. (2023). Acanthocephalans in Serbia: rare, but not unimportant. in Program and Abstract: International Conference One Health and Zoology; 2023 Sep 27–29; Hissarya, Bulgaria
Plovdiv: Medical University of Plovdiv, University Publishing Center., 65.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6509

Tošić B, Čabrilo B, Miljević M, Blagojević J, Bajić B, Rajičić M, Budinski I, Bjelić Čabrilo O. Acanthocephalans in Serbia: rare, but not unimportant. in Program and Abstract: International Conference One Health and Zoology; 2023 Sep 27–29; Hissarya, Bulgaria. 2023;:65.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6509 .

Tošić, Božana, Čabrilo, Borislav, Miljević, Milan, Blagojević, Jelena, Bajić, Branka, Rajičić, Marija, Budinski, Ivana, Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera, "Acanthocephalans in Serbia: rare, but not unimportant" in Program and Abstract: International Conference One Health and Zoology; 2023 Sep 27–29; Hissarya, Bulgaria (2023):65,
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6509 .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Tošić, Božana
AU  - Čabrilo, Borislav
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6506
AB  - Heligmosomoides nematodes are frequent intestinal parasites of rodents, primarily mice and voles. The common species H. polygyrus is closely related to the highly prevalent nematodes infecting humans. It is assumed that the Asian species H. neopolygyrus arrived in Europe with its host Apodemus agrarius, and the presence of this nematode was first rec-orded in a striped field mouse in Poland in 2014. We present a preliminary report of two A. agrarius from the Special Nature Reserve Koviljsko-petrova-radinski rit and Kameničko Island in Serbia, which were found to be in-fected with H. neopolygyrus. Current research is based on phylogenetic analyses of cyt b sequences of Heligmosomoides isolated from Apodemus species. Preliminary results showed clustering of sequences isolates from A.agrarius from this study with those of H. neopolygyrus from A. agrariusfrom Poland, but also with H. polygyrus from A. agrarius (Poland) and A. ura-lensis (Russia). Due to the great morphological similarities of H. polygyrusand H. neopolygyrus, some specimens may have previously been misiden-tified as H. polygyrus, which is why the presence of H. neopolygyrus on theEuropean continent was only recently established. The most significantmorphological difference between the two species is seen in the proximalsection of external dorsal rays of the male's copulatory bursa, which is fili-form in H. neopolygyrus and swollen in H. polygyrus. The use of molecularmarkers may overcome the problems of morphological misidentificationin the future. Considering the biology and ecology of other Apodemus spe-cies, as well as voles, the presence of H. neopolygyrus can be expected inthese hosts as well.
PB  - Plovdiv: Medical University of Plovdiv, University Publishing Center
C3  - Program and Abstract: International Conference One Health and Zoology; 2023 Sep 27–29; Hissarya, Bulgaria
T1  - First record of Heligmosomoides neopolygyrus in Serbia
SP  - 126
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6506
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Tošić, Božana and Čabrilo, Borislav and Miljević, Milan and Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera and Bajić, Branka and Rajičić, Marija and Budinski, Ivana and Blagojević, Jelena",
year = "2023",
abstract = "Heligmosomoides nematodes are frequent intestinal parasites of rodents, primarily mice and voles. The common species H. polygyrus is closely related to the highly prevalent nematodes infecting humans. It is assumed that the Asian species H. neopolygyrus arrived in Europe with its host Apodemus agrarius, and the presence of this nematode was first rec-orded in a striped field mouse in Poland in 2014. We present a preliminary report of two A. agrarius from the Special Nature Reserve Koviljsko-petrova-radinski rit and Kameničko Island in Serbia, which were found to be in-fected with H. neopolygyrus. Current research is based on phylogenetic analyses of cyt b sequences of Heligmosomoides isolated from Apodemus species. Preliminary results showed clustering of sequences isolates from A.agrarius from this study with those of H. neopolygyrus from A. agrariusfrom Poland, but also with H. polygyrus from A. agrarius (Poland) and A. ura-lensis (Russia). Due to the great morphological similarities of H. polygyrusand H. neopolygyrus, some specimens may have previously been misiden-tified as H. polygyrus, which is why the presence of H. neopolygyrus on theEuropean continent was only recently established. The most significantmorphological difference between the two species is seen in the proximalsection of external dorsal rays of the male's copulatory bursa, which is fili-form in H. neopolygyrus and swollen in H. polygyrus. The use of molecularmarkers may overcome the problems of morphological misidentificationin the future. Considering the biology and ecology of other Apodemus spe-cies, as well as voles, the presence of H. neopolygyrus can be expected inthese hosts as well.",
publisher = "Plovdiv: Medical University of Plovdiv, University Publishing Center",
journal = "Program and Abstract: International Conference One Health and Zoology; 2023 Sep 27–29; Hissarya, Bulgaria",
title = "First record of Heligmosomoides neopolygyrus in Serbia",
pages = "126",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6506"
}

Tošić, B., Čabrilo, B., Miljević, M., Bjelić Čabrilo, O., Bajić, B., Rajičić, M., Budinski, I.,& Blagojević, J.. (2023). First record of Heligmosomoides neopolygyrus in Serbia. in Program and Abstract: International Conference One Health and Zoology; 2023 Sep 27–29; Hissarya, Bulgaria
Plovdiv: Medical University of Plovdiv, University Publishing Center., 126.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6506

Tošić B, Čabrilo B, Miljević M, Bjelić Čabrilo O, Bajić B, Rajičić M, Budinski I, Blagojević J. First record of Heligmosomoides neopolygyrus in Serbia. in Program and Abstract: International Conference One Health and Zoology; 2023 Sep 27–29; Hissarya, Bulgaria. 2023;:126.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6506 .

Tošić, Božana, Čabrilo, Borislav, Miljević, Milan, Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera, Bajić, Branka, Rajičić, Marija, Budinski, Ivana, Blagojević, Jelena, "First record of Heligmosomoides neopolygyrus in Serbia" in Program and Abstract: International Conference One Health and Zoology; 2023 Sep 27–29; Hissarya, Bulgaria (2023):126,
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6506 .

TY  - CHAP
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - López-Baucells, Adrià
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6423
AB  - The Myotis mystacinus species complex (Whiskered bats) is a group that includes some of the smallest representatives of the genus Myotis (M. mystacinus, M. alcathoe, M. brandtii, and M. davidii), which are morphologically very similar to each other. They are characterized by small feet (less than half of the tibia length), a dark-colored face, notched ears, and by a wing membrane starting from the distal part of the tibia (Benda et al. 2016b; Dietz and Kiefer 2016). Taxonomy of whiskered bats is considered to be one of the most challenging topics in European bats systematics, and it has drawn the attention of many researchers over the years.
PB  - Cham: Springer
T2  - Chiroptera
T1  - Myotis mystacinus Species Complex (M. mystacinus, M. brandtii, M. alcathoe, M. davidii)
DO  - 10.1007/978-3-030-44029-9_53
SP  - 321
EP  - 353
ER  - 

@inbook{
author = "Budinski, Ivana and López-Baucells, Adrià",
year = "2023",
abstract = "The Myotis mystacinus species complex (Whiskered bats) is a group that includes some of the smallest representatives of the genus Myotis (M. mystacinus, M. alcathoe, M. brandtii, and M. davidii), which are morphologically very similar to each other. They are characterized by small feet (less than half of the tibia length), a dark-colored face, notched ears, and by a wing membrane starting from the distal part of the tibia (Benda et al. 2016b; Dietz and Kiefer 2016). Taxonomy of whiskered bats is considered to be one of the most challenging topics in European bats systematics, and it has drawn the attention of many researchers over the years.",
publisher = "Cham: Springer",
journal = "Chiroptera",
booktitle = "Myotis mystacinus Species Complex (M. mystacinus, M. brandtii, M. alcathoe, M. davidii)",
doi = "10.1007/978-3-030-44029-9_53",
pages = "321-353"
}

Budinski, I.,& López-Baucells, A.. (2023). Myotis mystacinus Species Complex (M. mystacinus, M. brandtii, M. alcathoe, M. davidii). in Chiroptera
Cham: Springer., 321-353.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44029-9_53

Budinski I, López-Baucells A. Myotis mystacinus Species Complex (M. mystacinus, M. brandtii, M. alcathoe, M. davidii). in Chiroptera. 2023;:321-353.
doi:10.1007/978-3-030-44029-9_53 .

Budinski, Ivana, López-Baucells, Adrià, "Myotis mystacinus Species Complex (M. mystacinus, M. brandtii, M. alcathoe, M. davidii)" in Chiroptera (2023):321-353,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44029-9_53 . .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Rončević, Aleksa
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6424
AB  - Background
B chromosomes (Bs) are infrequent in bat species, with only four known so far, including Lesser Noctule, Nyctalus leisleri (Kuhl, 1817). This western Palearctic species is widely distributed, though seldom captured, due to its late emergence from roosts or the fact they are tree dwellers, thus difficult to track. As a known long-distance migrant, it covers substantial distances between summer and winter roosts. Previously, a cytogenetical study investigated chromosome sets of four males from two Serbian locations, revealing karyotypes with two to five micro Bs. Notably, studies on female N. leisleri are scarce.
Materials and Methods
Recently, karyotypes and B's presence of additional specimens from southwestern Serbia (two males), and Belgrade (one female) were examined. Chromosome slides were made from the primary fibroblast cell cultures established from a piece of skin from the wing membrane. At least 20 metaphase plates per individual were assessed.
Results
The species’ standard chromosome complement counts 44 (42 autosomes and a sex chromosome pair), with extra chromosomes classified as Bs. In two males, counts were 2n=44+1B and 2n=44+2B, while the Belgrade female had 2n=44+2B. Notably, the X chromosome was a medium-sized metacentric and the Y chromosome was a small acrocentric, while all Bs were microchromosomes. A previous study from Poland from 1970 reported a female N. leisleri karyotype of 2n=46, but Bs were not mentioned due to the analysis of a single individual. Our findings of a female with 2n=44 and two additional Bs suggest that the Polish study likely shared the same scenario.
Conclusions
The paucity of B chromosomes in bats might be attributed to their small genome size, possibly linked to the energy demands of flight. Additionally, bats’ low reproductive rates could hinder Bs establishment and maintenance, as opposed to rodents, which exhibit the highest occurrence of Bs among mammals. This research marks the first confirmation of Bs in female N. leisleri, and supplements the limited understanding of additional chromosomes in bats with two more male karyotypes.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia (Grants No. 451-03-47/2023-01/200007).
PB  - Springer Nature
C3  - Meeting Abstracts from the 5th B Chromosome Conference; 2023 Oct 14-17; Petnica, Serbia
T1  - B chromosomes of the bat species Nyctalus leisleri from Serbia
DO  - 10.1186/s12919-023-00284-9
SP  - 33
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Rajičić, Marija and Bajić, Branka and Budinski, Ivana and Miljević, Milan and Rončević, Aleksa and Blagojević, Jelena",
year = "2023",
abstract = "Background
B chromosomes (Bs) are infrequent in bat species, with only four known so far, including Lesser Noctule, Nyctalus leisleri (Kuhl, 1817). This western Palearctic species is widely distributed, though seldom captured, due to its late emergence from roosts or the fact they are tree dwellers, thus difficult to track. As a known long-distance migrant, it covers substantial distances between summer and winter roosts. Previously, a cytogenetical study investigated chromosome sets of four males from two Serbian locations, revealing karyotypes with two to five micro Bs. Notably, studies on female N. leisleri are scarce.
Materials and Methods
Recently, karyotypes and B's presence of additional specimens from southwestern Serbia (two males), and Belgrade (one female) were examined. Chromosome slides were made from the primary fibroblast cell cultures established from a piece of skin from the wing membrane. At least 20 metaphase plates per individual were assessed.
Results
The species’ standard chromosome complement counts 44 (42 autosomes and a sex chromosome pair), with extra chromosomes classified as Bs. In two males, counts were 2n=44+1B and 2n=44+2B, while the Belgrade female had 2n=44+2B. Notably, the X chromosome was a medium-sized metacentric and the Y chromosome was a small acrocentric, while all Bs were microchromosomes. A previous study from Poland from 1970 reported a female N. leisleri karyotype of 2n=46, but Bs were not mentioned due to the analysis of a single individual. Our findings of a female with 2n=44 and two additional Bs suggest that the Polish study likely shared the same scenario.
Conclusions
The paucity of B chromosomes in bats might be attributed to their small genome size, possibly linked to the energy demands of flight. Additionally, bats’ low reproductive rates could hinder Bs establishment and maintenance, as opposed to rodents, which exhibit the highest occurrence of Bs among mammals. This research marks the first confirmation of Bs in female N. leisleri, and supplements the limited understanding of additional chromosomes in bats with two more male karyotypes.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia (Grants No. 451-03-47/2023-01/200007).",
publisher = "Springer Nature",
journal = "Meeting Abstracts from the 5th B Chromosome Conference; 2023 Oct 14-17; Petnica, Serbia",
title = "B chromosomes of the bat species Nyctalus leisleri from Serbia",
doi = "10.1186/s12919-023-00284-9",
pages = "33"
}

Rajičić, M., Bajić, B., Budinski, I., Miljević, M., Rončević, A.,& Blagojević, J.. (2023). B chromosomes of the bat species Nyctalus leisleri from Serbia. in Meeting Abstracts from the 5th B Chromosome Conference; 2023 Oct 14-17; Petnica, Serbia
Springer Nature., 33.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12919-023-00284-9

Rajičić M, Bajić B, Budinski I, Miljević M, Rončević A, Blagojević J. B chromosomes of the bat species Nyctalus leisleri from Serbia. in Meeting Abstracts from the 5th B Chromosome Conference; 2023 Oct 14-17; Petnica, Serbia. 2023;:33.
doi:10.1186/s12919-023-00284-9 .

Rajičić, Marija, Bajić, Branka, Budinski, Ivana, Miljević, Milan, Rončević, Aleksa, Blagojević, Jelena, "B chromosomes of the bat species Nyctalus leisleri from Serbia" in Meeting Abstracts from the 5th B Chromosome Conference; 2023 Oct 14-17; Petnica, Serbia (2023):33,
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12919-023-00284-9 . .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Vujošević, Mladen
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Adnađević, Tanja
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6429
AB  - B chromosomes (Bs) are uncommon in mammals, featuring less than 2% of species, but six out of 22 species possess them in the genus Apodemus. In Serbia, over 40 populations of yellow-necked mice
(Apodemus flavicollis) with varying habitat quality were studied. The frequency of B carriers (range: 0.09 to 0.67) increased with elevation, correlated with sub-zero days, and inversely with average temperature. B carrier frequency remained stable over eight years despite population density fluctuations, while seasonal variations linked to population size were observed. Overcrowding stress reduced B carriers among pre-reproductive individuals but enhanced survival in suboptimal conditions.
Phenotypic traits and B frequency were correlated, influencing cranial morphometric development. B carriers showed distinct developmental pathways for cranial traits, suggesting environment-specific benefits. Bs’ presence did not affect carrier fecundity or fertility and was evenly distributed across age groups. B chromosomes (up to five) displayed common structures across populations in Serbia and Eastern Europe, possibly originating from sex chromosome pericentromeric regions. B-specific chromatin spatially resembled pericentromeric sex chromosomes, suggesting a similar mechanism to bypass meiotic
checkpoints.
Current data support a heterotic model in A. flavicollis. Bs likely contribute to species adaptability by increasing genetic variability, potentially expanding their distribution.
PB  - Springer Nature
C3  - Meeting Abstracts from the 5th B Chromosome Conference; 2023 Oct 14-17; Petnica, Serbia
T1  - B chromosomes in populations of Apodemus flavicollis – never ending story
DO  - 10.1186/s12919-023-00284-9
SP  - 33
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Vujošević, Mladen and Rajičić, Marija and Budinski, Ivana and Bajić, Branka and Adnađević, Tanja and Blagojević, Jelena",
year = "2023",
abstract = "B chromosomes (Bs) are uncommon in mammals, featuring less than 2% of species, but six out of 22 species possess them in the genus Apodemus. In Serbia, over 40 populations of yellow-necked mice
(Apodemus flavicollis) with varying habitat quality were studied. The frequency of B carriers (range: 0.09 to 0.67) increased with elevation, correlated with sub-zero days, and inversely with average temperature. B carrier frequency remained stable over eight years despite population density fluctuations, while seasonal variations linked to population size were observed. Overcrowding stress reduced B carriers among pre-reproductive individuals but enhanced survival in suboptimal conditions.
Phenotypic traits and B frequency were correlated, influencing cranial morphometric development. B carriers showed distinct developmental pathways for cranial traits, suggesting environment-specific benefits. Bs’ presence did not affect carrier fecundity or fertility and was evenly distributed across age groups. B chromosomes (up to five) displayed common structures across populations in Serbia and Eastern Europe, possibly originating from sex chromosome pericentromeric regions. B-specific chromatin spatially resembled pericentromeric sex chromosomes, suggesting a similar mechanism to bypass meiotic
checkpoints.
Current data support a heterotic model in A. flavicollis. Bs likely contribute to species adaptability by increasing genetic variability, potentially expanding their distribution.",
publisher = "Springer Nature",
journal = "Meeting Abstracts from the 5th B Chromosome Conference; 2023 Oct 14-17; Petnica, Serbia",
title = "B chromosomes in populations of Apodemus flavicollis – never ending story",
doi = "10.1186/s12919-023-00284-9",
pages = "33"
}

Vujošević, M., Rajičić, M., Budinski, I., Bajić, B., Adnađević, T.,& Blagojević, J.. (2023). B chromosomes in populations of Apodemus flavicollis – never ending story. in Meeting Abstracts from the 5th B Chromosome Conference; 2023 Oct 14-17; Petnica, Serbia
Springer Nature., 33.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12919-023-00284-9

Vujošević M, Rajičić M, Budinski I, Bajić B, Adnađević T, Blagojević J. B chromosomes in populations of Apodemus flavicollis – never ending story. in Meeting Abstracts from the 5th B Chromosome Conference; 2023 Oct 14-17; Petnica, Serbia. 2023;:33.
doi:10.1186/s12919-023-00284-9 .

Vujošević, Mladen, Rajičić, Marija, Budinski, Ivana, Bajić, Branka, Adnađević, Tanja, Blagojević, Jelena, "B chromosomes in populations of Apodemus flavicollis – never ending story" in Meeting Abstracts from the 5th B Chromosome Conference; 2023 Oct 14-17; Petnica, Serbia (2023):33,
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12919-023-00284-9 . .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
AU  - Malkov, Saša
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Rončević, Aleksa
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Vujošević, Mladen
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6428
AB  - Background
Long-term studies on B chromosome (Bs) dynamics in natural populations of yellow-necked mice, Apodemus flavicollis, have unveiled intriguing seasonal variations influenced by environmental factors. On average, one third of animals possessed Bs in large natural populations. Urbanization, a potent catalyst for genetic diversity alterations, brings about habitat fragmentation and degradation, producing patches of small forested areas within urban landscapes. These fragmented habitats pose significant challenges for small mammal populations as migration and gene flow are severely restricted. To comprehensively grasp the repercussions of urbanization on B chromosome frequency, we embarked on a study within the Belgrade region.
Materials and Methods
The frequency of individuals with B chromosomes in five urban isolated forests populations of A. flavicollis has been studied. Employing live animal traps, we collected samples, and chromosome preparation was done directly from the bone marrow. Each animal’s karyotype was analysed through examination of twenty metaphase figures.
Results
A total of 246 animals were sampled across five forest sites within the Belgrade territory and underwent karyotyping. The prevalence of animals with Bs exhibited remarkable variability, ranging from 3% to 50%.
Intriguingly, at four of the sites, the incidence of Bs was significantly lower (ranging from 3% to 13%) compared to the average frequencies observed in natural populations. Conversely, at one site, the frequency soared to an exceptionally high 50%. Since all studied localities are at short distances from each other, climatic factors could be considered as the same. However, the studied sites differ in size and the level of adaptation to people’s urban life. In a bid to elucidate the driving factors behind frequency variation, we developed a model simulating the influence of genetic drift, the predominant evolutionary force in small, isolated populations.
Conclusions
Beyond investigations focused on the molecular structure and origin of B chromosomes, it becomes evident that a comprehensive understanding necessitates population-level research, shedding light on
the intricate mechanisms governing their persistence across diverse environments.
PB  - Springer Nature
C3  - Meeting Abstracts from the 5th B Chromosome Conference; 2023 Oct 14-17; Petnica, Serbia
T1  - Variation in the frequency of B chromosomes in small isolated populations of Apodemus flavicollis
DO  - 10.1186/s12919-023-00284-9
SP  - 33
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Blagojević, Jelena and Malkov, Saša and Rajičić, Marija and Rončević, Aleksa and Budinski, Ivana and Bajić, Branka and Miljević, Milan and Vujošević, Mladen",
year = "2023",
abstract = "Background
Long-term studies on B chromosome (Bs) dynamics in natural populations of yellow-necked mice, Apodemus flavicollis, have unveiled intriguing seasonal variations influenced by environmental factors. On average, one third of animals possessed Bs in large natural populations. Urbanization, a potent catalyst for genetic diversity alterations, brings about habitat fragmentation and degradation, producing patches of small forested areas within urban landscapes. These fragmented habitats pose significant challenges for small mammal populations as migration and gene flow are severely restricted. To comprehensively grasp the repercussions of urbanization on B chromosome frequency, we embarked on a study within the Belgrade region.
Materials and Methods
The frequency of individuals with B chromosomes in five urban isolated forests populations of A. flavicollis has been studied. Employing live animal traps, we collected samples, and chromosome preparation was done directly from the bone marrow. Each animal’s karyotype was analysed through examination of twenty metaphase figures.
Results
A total of 246 animals were sampled across five forest sites within the Belgrade territory and underwent karyotyping. The prevalence of animals with Bs exhibited remarkable variability, ranging from 3% to 50%.
Intriguingly, at four of the sites, the incidence of Bs was significantly lower (ranging from 3% to 13%) compared to the average frequencies observed in natural populations. Conversely, at one site, the frequency soared to an exceptionally high 50%. Since all studied localities are at short distances from each other, climatic factors could be considered as the same. However, the studied sites differ in size and the level of adaptation to people’s urban life. In a bid to elucidate the driving factors behind frequency variation, we developed a model simulating the influence of genetic drift, the predominant evolutionary force in small, isolated populations.
Conclusions
Beyond investigations focused on the molecular structure and origin of B chromosomes, it becomes evident that a comprehensive understanding necessitates population-level research, shedding light on
the intricate mechanisms governing their persistence across diverse environments.",
publisher = "Springer Nature",
journal = "Meeting Abstracts from the 5th B Chromosome Conference; 2023 Oct 14-17; Petnica, Serbia",
title = "Variation in the frequency of B chromosomes in small isolated populations of Apodemus flavicollis",
doi = "10.1186/s12919-023-00284-9",
pages = "33"
}

Blagojević, J., Malkov, S., Rajičić, M., Rončević, A., Budinski, I., Bajić, B., Miljević, M.,& Vujošević, M.. (2023). Variation in the frequency of B chromosomes in small isolated populations of Apodemus flavicollis. in Meeting Abstracts from the 5th B Chromosome Conference; 2023 Oct 14-17; Petnica, Serbia
Springer Nature., 33.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12919-023-00284-9

Blagojević J, Malkov S, Rajičić M, Rončević A, Budinski I, Bajić B, Miljević M, Vujošević M. Variation in the frequency of B chromosomes in small isolated populations of Apodemus flavicollis. in Meeting Abstracts from the 5th B Chromosome Conference; 2023 Oct 14-17; Petnica, Serbia. 2023;:33.
doi:10.1186/s12919-023-00284-9 .

Blagojević, Jelena, Malkov, Saša, Rajičić, Marija, Rončević, Aleksa, Budinski, Ivana, Bajić, Branka, Miljević, Milan, Vujošević, Mladen, "Variation in the frequency of B chromosomes in small isolated populations of Apodemus flavicollis" in Meeting Abstracts from the 5th B Chromosome Conference; 2023 Oct 14-17; Petnica, Serbia (2023):33,
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12919-023-00284-9 . .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Rončević, Aleksa
AU  - Vujošević, Mladen
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6282
AB  - B chromosomes (Bs) are additional elements to the standard karyotype that are not required for
normal growth and development. Bs are predominantly derived from chromosomes of the
standard chromosome set. In some species, these supernumerary chromosomes are passed on to
the next generation more frequently than would be expected under Mendel's law of segregation.
Although the molecular mechanism is unknown, this chromosome drive can occur during
premeiotic, meiotic, or postmeiotic division. Inheritance of B chromosomes across generations is
unknown in many species, including Apodemus flavicollis. The standard karyotype of this
species (2n=48) may contain up to eight B chromosomes, but animals with 1B are most
common. Animals with Bs are present in all studied populations of A. flavicollis in Serbia with
different frequencies (0.10-0.64).
Here we studied the transmission rate of B chromosomes in captive-bred pairs of A. flavicollis.
Juveniles were selected for sex and Bs markers, all of which were determined by PCR. In
addition, primary cell cultures and chromosome preparations were performed for animals with
positive B markers to select animals with 1B. In this way, we were able to form two
combinations of breeding pairs: four pairs with 1B females and 0B males and three pairs with 0B
females and 1B males.
In the pairs where the female had 1B and the male 0B, we obtained a total of 20 offspring, 14 of
which were carriers of the B chromosome (13 with 1B and one animal was a mosaic with 0-2Bs
in the cells). In pairs where males were carriers of 1B and females of 0B, we obtained 10
offspring, of which five animals were carriers of the B chromosome (4 with 1B and one animal
was a mosaic with 0-1B).
In our previous studies of more than forty natural populations, the frequencies of animals with
Bs were the same in males and females. Also, previous studies of meiotic segregation in males
showed that there was no accumulation of Bs, suggesting a general lack of meiotic drive. Herein,
for the first time, we found deviations from Mendel's law of segregation in the transmission of
Bs by the female sex. Our preliminary results suggest the possible presence of a meiotic drive in
the female sex of A. flavicollis, in which ¾ of the offspring inherit B from the mother, whereas in
the male sex B is inherited according to Mendel's law of segregation. However, the small number
of crossed pairs of animals and the small number of litters in the present study indicate the need
to continue this experiment to address the issue of Bs transmission across generations in A.
flavicollis
PB  - Novosibirsk: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS
C3  - Abstracts: International conference: Chromosome 2023; 2023 Sep 5-10; Novosibirsk, Russia
T1  - B chromosome inheritance in Apodemus flavicollis
DO  - 10.25205/978-5-4437-1514-8
SP  - 42
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Rajičić, Marija and Miljević, Milan and Bajić, Branka and Budinski, Ivana and Rončević, Aleksa and Vujošević, Mladen and Blagojević, Jelena",
year = "2023",
abstract = "B chromosomes (Bs) are additional elements to the standard karyotype that are not required for
normal growth and development. Bs are predominantly derived from chromosomes of the
standard chromosome set. In some species, these supernumerary chromosomes are passed on to
the next generation more frequently than would be expected under Mendel's law of segregation.
Although the molecular mechanism is unknown, this chromosome drive can occur during
premeiotic, meiotic, or postmeiotic division. Inheritance of B chromosomes across generations is
unknown in many species, including Apodemus flavicollis. The standard karyotype of this
species (2n=48) may contain up to eight B chromosomes, but animals with 1B are most
common. Animals with Bs are present in all studied populations of A. flavicollis in Serbia with
different frequencies (0.10-0.64).
Here we studied the transmission rate of B chromosomes in captive-bred pairs of A. flavicollis.
Juveniles were selected for sex and Bs markers, all of which were determined by PCR. In
addition, primary cell cultures and chromosome preparations were performed for animals with
positive B markers to select animals with 1B. In this way, we were able to form two
combinations of breeding pairs: four pairs with 1B females and 0B males and three pairs with 0B
females and 1B males.
In the pairs where the female had 1B and the male 0B, we obtained a total of 20 offspring, 14 of
which were carriers of the B chromosome (13 with 1B and one animal was a mosaic with 0-2Bs
in the cells). In pairs where males were carriers of 1B and females of 0B, we obtained 10
offspring, of which five animals were carriers of the B chromosome (4 with 1B and one animal
was a mosaic with 0-1B).
In our previous studies of more than forty natural populations, the frequencies of animals with
Bs were the same in males and females. Also, previous studies of meiotic segregation in males
showed that there was no accumulation of Bs, suggesting a general lack of meiotic drive. Herein,
for the first time, we found deviations from Mendel's law of segregation in the transmission of
Bs by the female sex. Our preliminary results suggest the possible presence of a meiotic drive in
the female sex of A. flavicollis, in which ¾ of the offspring inherit B from the mother, whereas in
the male sex B is inherited according to Mendel's law of segregation. However, the small number
of crossed pairs of animals and the small number of litters in the present study indicate the need
to continue this experiment to address the issue of Bs transmission across generations in A.
flavicollis",
publisher = "Novosibirsk: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS",
journal = "Abstracts: International conference: Chromosome 2023; 2023 Sep 5-10; Novosibirsk, Russia",
title = "B chromosome inheritance in Apodemus flavicollis",
doi = "10.25205/978-5-4437-1514-8",
pages = "42"
}

Rajičić, M., Miljević, M., Bajić, B., Budinski, I., Rončević, A., Vujošević, M.,& Blagojević, J.. (2023). B chromosome inheritance in Apodemus flavicollis. in Abstracts: International conference: Chromosome 2023; 2023 Sep 5-10; Novosibirsk, Russia
Novosibirsk: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS., 42.
https://doi.org/10.25205/978-5-4437-1514-8

Rajičić M, Miljević M, Bajić B, Budinski I, Rončević A, Vujošević M, Blagojević J. B chromosome inheritance in Apodemus flavicollis. in Abstracts: International conference: Chromosome 2023; 2023 Sep 5-10; Novosibirsk, Russia. 2023;:42.
doi:10.25205/978-5-4437-1514-8 .

Rajičić, Marija, Miljević, Milan, Bajić, Branka, Budinski, Ivana, Rončević, Aleksa, Vujošević, Mladen, Blagojević, Jelena, "B chromosome inheritance in Apodemus flavicollis" in Abstracts: International conference: Chromosome 2023; 2023 Sep 5-10; Novosibirsk, Russia (2023):42,
https://doi.org/10.25205/978-5-4437-1514-8 . .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Montauban, Cecilia M
AU  - Ketola, Christopher T
AU  - Hillier, Lewis P
AU  - Kirkby, Christopher A
AU  - Lloyd, Julia N
AU  - Kwarija Innocent
AU  - Kityo, Robert
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6257
AB  - Uganda is recognised as a biodiversity hotspot, but knowledge gaps remain, especially for lesser-known
taxonomic groups like bats. More comprehensive taxonomic studies and combined monitoring methods
are needed to assess bat species' distributions and populations. In early 2023, NGO Fauna Forever
partnered with local biologists, rangers and community members to conduct a rapid bat diversity
assessment at eight privately-owned sites across Uganda, mostly in close proximity of National Parks.
We used a combination of ground mist nets, a triple high mist net system, and a 2-bank harp trap to
survey bats. We captured 664 bats of 44 species from 8 families. Each method revealed unique captures,
with 38% of individuals caught in the triple high net (including 8 species not trapped elsewhere), all but
one of the Nycterid bats caught in ground nets, and the only individual of Kerivoula smithii trapped in
the harp trap. We emphasize the importance of using a combination of methods to assess the bat
community, and advocate for training local conservationists in diverse survey techniques. Furthermore,
we share our experience delivering workshops at Sadhguru School to showcase the diversity and
importance of local bat fauna. Our study yields significant contributions, including new species
distribution records, genetic and morphometric data, and hand-release echolocation call recordings.
These findings will contribute to conservation efforts, taxonomic assessments, and the growth of a bat
call reference library in Uganda. Undoubtedly, continuous monitoring of biodiversity is crucial for
understanding population trends, detecting threats, and formulating effective conservation strategies.
PB  - Windhoek: University of Namibia
C3  - Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia
T1  - Exploring Uganda’s bat diversity: a rapid assessment utilizing a combination of techniques
SP  - 13
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6257
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Budinski, Ivana and Montauban, Cecilia M and Ketola, Christopher T and Hillier, Lewis P and Kirkby, Christopher A and Lloyd, Julia N and Kwarija Innocent and Kityo, Robert",
year = "2023",
abstract = "Uganda is recognised as a biodiversity hotspot, but knowledge gaps remain, especially for lesser-known
taxonomic groups like bats. More comprehensive taxonomic studies and combined monitoring methods
are needed to assess bat species' distributions and populations. In early 2023, NGO Fauna Forever
partnered with local biologists, rangers and community members to conduct a rapid bat diversity
assessment at eight privately-owned sites across Uganda, mostly in close proximity of National Parks.
We used a combination of ground mist nets, a triple high mist net system, and a 2-bank harp trap to
survey bats. We captured 664 bats of 44 species from 8 families. Each method revealed unique captures,
with 38% of individuals caught in the triple high net (including 8 species not trapped elsewhere), all but
one of the Nycterid bats caught in ground nets, and the only individual of Kerivoula smithii trapped in
the harp trap. We emphasize the importance of using a combination of methods to assess the bat
community, and advocate for training local conservationists in diverse survey techniques. Furthermore,
we share our experience delivering workshops at Sadhguru School to showcase the diversity and
importance of local bat fauna. Our study yields significant contributions, including new species
distribution records, genetic and morphometric data, and hand-release echolocation call recordings.
These findings will contribute to conservation efforts, taxonomic assessments, and the growth of a bat
call reference library in Uganda. Undoubtedly, continuous monitoring of biodiversity is crucial for
understanding population trends, detecting threats, and formulating effective conservation strategies.",
publisher = "Windhoek: University of Namibia",
journal = "Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia",
title = "Exploring Uganda’s bat diversity: a rapid assessment utilizing a combination of techniques",
pages = "13",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6257"
}

Budinski, I., Montauban, C. M., Ketola, C. T., Hillier, L. P., Kirkby, C. A., Lloyd, J. N., Kwarija Innocent,& Kityo, R.. (2023). Exploring Uganda’s bat diversity: a rapid assessment utilizing a combination of techniques. in Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia
Windhoek: University of Namibia., 13.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6257

Budinski I, Montauban CM, Ketola CT, Hillier LP, Kirkby CA, Lloyd JN, Kwarija Innocent, Kityo R. Exploring Uganda’s bat diversity: a rapid assessment utilizing a combination of techniques. in Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia. 2023;:13.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6257 .

Budinski, Ivana, Montauban, Cecilia M, Ketola, Christopher T, Hillier, Lewis P, Kirkby, Christopher A, Lloyd, Julia N, Kwarija Innocent, Kityo, Robert, "Exploring Uganda’s bat diversity: a rapid assessment utilizing a combination of techniques" in Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia (2023):13,
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6257 .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Montauban, Cecilia M
AU  - Devenish, Adam JM
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Annorbah, Nathaniel ND
AU  - Chibesa, Moses
AU  - Welch, Andreanna J
AU  - Tobias, Joseph A
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6256
AB  - Increasing agricultural production to meet rapidly growing demand for food is driving widespread
conversion of natural habitats to arable land. Safeguarding biodiversity while improving food security
of local communities remains a key global challenge, especially in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa,
where the population is expected to double by 2050. To develop sustainable solutions to this trade-off,
we need to better understand natural regulation processes. Bats are widely regarded as a major predator of crop pests, yet little is known about them in African agroecosystems. We investigated the role of bats
as natural pest consumers across land-use gradients from intact forest to cropland in two contrasting
Afrotropical systems of Zambia and Ghana. Between 2021 and 2022, 2151 bats of 61 species were
captured across four field seasons. From these, metabarcoding dietary analyses of 895 faecal samples
of insectivorous bats were performed. Bats were found to consume detrimental agricultural pests in
both systems, with differing proportions and prevalence of pests in their diets across localities and
agroecosystem types (e.g., maize and cacao). We find a shift in bat taxonomic and functional diversity,
with some forest-dependent species absent from agricultural areas, particularly on the clear-cut edges
of tropical evergreen rainforests of Ghana. Intraspecific dietary analyses of bat species present along
the gradient show alteration of trophic interactions, with reduced dietary breadth and nestedness with
increasing distance from the forest. Our study highlights the degradation of ecological interactions in
changing landscapes, with important implications for conserving their function and stability.
PB  - Windhoek: University of Namibia
C3  - Scientific Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia
T1  - Forest loss alters bat diversity, trophic interactions and natural pest consumption in adjacent agricultural land
SP  - 22
EP  - 23
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6256
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Montauban, Cecilia M and Devenish, Adam JM and Budinski, Ivana and Annorbah, Nathaniel ND and Chibesa, Moses and Welch, Andreanna J and Tobias, Joseph A",
year = "2023",
abstract = "Increasing agricultural production to meet rapidly growing demand for food is driving widespread
conversion of natural habitats to arable land. Safeguarding biodiversity while improving food security
of local communities remains a key global challenge, especially in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa,
where the population is expected to double by 2050. To develop sustainable solutions to this trade-off,
we need to better understand natural regulation processes. Bats are widely regarded as a major predator of crop pests, yet little is known about them in African agroecosystems. We investigated the role of bats
as natural pest consumers across land-use gradients from intact forest to cropland in two contrasting
Afrotropical systems of Zambia and Ghana. Between 2021 and 2022, 2151 bats of 61 species were
captured across four field seasons. From these, metabarcoding dietary analyses of 895 faecal samples
of insectivorous bats were performed. Bats were found to consume detrimental agricultural pests in
both systems, with differing proportions and prevalence of pests in their diets across localities and
agroecosystem types (e.g., maize and cacao). We find a shift in bat taxonomic and functional diversity,
with some forest-dependent species absent from agricultural areas, particularly on the clear-cut edges
of tropical evergreen rainforests of Ghana. Intraspecific dietary analyses of bat species present along
the gradient show alteration of trophic interactions, with reduced dietary breadth and nestedness with
increasing distance from the forest. Our study highlights the degradation of ecological interactions in
changing landscapes, with important implications for conserving their function and stability.",
publisher = "Windhoek: University of Namibia",
journal = "Scientific Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia",
title = "Forest loss alters bat diversity, trophic interactions and natural pest consumption in adjacent agricultural land",
pages = "22-23",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6256"
}

Montauban, C. M., Devenish, A. J., Budinski, I., Annorbah, N. N., Chibesa, M., Welch, A. J.,& Tobias, J. A.. (2023). Forest loss alters bat diversity, trophic interactions and natural pest consumption in adjacent agricultural land. in Scientific Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia
Windhoek: University of Namibia., 22-23.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6256

Montauban CM, Devenish AJ, Budinski I, Annorbah NN, Chibesa M, Welch AJ, Tobias JA. Forest loss alters bat diversity, trophic interactions and natural pest consumption in adjacent agricultural land. in Scientific Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia. 2023;:22-23.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6256 .

Montauban, Cecilia M, Devenish, Adam JM, Budinski, Ivana, Annorbah, Nathaniel ND, Chibesa, Moses, Welch, Andreanna J, Tobias, Joseph A, "Forest loss alters bat diversity, trophic interactions and natural pest consumption in adjacent agricultural land" in Scientific Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia (2023):22-23,
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6256 .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Adnađević, Tanja
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Rončević, Aleksa
AU  - Vujošević, Mladen
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5775
AB  - B chromosomes (Bs), or supernumerary chromosomes, are highly polymorphic special chromosome group. Among rodents, 37 species harbour individuals with Bs in their populations. Genus Apodemus is specific, with even six species having Bs. Furthermore, long-term studies in natural populations of the yellow-necked wood mouse Apodemus flavicollis showed that one-third of individuals carry Bs on average. In more than 40 natural populations we analysed in Serbia, the frequency of animals with Bs ranged from 0.11 to 0.63 and correlated negatively with average temperature and positively with attitude. In general, non-Mendelian transmission and frequent heterochromatic composition are characteristics that have classified Bs as selfish genetic elements in the past. However, there are increasing confirmations of active genes in them, which opens the discussion on their adaptive significance. We aim to investigate how urbanisation influences the frequency of Bs in this species. Urbanisation is rapidly changing natural habitats and affecting animal community composition, genetic diversity, and the interrelationship between populations of native species. Habitat fragmentation is the leading course of genetic diversity loss. We analysed the frequency of animals with Bs in four managed city forests on the territory of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, characterised by different sizes and degrees of isolation. Our study revealed that the frequency of animals with Bs varies significantly among studied sites, from 0.04 to 0.50. We assume that, besides other factors, genetic drift plays a significant role in obtained differences.
PB  - Valladolid: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Valladolid
C3  - Book of Abstracts: 17th Rodens et spatium; 2023 May 22-26; Valladolid, Spain
T1  - B chromosomes in urban populations of yellow-necked wood mice, Apodemus flavicolis (Mammalia, Rodentia)
SP  - 30
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5775
ER  - 

@conference{
editor = "Herrero, Cófreces, Larena, Silvia, Larena, Luque, José, Juan",
author = "Blagojević, Jelena and Rajičić, Marija and Adnađević, Tanja and Budinski, Ivana and Bajić, Branka and Miljević, Milan and Rončević, Aleksa and Vujošević, Mladen",
year = "2023",
abstract = "B chromosomes (Bs), or supernumerary chromosomes, are highly polymorphic special chromosome group. Among rodents, 37 species harbour individuals with Bs in their populations. Genus Apodemus is specific, with even six species having Bs. Furthermore, long-term studies in natural populations of the yellow-necked wood mouse Apodemus flavicollis showed that one-third of individuals carry Bs on average. In more than 40 natural populations we analysed in Serbia, the frequency of animals with Bs ranged from 0.11 to 0.63 and correlated negatively with average temperature and positively with attitude. In general, non-Mendelian transmission and frequent heterochromatic composition are characteristics that have classified Bs as selfish genetic elements in the past. However, there are increasing confirmations of active genes in them, which opens the discussion on their adaptive significance. We aim to investigate how urbanisation influences the frequency of Bs in this species. Urbanisation is rapidly changing natural habitats and affecting animal community composition, genetic diversity, and the interrelationship between populations of native species. Habitat fragmentation is the leading course of genetic diversity loss. We analysed the frequency of animals with Bs in four managed city forests on the territory of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, characterised by different sizes and degrees of isolation. Our study revealed that the frequency of animals with Bs varies significantly among studied sites, from 0.04 to 0.50. We assume that, besides other factors, genetic drift plays a significant role in obtained differences.",
publisher = "Valladolid: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Valladolid",
journal = "Book of Abstracts: 17th Rodens et spatium; 2023 May 22-26; Valladolid, Spain",
title = "B chromosomes in urban populations of yellow-necked wood mice, Apodemus flavicolis (Mammalia, Rodentia)",
pages = "30",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5775"
}

Herrero, C., Larena, S., Larena, L., José, J., Blagojević, J., Rajičić, M., Adnađević, T., Budinski, I., Bajić, B., Miljević, M., Rončević, A.,& Vujošević, M.. (2023). B chromosomes in urban populations of yellow-necked wood mice, Apodemus flavicolis (Mammalia, Rodentia). in Book of Abstracts: 17th Rodens et spatium; 2023 May 22-26; Valladolid, Spain
Valladolid: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Valladolid., 30.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5775

Herrero C, Larena S, Larena L, José J, Blagojević J, Rajičić M, Adnađević T, Budinski I, Bajić B, Miljević M, Rončević A, Vujošević M. B chromosomes in urban populations of yellow-necked wood mice, Apodemus flavicolis (Mammalia, Rodentia). in Book of Abstracts: 17th Rodens et spatium; 2023 May 22-26; Valladolid, Spain. 2023;:30.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5775 .

Herrero, Cófreces, Larena, Silvia, Larena, Luque, José, Juan, Blagojević, Jelena, Rajičić, Marija, Adnađević, Tanja, Budinski, Ivana, Bajić, Branka, Miljević, Milan, Rončević, Aleksa, Vujošević, Mladen, "B chromosomes in urban populations of yellow-necked wood mice, Apodemus flavicolis (Mammalia, Rodentia)" in Book of Abstracts: 17th Rodens et spatium; 2023 May 22-26; Valladolid, Spain (2023):30,
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5775 .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Umhang, Gerald
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6016
AB  - Background
Hydatigera (Cestoda: Taeniidae) is a recently resurrected genus with the description of a new species, Hydatigera kamiyai, a cryptic entity within the Hydatigera taeniaeformis species complex. Rodents are intermediate hosts and correct taxonomic identification of H. taeniaeformis sensu lato (s.l.) species is difficult without the use of molecular methods. The aim of this study was to identify and explore the genetic diversity of Hydatigera and other taeniid species.

Methods
Ten different small mammals species (856 individuals) (Rattus rattus, three Apodemus, three Arvicolinae and three Soricidae species) were examined from 2013 to 2023. Captured animals were visually examined for cysts and visible lesions. Two markers were used for amplification and sequencing: cox1 and 12S rDNA.

Results
Molecular analysis of cysts and visible lesions revealed four taeniid species: Hydatigera kamiyai, H. taeniaeformis sensu stricto (s.s.), Taenia martis and T. crassiceps. Hydatigera kamiyai was found in Apodemus flavicollis, A. agrarius, Microtus arvalis and Crocidrua leucodon, while H. taeniaeformis s.s. is registered in R. rattus. Hydatigera kamiyai cox1 sequences clustered with European populations and showed at least 25 nucleotid differences compared to Asian, African, Australian and one of our isolates of H. taeniaeformis s.s acquired from a rat, followed by large sequence distances (9.4% to 12.9%), indicating clear molecular distinction of two species.

Conclusions
This is one of the few mitochondrial gene-based studies performed after the description of cryptic entities within the Hydatigera taeniaeformis s.l. complex and represents a valuable contribution to understanding of genetic diversity, host suitability and geographic distribution of these tapeworm species. Also, our study provides an important basis of molecular data from this part of Europe for further studies. We emphasize the importance of additional studies of intermediate hosts, especially rats from Europe and Apodemus spp. and voles from Asia and Africa.
PB  - Springer Nature
T2  - Parasites and Vectors
T1  - Cryptic species Hydatigera kamiyai and other taeniid metacestodes in the populations of small mammals in Serbia
IS  - 1
VL  - 16
DO  - 10.1186/s13071-023-05879-x
SP  - 250
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Miljević, Milan and Rajičić, Marija and Umhang, Gerald and Bajić, Branka and Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera and Budinski, Ivana and Blagojević, Jelena",
year = "2023",
abstract = "Background
Hydatigera (Cestoda: Taeniidae) is a recently resurrected genus with the description of a new species, Hydatigera kamiyai, a cryptic entity within the Hydatigera taeniaeformis species complex. Rodents are intermediate hosts and correct taxonomic identification of H. taeniaeformis sensu lato (s.l.) species is difficult without the use of molecular methods. The aim of this study was to identify and explore the genetic diversity of Hydatigera and other taeniid species.

Methods
Ten different small mammals species (856 individuals) (Rattus rattus, three Apodemus, three Arvicolinae and three Soricidae species) were examined from 2013 to 2023. Captured animals were visually examined for cysts and visible lesions. Two markers were used for amplification and sequencing: cox1 and 12S rDNA.

Results
Molecular analysis of cysts and visible lesions revealed four taeniid species: Hydatigera kamiyai, H. taeniaeformis sensu stricto (s.s.), Taenia martis and T. crassiceps. Hydatigera kamiyai was found in Apodemus flavicollis, A. agrarius, Microtus arvalis and Crocidrua leucodon, while H. taeniaeformis s.s. is registered in R. rattus. Hydatigera kamiyai cox1 sequences clustered with European populations and showed at least 25 nucleotid differences compared to Asian, African, Australian and one of our isolates of H. taeniaeformis s.s acquired from a rat, followed by large sequence distances (9.4% to 12.9%), indicating clear molecular distinction of two species.

Conclusions
This is one of the few mitochondrial gene-based studies performed after the description of cryptic entities within the Hydatigera taeniaeformis s.l. complex and represents a valuable contribution to understanding of genetic diversity, host suitability and geographic distribution of these tapeworm species. Also, our study provides an important basis of molecular data from this part of Europe for further studies. We emphasize the importance of additional studies of intermediate hosts, especially rats from Europe and Apodemus spp. and voles from Asia and Africa.",
publisher = "Springer Nature",
journal = "Parasites and Vectors",
title = "Cryptic species Hydatigera kamiyai and other taeniid metacestodes in the populations of small mammals in Serbia",
number = "1",
volume = "16",
doi = "10.1186/s13071-023-05879-x",
pages = "250"
}

Miljević, M., Rajičić, M., Umhang, G., Bajić, B., Bjelić Čabrilo, O., Budinski, I.,& Blagojević, J.. (2023). Cryptic species Hydatigera kamiyai and other taeniid metacestodes in the populations of small mammals in Serbia. in Parasites and Vectors
Springer Nature., 16(1), 250.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05879-x

Miljević M, Rajičić M, Umhang G, Bajić B, Bjelić Čabrilo O, Budinski I, Blagojević J. Cryptic species Hydatigera kamiyai and other taeniid metacestodes in the populations of small mammals in Serbia. in Parasites and Vectors. 2023;16(1):250.
doi:10.1186/s13071-023-05879-x .

Miljević, Milan, Rajičić, Marija, Umhang, Gerald, Bajić, Branka, Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera, Budinski, Ivana, Blagojević, Jelena, "Cryptic species Hydatigera kamiyai and other taeniid metacestodes in the populations of small mammals in Serbia" in Parasites and Vectors, 16, no. 1 (2023):250,
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05879-x . .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Umhang, Gerald
AU  - Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6033
AB  - The family Taeniidae recently consists of 4 genera, with a newly described cryptic species H. kamiyai within the Hydatigera genus. H. kamiyai is distributed across Europe to western Siberia, whereas H. taeniaeformis s.s. probably originated in Asia but has spread worldwide. Despite the extraordinary genetic divergence, the two species differ little morphologically, making it questionable whether morphological identification is even relevant in this case. Considering the geographical location of the studied area and the intermediate hosts targeted, we expected the presence of H. kamiyai, and our aim was to confirm this assumption by genetic analyses. From March to October 2013 to 2022, a total of 846 small mammals (Apodemus agrarius (152), Apodemus flavicollis (521), Apodemus sylvaticus (33), Microtus arvalis (48), Microtus subteraneus (17), Myodes glareolus (52), Crocidura suaveolens (13), Crocidura leucodon (7) and Sorex araneus (3)) were captured from 45 different localities in Serbia. Cysts and visible lesions in the body cavity and various organs were examined. Two markers (cox1 and 12S rDNA) were used for amplification and sequencing. A total of 21 strobilocercus of H. kamiyai were identified corresponding to thirteen sequences of the cox1 gene (318 bp) and eight of 12S rDNA (238 bp). H. kamiyai is found in 17 A. flavicollis, one A. agrarius, two M. arvalis, and one C. leucodon. According to the median-joining network, the 13 H. kamiyai cox1 sequences from this study clustered with isolates from Europe and western Siberia differing up to 2.7%. These results confirm and highlight the different geographic distribution and molecular differences in the Hydatigera genus. The results also confirm host suitability for this species. This is the first report of this newly described cryptic species in our country confirmed by genetic analysis.
AB  - Фамилија Taeniidae од недавно се састоји од 4 рода, са ново-описаном криптичном врстом Hydatigera kamiyai у оквиру рода Hydatigera. H. kamiyai врста је распрострањена широм Европе до западног Сибира, док H. taeniaeformis s.s вероватно потиче из Азије, али је распрострањена широм света. Упркос изузетној генетској дивергенцији, ове две врсте се мало разликују морфолошки, што доводи у питање да ли је морфолошка идентификација уопште релевантна у овом случају. С обзиром на географску локацију проучаваног подручја и циљане домаћине, очекивали смо присуство врсте H. kamiyai, са циљем да генетским анализама потврдимо ову претпоставку. Од марта до октобра 2013. до 2022., укупно 846 ситних сисара (Apodemus agrarius (152), Apodemus flavicollis (521), Apodemus sylvaticus (33), Microtus arvalis (48), Microtus subteraneus (17), Myodes glareolus (52), Crocidura suaveolens (13), Crocidura leucodon (7) и Sorex araneus (3)) прикупљено је са 45 различитих локалитета у Србији. Прегледане су цисте и видљиве лезије у телесној шупљини и разним органима. Два маркера (cox1 and 12S rDNA) коришћена су за амплификацију и секвенцирање. Идентификовано је укупно 21 strobilocercus H. kamiyai на основу тринаест секвенци гена cox1 (318bp) и осам секвенци 12S rDNA (238bp). H. kamiyai је регистрована код 17 A. flavicollis, једног A. agrarius, два M. arvalis и једне јединке C. leucodon. Према median-joining мрежи хаплотипова, 13 секвенци H. kamiyai cox1 из ове студије груписале су се са изолатима из Европе и западног Сибира који се разликују до 2.7%. Ови резултати потврђују и наглашавају различиту географску дистрибуцију и молекуларне разлике у роду Hydatigera. Резултати такође потврђују погодност испитиваних домаћина за ову врсту. Ово је први извештај ове ново-описане криптичне врсте код нас потврђен генетском анализом.
PB  - Belgrade: Veterinary Association of Serbia
C3  - Book of Abstracts: 25th Symposium of Epizootiologist and Epidemiologist; 2023 Apr 24-26; Novi Sad, Serbia
T1  - First report of recently described cryptic species Hydatigera kamiyai in Serbia
T1  - Први приказ недавно описане криптичне врсте Hydatigera kamiyai у србији
SP  - 74
EP  - 75
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6033
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Miljević, Milan and Rajičić, Marija and Umhang, Gerald and Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera and Bajić, Branka and Budinski, Ivana and Blagojević, Jelena",
year = "2023",
abstract = "The family Taeniidae recently consists of 4 genera, with a newly described cryptic species H. kamiyai within the Hydatigera genus. H. kamiyai is distributed across Europe to western Siberia, whereas H. taeniaeformis s.s. probably originated in Asia but has spread worldwide. Despite the extraordinary genetic divergence, the two species differ little morphologically, making it questionable whether morphological identification is even relevant in this case. Considering the geographical location of the studied area and the intermediate hosts targeted, we expected the presence of H. kamiyai, and our aim was to confirm this assumption by genetic analyses. From March to October 2013 to 2022, a total of 846 small mammals (Apodemus agrarius (152), Apodemus flavicollis (521), Apodemus sylvaticus (33), Microtus arvalis (48), Microtus subteraneus (17), Myodes glareolus (52), Crocidura suaveolens (13), Crocidura leucodon (7) and Sorex araneus (3)) were captured from 45 different localities in Serbia. Cysts and visible lesions in the body cavity and various organs were examined. Two markers (cox1 and 12S rDNA) were used for amplification and sequencing. A total of 21 strobilocercus of H. kamiyai were identified corresponding to thirteen sequences of the cox1 gene (318 bp) and eight of 12S rDNA (238 bp). H. kamiyai is found in 17 A. flavicollis, one A. agrarius, two M. arvalis, and one C. leucodon. According to the median-joining network, the 13 H. kamiyai cox1 sequences from this study clustered with isolates from Europe and western Siberia differing up to 2.7%. These results confirm and highlight the different geographic distribution and molecular differences in the Hydatigera genus. The results also confirm host suitability for this species. This is the first report of this newly described cryptic species in our country confirmed by genetic analysis., Фамилија Taeniidae од недавно се састоји од 4 рода, са ново-описаном криптичном врстом Hydatigera kamiyai у оквиру рода Hydatigera. H. kamiyai врста је распрострањена широм Европе до западног Сибира, док H. taeniaeformis s.s вероватно потиче из Азије, али је распрострањена широм света. Упркос изузетној генетској дивергенцији, ове две врсте се мало разликују морфолошки, што доводи у питање да ли је морфолошка идентификација уопште релевантна у овом случају. С обзиром на географску локацију проучаваног подручја и циљане домаћине, очекивали смо присуство врсте H. kamiyai, са циљем да генетским анализама потврдимо ову претпоставку. Од марта до октобра 2013. до 2022., укупно 846 ситних сисара (Apodemus agrarius (152), Apodemus flavicollis (521), Apodemus sylvaticus (33), Microtus arvalis (48), Microtus subteraneus (17), Myodes glareolus (52), Crocidura suaveolens (13), Crocidura leucodon (7) и Sorex araneus (3)) прикупљено је са 45 различитих локалитета у Србији. Прегледане су цисте и видљиве лезије у телесној шупљини и разним органима. Два маркера (cox1 and 12S rDNA) коришћена су за амплификацију и секвенцирање. Идентификовано је укупно 21 strobilocercus H. kamiyai на основу тринаест секвенци гена cox1 (318bp) и осам секвенци 12S rDNA (238bp). H. kamiyai је регистрована код 17 A. flavicollis, једног A. agrarius, два M. arvalis и једне јединке C. leucodon. Према median-joining мрежи хаплотипова, 13 секвенци H. kamiyai cox1 из ове студије груписале су се са изолатима из Европе и западног Сибира који се разликују до 2.7%. Ови резултати потврђују и наглашавају различиту географску дистрибуцију и молекуларне разлике у роду Hydatigera. Резултати такође потврђују погодност испитиваних домаћина за ову врсту. Ово је први извештај ове ново-описане криптичне врсте код нас потврђен генетском анализом.",
publisher = "Belgrade: Veterinary Association of Serbia",
journal = "Book of Abstracts: 25th Symposium of Epizootiologist and Epidemiologist; 2023 Apr 24-26; Novi Sad, Serbia",
title = "First report of recently described cryptic species Hydatigera kamiyai in Serbia, Први приказ недавно описане криптичне врсте Hydatigera kamiyai у србији",
pages = "74-75",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6033"
}

Miljević, M., Rajičić, M., Umhang, G., Bjelić Čabrilo, O., Bajić, B., Budinski, I.,& Blagojević, J.. (2023). First report of recently described cryptic species Hydatigera kamiyai in Serbia. in Book of Abstracts: 25th Symposium of Epizootiologist and Epidemiologist; 2023 Apr 24-26; Novi Sad, Serbia
Belgrade: Veterinary Association of Serbia., 74-75.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6033

Miljević M, Rajičić M, Umhang G, Bjelić Čabrilo O, Bajić B, Budinski I, Blagojević J. First report of recently described cryptic species Hydatigera kamiyai in Serbia. in Book of Abstracts: 25th Symposium of Epizootiologist and Epidemiologist; 2023 Apr 24-26; Novi Sad, Serbia. 2023;:74-75.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6033 .

Miljević, Milan, Rajičić, Marija, Umhang, Gerald, Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera, Bajić, Branka, Budinski, Ivana, Blagojević, Jelena, "First report of recently described cryptic species Hydatigera kamiyai in Serbia" in Book of Abstracts: 25th Symposium of Epizootiologist and Epidemiologist; 2023 Apr 24-26; Novi Sad, Serbia (2023):74-75,
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6033 .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Werb, Oskar
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
AU  - Schaer, Juliane
AU  - van Schaik, Jaap
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5768
AB  - Background

Haemosporidian parasites of the genus Polychromophilus infect bats worldwide. They are vectored by obligate ectoparasitic bat flies of the family Nycteribiidae. Despite their global distribution, only five Polychromophilus morphospecies have been described to date. The two predominant species, Polychromophilus melanipherus and Polychromophilus murinus, are broadly distributed and mainly infect miniopterid and vespertilionid bats, respectively. In areas where species from different bat families aggregate together, the infection dynamics and ability of either Polychromophilus species to infect other host families is poorly characterized.

Methods

We collected 215 bat flies from two bat species, Miniopterus schreibersii and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, which sometimes form mixed clusters in Serbia. Miniopterus schreibersii is known to be frequently infected with P. melanipherus, whereas R. ferrumequinum has been observed to be incidentally infected with both Polychromophilus species. All flies were screened for Polychromophilus infections using a PCR targeting the haemosporidian cytb gene. Positive samples were subsequently sequenced for 579 bp of cytochrome b (cytb) and 945 bp of cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1).

Results

Polychromophilus melanipherus DNA was detected at six out of nine sampling locations and in all three examined bat fly species collected from M. schreibersii (Nycteribia schmidlii, n = 21; Penicillidia conspicua, n = 8; Penicillidia dufourii, n = 3). Four and five haplotypes were found for cytb and cox1, respectively. Evidence for multiple Polychromophilus haplotypes was found in 15 individual flies. These results point to a high diversity of P. melanipherus parasites in Miniopterus hosts and efficient transmission throughout the study area. A single Phthiridium biarticulatum bat fly collected from R. ferrumequinum screened positive for P. melanipherus, but only yielded a partial cox1 sequence fragment. Nevertheless, this result suggests that secondary hosts (both bat and fly species) are regularly confronted with this parasite.

Conclusions

The results of this study provide new insights into the prevalence and distribution of Polychromophilus parasites in European bats and their nycteribiid vectors. The use of bat flies for the non-invasive investigation of Polychromophilus infections in bat populations has proven to be efficient and thus represents an alternative for large-scale studies of infections in bat populations without the need to invasively collect blood from bats.
PB  - Springer Nature
T2  - Parasites & Vectors
T1  - Non-invasive investigation of Polychromophilus parasite infections in bat populations in Serbia using bat flies
IS  - 16
DO  - 10.1186/s13071-023-05786-1
SP  - 170
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Bajić, Branka and Werb, Oskar and Budinski, Ivana and Blagojević, Jelena and Schaer, Juliane and van Schaik, Jaap",
year = "2023",
abstract = "Background

Haemosporidian parasites of the genus Polychromophilus infect bats worldwide. They are vectored by obligate ectoparasitic bat flies of the family Nycteribiidae. Despite their global distribution, only five Polychromophilus morphospecies have been described to date. The two predominant species, Polychromophilus melanipherus and Polychromophilus murinus, are broadly distributed and mainly infect miniopterid and vespertilionid bats, respectively. In areas where species from different bat families aggregate together, the infection dynamics and ability of either Polychromophilus species to infect other host families is poorly characterized.

Methods

We collected 215 bat flies from two bat species, Miniopterus schreibersii and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, which sometimes form mixed clusters in Serbia. Miniopterus schreibersii is known to be frequently infected with P. melanipherus, whereas R. ferrumequinum has been observed to be incidentally infected with both Polychromophilus species. All flies were screened for Polychromophilus infections using a PCR targeting the haemosporidian cytb gene. Positive samples were subsequently sequenced for 579 bp of cytochrome b (cytb) and 945 bp of cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1).

Results

Polychromophilus melanipherus DNA was detected at six out of nine sampling locations and in all three examined bat fly species collected from M. schreibersii (Nycteribia schmidlii, n = 21; Penicillidia conspicua, n = 8; Penicillidia dufourii, n = 3). Four and five haplotypes were found for cytb and cox1, respectively. Evidence for multiple Polychromophilus haplotypes was found in 15 individual flies. These results point to a high diversity of P. melanipherus parasites in Miniopterus hosts and efficient transmission throughout the study area. A single Phthiridium biarticulatum bat fly collected from R. ferrumequinum screened positive for P. melanipherus, but only yielded a partial cox1 sequence fragment. Nevertheless, this result suggests that secondary hosts (both bat and fly species) are regularly confronted with this parasite.

Conclusions

The results of this study provide new insights into the prevalence and distribution of Polychromophilus parasites in European bats and their nycteribiid vectors. The use of bat flies for the non-invasive investigation of Polychromophilus infections in bat populations has proven to be efficient and thus represents an alternative for large-scale studies of infections in bat populations without the need to invasively collect blood from bats.",
publisher = "Springer Nature",
journal = "Parasites & Vectors",
title = "Non-invasive investigation of Polychromophilus parasite infections in bat populations in Serbia using bat flies",
number = "16",
doi = "10.1186/s13071-023-05786-1",
pages = "170"
}

Bajić, B., Werb, O., Budinski, I., Blagojević, J., Schaer, J.,& van Schaik, J.. (2023). Non-invasive investigation of Polychromophilus parasite infections in bat populations in Serbia using bat flies. in Parasites & Vectors
Springer Nature.(16), 170.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05786-1

Bajić B, Werb O, Budinski I, Blagojević J, Schaer J, van Schaik J. Non-invasive investigation of Polychromophilus parasite infections in bat populations in Serbia using bat flies. in Parasites & Vectors. 2023;(16):170.
doi:10.1186/s13071-023-05786-1 .

Bajić, Branka, Werb, Oskar, Budinski, Ivana, Blagojević, Jelena, Schaer, Juliane, van Schaik, Jaap, "Non-invasive investigation of Polychromophilus parasite infections in bat populations in Serbia using bat flies" in Parasites & Vectors, no. 16 (2023):170,
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05786-1 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - López-Baucells, Adrià
AU  - Revilla-Martín, Natalia
AU  - Mas, Maria
AU  - Alonso-Alonso, Pedro
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Fraixedas, Sara
AU  - Fernández-Llamazares, Álvaro
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5767
AB  - The media is a valuable pathway for transforming people’s attitudes towards conservation issues. Understanding how bats are framed in the media is hence essential for bat conservation, particularly considering the recent fearmongering and misinformation about the risks posed by bats. We reviewed bat-related articles published online no later than 2019 (before the recent COVID19 pandemic), in 15 newspapers from the five most populated countries in Western Europe. We examined the extent to which bats were presented as a threat to human health and the assumed general attitudes towards bats that such articles supported. We quantified press coverage on bat conservation values and evaluated whether the country and political stance had any information bias. Finally, we assessed their terminology and, for the first time, modelled the active response from the readership based on the number of online comments. Out of 1095 articles sampled, 17% focused on bats and diseases, 53% on a range of ecological and conservation topics, and 30% only mention bats anecdotally. While most of the ecological articles did not present bats as a threat (97%), most articles focusing on diseases did so (80%). Ecosystem services were mentioned on very few occasions in both types (< 30%), and references to the economic benefits they provide were meagre (< 4%). Disease-related concepts were recurrent, and those articles that framed bats as a threat were the ones that garnered the highest number of comments. Therefore, we encourage the media to play a more proactive role in reinforcing positive conservation messaging by presenting the myriad ways in which bats contribute to safeguarding human well-being and ecosystem functioning.
PB  - Springer Nature
T2  - EcoHealth
T1  - Newspaper Coverage and Framing of Bats, and Their Impact on Readership Engagement
DO  - 10.1007/s10393-023-01634-x
ER  - 

@article{
author = "López-Baucells, Adrià and Revilla-Martín, Natalia and Mas, Maria and Alonso-Alonso, Pedro and Budinski, Ivana and Fraixedas, Sara and Fernández-Llamazares, Álvaro",
year = "2023",
abstract = "The media is a valuable pathway for transforming people’s attitudes towards conservation issues. Understanding how bats are framed in the media is hence essential for bat conservation, particularly considering the recent fearmongering and misinformation about the risks posed by bats. We reviewed bat-related articles published online no later than 2019 (before the recent COVID19 pandemic), in 15 newspapers from the five most populated countries in Western Europe. We examined the extent to which bats were presented as a threat to human health and the assumed general attitudes towards bats that such articles supported. We quantified press coverage on bat conservation values and evaluated whether the country and political stance had any information bias. Finally, we assessed their terminology and, for the first time, modelled the active response from the readership based on the number of online comments. Out of 1095 articles sampled, 17% focused on bats and diseases, 53% on a range of ecological and conservation topics, and 30% only mention bats anecdotally. While most of the ecological articles did not present bats as a threat (97%), most articles focusing on diseases did so (80%). Ecosystem services were mentioned on very few occasions in both types (< 30%), and references to the economic benefits they provide were meagre (< 4%). Disease-related concepts were recurrent, and those articles that framed bats as a threat were the ones that garnered the highest number of comments. Therefore, we encourage the media to play a more proactive role in reinforcing positive conservation messaging by presenting the myriad ways in which bats contribute to safeguarding human well-being and ecosystem functioning.",
publisher = "Springer Nature",
journal = "EcoHealth",
title = "Newspaper Coverage and Framing of Bats, and Their Impact on Readership Engagement",
doi = "10.1007/s10393-023-01634-x"
}

López-Baucells, A., Revilla-Martín, N., Mas, M., Alonso-Alonso, P., Budinski, I., Fraixedas, S.,& Fernández-Llamazares, Á.. (2023). Newspaper Coverage and Framing of Bats, and Their Impact on Readership Engagement. in EcoHealth
Springer Nature..
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-023-01634-x

López-Baucells A, Revilla-Martín N, Mas M, Alonso-Alonso P, Budinski I, Fraixedas S, Fernández-Llamazares Á. Newspaper Coverage and Framing of Bats, and Their Impact on Readership Engagement. in EcoHealth. 2023;.
doi:10.1007/s10393-023-01634-x .

López-Baucells, Adrià, Revilla-Martín, Natalia, Mas, Maria, Alonso-Alonso, Pedro, Budinski, Ivana, Fraixedas, Sara, Fernández-Llamazares, Álvaro, "Newspaper Coverage and Framing of Bats, and Their Impact on Readership Engagement" in EcoHealth (2023),
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-023-01634-x . .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera
AU  - Čabrilo, Borislav
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
PY  - 2022
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6513
AB  - Introduction: Rodents play an important role as intermediate hosts in the transmission of many taeniid species, some of which have great zoonotic potential. Their larval stages develop in the host’s body cavities or internal organs. This study aimed to investigate wild rodent populations for cystic parasitic lesions and give insights into taeniid diversity. Methods: A total of 770 wild rodents belonging to the species Apodemus flavicollis (469), Apodemus agrarius (152), Apodemus sylvaticus (33), Myodes glareolus (51), Microtus arvalis (48), and Microtus subterraneus (17) were captured from 42 sites in Serbia, from 2013-2021, dissected, and examined for cysts and lesions. For confirmation of parasite species, DNA was extracted and mitochondrial marker 12S rDNA was amplified and sequenced.
Results: The total number of rodents that contained cysts or visible lesions were 47 (6.1%). 12S rDNA fragments amplified successfully in 13 larval samples, and three Taenia species were identified. Taenia taeniaeformis (1.03%;8/770) was dominantly present, followed by Taenia martis (0.51%;4/770), and Taenia crassiceps (0.12%;1/770). No cysts were found in A. sylvaticus and M. subterraneus.
Conclusions: We present here the first molecular identification of Taenia species in Serbia from larvae found in rodents. Since the applied mitochondrial marker did not amplify successfully in all samples, additional analyses using other genetic markers are needed, as well as further phylogenetic analyses.
PB  - World Federation of Parasitologist
C3  - 15th International Congress of Parasitology: ICOPA 2022; 2022 Aug 21-26; Copenhagen, Denmark
T1  - Molecular analyses of taeniid larval cestodes in wild rodents from Serbia
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6513
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Miljević, Milan and Rajičić, Marija and Bajić, Branka and Budinski, Ivana and Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera and Čabrilo, Borislav and Blagojević, Jelena",
year = "2022",
abstract = "Introduction: Rodents play an important role as intermediate hosts in the transmission of many taeniid species, some of which have great zoonotic potential. Their larval stages develop in the host’s body cavities or internal organs. This study aimed to investigate wild rodent populations for cystic parasitic lesions and give insights into taeniid diversity. Methods: A total of 770 wild rodents belonging to the species Apodemus flavicollis (469), Apodemus agrarius (152), Apodemus sylvaticus (33), Myodes glareolus (51), Microtus arvalis (48), and Microtus subterraneus (17) were captured from 42 sites in Serbia, from 2013-2021, dissected, and examined for cysts and lesions. For confirmation of parasite species, DNA was extracted and mitochondrial marker 12S rDNA was amplified and sequenced.
Results: The total number of rodents that contained cysts or visible lesions were 47 (6.1%). 12S rDNA fragments amplified successfully in 13 larval samples, and three Taenia species were identified. Taenia taeniaeformis (1.03%;8/770) was dominantly present, followed by Taenia martis (0.51%;4/770), and Taenia crassiceps (0.12%;1/770). No cysts were found in A. sylvaticus and M. subterraneus.
Conclusions: We present here the first molecular identification of Taenia species in Serbia from larvae found in rodents. Since the applied mitochondrial marker did not amplify successfully in all samples, additional analyses using other genetic markers are needed, as well as further phylogenetic analyses.",
publisher = "World Federation of Parasitologist",
journal = "15th International Congress of Parasitology: ICOPA 2022; 2022 Aug 21-26; Copenhagen, Denmark",
title = "Molecular analyses of taeniid larval cestodes in wild rodents from Serbia",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6513"
}

Miljević, M., Rajičić, M., Bajić, B., Budinski, I., Bjelić Čabrilo, O., Čabrilo, B.,& Blagojević, J.. (2022). Molecular analyses of taeniid larval cestodes in wild rodents from Serbia. in 15th International Congress of Parasitology: ICOPA 2022; 2022 Aug 21-26; Copenhagen, Denmark
World Federation of Parasitologist..
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6513

Miljević M, Rajičić M, Bajić B, Budinski I, Bjelić Čabrilo O, Čabrilo B, Blagojević J. Molecular analyses of taeniid larval cestodes in wild rodents from Serbia. in 15th International Congress of Parasitology: ICOPA 2022; 2022 Aug 21-26; Copenhagen, Denmark. 2022;.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6513 .

Miljević, Milan, Rajičić, Marija, Bajić, Branka, Budinski, Ivana, Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera, Čabrilo, Borislav, Blagojević, Jelena, "Molecular analyses of taeniid larval cestodes in wild rodents from Serbia" in 15th International Congress of Parasitology: ICOPA 2022; 2022 Aug 21-26; Copenhagen, Denmark (2022),
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6513 .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Adnađević, Tanja
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
PY  - 2022
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4992
AB  - Many species of tapeworms of the family Taeniidae are of great importance for human and veterinary medicine, while rodents are important intermediate hosts for some of the species. The role of rodents in the tapeworm’s transmission dynamics depends on various external and internal factors. This study aimed to determine the presence of larval forms of tapeworms in rodents and molecular detection of the species, as well as to examine the relationship between different morphological, parasitological, and physiological characteristics of the host. In the period from 2013 to 2021, a total of 770 individuals belonging to the species: Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus sylvaticus, Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, and Microtus subterraneus, collected from 42 different localities in Serbia, were examined. Cysts and visible lesions in the body cavity and various organs were detected in a total of 47 individuals. Using the mitochondrial marker 12S rDNA, three species were identified: Taenia taeniaeformis, Taenia martis and Taenia crassiceps. In the entire sample, of all host species, the difference in the percentage of infected individuals depending on the sampling site was proven (χ2=66.7, p=0.007). In addition, diference between rodent species in spleen size, body length and weight, and body condition (BCI) were also significant (Kruskal-Walis test, all p <0.001). In A. flavicollis, males showed higher body length (p=0.024), body mass (p=0.003) and BCI (p=0.003), while in other host species sex did not differ in mentioned parameters (Mann-Whitney test, all p>0.05). In A. flavicollis, spleen and BCI were statistically significantly higher in individuals with tapeworm larvae (p<0.005). Regression analysis in this host showed a positive correlation between spleen size and leukocyte count (WBC) (r=0.221; p=0.014). No difference was found between infected and uninfected individuals for WBC. In M. arvalis, females being more infected than males (χ2=3.884, p=0.049). Regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation of spleen size with body mass (A. agrarius: r=0.669; p<0.001, A. flavicollis: r = 0.668; p<0.001, A. sylvaticus: r = 0.753; p<0.001, M. arvalis: r=0.562; p = 0.005, M. glareolus: r = 0.546; p = 0.004) and BCI (A. agrarius: r=0.608; p <0.001, A. flavicollis: r=0.663; p<0.001, A.sylvaticus: r=0.652; p=0.001, M. arvalis: r=0.481; p=0.020, M. glareolus: r=0.550; p=0.004), except in M. subteraneus. This research represent the preliminary results of molecular analysis of taeniid species in rodents in our country and their relationship with morpho-physiological characteristics of host.
AB  - Многе врсте пантљичара из фамилије Taeniidae од великог су значаја за хуману и ветеринарску медицину, док глодари престављају важне интермедијарне домаћине за неке од врста. Улога глодара у динамици трансмисије пантљичара зависи од различитих спољашњих и унутрашњих фактора. Циљ рада био је утврђивање присуства ларвених облика пантљичара код глодара и молекуларна детекција врсте, као и испитивање односа различитих морфолошких, паразитолошких и физиолошких карактеристика домаћина. У периоду од 2013. до 2021. године прегледано је укупно 770 јединки које припадају врстама: Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus sylvaticus, Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, и Microtus subterraneus, прикупљених са 42 различита локалитета на територији Србије. Код укупно 47 јединки детектовано је присуство циста и видљивих лезија у телесној дупљи и различитим органима. Применом митохондријалног маркера 12S rDNA идентификоване су три врсте: Taenia taeniaeformis, Taenia martis i Taenia crassiceps. Посматрајући целокупан узорак свих врста домаћина, доказана је разлика у проценту инфицираних јединки у зависности од локалитета узорковања (χ2 =66.7, p=0.007). Поред тога, разлика између врста глодара у величини слезине, дужини и маси тела и телесног индекса (BCI) била је статистички значајна (Kruskal-Walis тест, сви p<0.001). Код врсте A. flavicollis, мужјаци су имали већу дужину тела (p=0.024), масу (p=0.003) и BCI (p=0.003), док код осталих врста домаћина пол није утицао ни на један од поменутих параметара (Mann-Whitney U тест, сви p>0.05). Код врсте A. flavicollis, слезина и BCI били су статистички значајно већи код јединки са ларвама пантљичара (p<0.005). Регресиона анализа код ове врсте домаћина показала је позитивну корелацију између величине слезине и броја леукоцита (WBC) (r=0.221; p=0.014). Није забележена разлика у броју леукоцита између заражених и незаражених јединки. Код врсте M. arvalis женке су била више инфициране у односу на мужјаке (χ2 =3.884, p=0.049). Регресиона анализа показала је значајну позитивну корелацију тежине слезине са масом тела (A. agrarius: r=0.669; p<0.001, A. flavicollis: r=0.668; p<0.001, A. sylvaticus: r=0.753; p<0.001, M. arvalis: r=0.562; p=0.005, M. glareolus: r=0.546; p=0.004) и BCI (A. agrarius: r=0.608; p<0.001, A. flavicollis: r=0.663; p<0.001, A. sylvaticus: r=0.652; p=0.001, M. arvalis: r=0.481; p=0.020, M. glareolus: r=0.550; p=0.004), изузев код M. subteraneus. Ово истраживање представља прелиминарне резултате молекуларне анализе тенија код глодара у нашој земљи и њиховог односа са морфолошко-физиолошким карактеристикама домаћина.
PB  - Belgrade: Veterinary Association of Serbia
C3  - Book of Abstracts 24th Symposium of epozootiologist and epidemiologist 2022
T1  - Morfološko-fiziološke karakteristike glodara i molekularna detekcija pantljičara
T1  - Morpho-physiological characteristics of rodents and molecular detection of tapeworms
SP  - 142
EP  - 143
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_4992
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Miljević, Milan and Bajić, Branka and Rajičić, Marija and Budinski, Ivana and Adnađević, Tanja and Blagojević, Jelena",
year = "2022",
abstract = "Many species of tapeworms of the family Taeniidae are of great importance for human and veterinary medicine, while rodents are important intermediate hosts for some of the species. The role of rodents in the tapeworm’s transmission dynamics depends on various external and internal factors. This study aimed to determine the presence of larval forms of tapeworms in rodents and molecular detection of the species, as well as to examine the relationship between different morphological, parasitological, and physiological characteristics of the host. In the period from 2013 to 2021, a total of 770 individuals belonging to the species: Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus sylvaticus, Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, and Microtus subterraneus, collected from 42 different localities in Serbia, were examined. Cysts and visible lesions in the body cavity and various organs were detected in a total of 47 individuals. Using the mitochondrial marker 12S rDNA, three species were identified: Taenia taeniaeformis, Taenia martis and Taenia crassiceps. In the entire sample, of all host species, the difference in the percentage of infected individuals depending on the sampling site was proven (χ2=66.7, p=0.007). In addition, diference between rodent species in spleen size, body length and weight, and body condition (BCI) were also significant (Kruskal-Walis test, all p <0.001). In A. flavicollis, males showed higher body length (p=0.024), body mass (p=0.003) and BCI (p=0.003), while in other host species sex did not differ in mentioned parameters (Mann-Whitney test, all p>0.05). In A. flavicollis, spleen and BCI were statistically significantly higher in individuals with tapeworm larvae (p<0.005). Regression analysis in this host showed a positive correlation between spleen size and leukocyte count (WBC) (r=0.221; p=0.014). No difference was found between infected and uninfected individuals for WBC. In M. arvalis, females being more infected than males (χ2=3.884, p=0.049). Regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation of spleen size with body mass (A. agrarius: r=0.669; p<0.001, A. flavicollis: r = 0.668; p<0.001, A. sylvaticus: r = 0.753; p<0.001, M. arvalis: r=0.562; p = 0.005, M. glareolus: r = 0.546; p = 0.004) and BCI (A. agrarius: r=0.608; p <0.001, A. flavicollis: r=0.663; p<0.001, A.sylvaticus: r=0.652; p=0.001, M. arvalis: r=0.481; p=0.020, M. glareolus: r=0.550; p=0.004), except in M. subteraneus. This research represent the preliminary results of molecular analysis of taeniid species in rodents in our country and their relationship with morpho-physiological characteristics of host., Многе врсте пантљичара из фамилије Taeniidae од великог су значаја за хуману и ветеринарску медицину, док глодари престављају важне интермедијарне домаћине за неке од врста. Улога глодара у динамици трансмисије пантљичара зависи од различитих спољашњих и унутрашњих фактора. Циљ рада био је утврђивање присуства ларвених облика пантљичара код глодара и молекуларна детекција врсте, као и испитивање односа различитих морфолошких, паразитолошких и физиолошких карактеристика домаћина. У периоду од 2013. до 2021. године прегледано је укупно 770 јединки које припадају врстама: Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus sylvaticus, Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, и Microtus subterraneus, прикупљених са 42 различита локалитета на територији Србије. Код укупно 47 јединки детектовано је присуство циста и видљивих лезија у телесној дупљи и различитим органима. Применом митохондријалног маркера 12S rDNA идентификоване су три врсте: Taenia taeniaeformis, Taenia martis i Taenia crassiceps. Посматрајући целокупан узорак свих врста домаћина, доказана је разлика у проценту инфицираних јединки у зависности од локалитета узорковања (χ2 =66.7, p=0.007). Поред тога, разлика између врста глодара у величини слезине, дужини и маси тела и телесног индекса (BCI) била је статистички значајна (Kruskal-Walis тест, сви p<0.001). Код врсте A. flavicollis, мужјаци су имали већу дужину тела (p=0.024), масу (p=0.003) и BCI (p=0.003), док код осталих врста домаћина пол није утицао ни на један од поменутих параметара (Mann-Whitney U тест, сви p>0.05). Код врсте A. flavicollis, слезина и BCI били су статистички значајно већи код јединки са ларвама пантљичара (p<0.005). Регресиона анализа код ове врсте домаћина показала је позитивну корелацију између величине слезине и броја леукоцита (WBC) (r=0.221; p=0.014). Није забележена разлика у броју леукоцита између заражених и незаражених јединки. Код врсте M. arvalis женке су била више инфициране у односу на мужјаке (χ2 =3.884, p=0.049). Регресиона анализа показала је значајну позитивну корелацију тежине слезине са масом тела (A. agrarius: r=0.669; p<0.001, A. flavicollis: r=0.668; p<0.001, A. sylvaticus: r=0.753; p<0.001, M. arvalis: r=0.562; p=0.005, M. glareolus: r=0.546; p=0.004) и BCI (A. agrarius: r=0.608; p<0.001, A. flavicollis: r=0.663; p<0.001, A. sylvaticus: r=0.652; p=0.001, M. arvalis: r=0.481; p=0.020, M. glareolus: r=0.550; p=0.004), изузев код M. subteraneus. Ово истраживање представља прелиминарне резултате молекуларне анализе тенија код глодара у нашој земљи и њиховог односа са морфолошко-физиолошким карактеристикама домаћина.",
publisher = "Belgrade: Veterinary Association of Serbia",
journal = "Book of Abstracts 24th Symposium of epozootiologist and epidemiologist 2022",
title = "Morfološko-fiziološke karakteristike glodara i molekularna detekcija pantljičara, Morpho-physiological characteristics of rodents and molecular detection of tapeworms",
pages = "142-143",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_4992"
}

Miljević, M., Bajić, B., Rajičić, M., Budinski, I., Adnađević, T.,& Blagojević, J.. (2022). Morfološko-fiziološke karakteristike glodara i molekularna detekcija pantljičara. in Book of Abstracts 24th Symposium of epozootiologist and epidemiologist 2022
Belgrade: Veterinary Association of Serbia., 142-143.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_4992

Miljević M, Bajić B, Rajičić M, Budinski I, Adnađević T, Blagojević J. Morfološko-fiziološke karakteristike glodara i molekularna detekcija pantljičara. in Book of Abstracts 24th Symposium of epozootiologist and epidemiologist 2022. 2022;:142-143.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_4992 .

Miljević, Milan, Bajić, Branka, Rajičić, Marija, Budinski, Ivana, Adnađević, Tanja, Blagojević, Jelena, "Morfološko-fiziološke karakteristike glodara i molekularna detekcija pantljičara" in Book of Abstracts 24th Symposium of epozootiologist and epidemiologist 2022 (2022):142-143,
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_4992 .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Paunović, Milan
AU  - Vujošević, Mladen
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
PY  - 2022
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5242
AB  - B chromosomes (Bs) are supernumerary to the standard chromosome set, from which they prevalently
derive. Variation in numbers both among individuals or populations and among cells within individuals
is their constant feature. Leisler’s bat Nyctalus leisleri (Kuhl, 1817) is one of only four species of Chiroptera
with detected Bs. Four males of N. leisleri were collected from two localities on the territory of Serbia
and cytogenetically analysed. All animals had Bs with interindividual variability ranging from two to
five heterochromatic micro Bs. The highest number of Bs was detected in this species. Among mammals,
Rodentia and Chiroptera are orders with the largest number of species, but Bs frequently appear in rodents
and rarely in chiropterans. Possible explanations for this difference are offered.
PB  - Pensoft Publishers
T2  - Comparative Cytogenetics
T1  - The new highest number of B chromosomes (Bs) in Leisler's bat Nyctalus leisleri (Kuhl, 1817)
IS  - 3
VL  - 16
DO  - 10.3897/CompCytogen.v16i3.89911
SP  - 173
EP  - 184
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Rajičić, Marija and Budinski, Ivana and Miljević, Milan and Bajić, Branka and Paunović, Milan and Vujošević, Mladen and Blagojević, Jelena",
year = "2022",
abstract = "B chromosomes (Bs) are supernumerary to the standard chromosome set, from which they prevalently
derive. Variation in numbers both among individuals or populations and among cells within individuals
is their constant feature. Leisler’s bat Nyctalus leisleri (Kuhl, 1817) is one of only four species of Chiroptera
with detected Bs. Four males of N. leisleri were collected from two localities on the territory of Serbia
and cytogenetically analysed. All animals had Bs with interindividual variability ranging from two to
five heterochromatic micro Bs. The highest number of Bs was detected in this species. Among mammals,
Rodentia and Chiroptera are orders with the largest number of species, but Bs frequently appear in rodents
and rarely in chiropterans. Possible explanations for this difference are offered.",
publisher = "Pensoft Publishers",
journal = "Comparative Cytogenetics",
title = "The new highest number of B chromosomes (Bs) in Leisler's bat Nyctalus leisleri (Kuhl, 1817)",
number = "3",
volume = "16",
doi = "10.3897/CompCytogen.v16i3.89911",
pages = "173-184"
}

Rajičić, M., Budinski, I., Miljević, M., Bajić, B., Paunović, M., Vujošević, M.,& Blagojević, J.. (2022). The new highest number of B chromosomes (Bs) in Leisler's bat Nyctalus leisleri (Kuhl, 1817). in Comparative Cytogenetics
Pensoft Publishers., 16(3), 173-184.
https://doi.org/10.3897/CompCytogen.v16i3.89911

Rajičić M, Budinski I, Miljević M, Bajić B, Paunović M, Vujošević M, Blagojević J. The new highest number of B chromosomes (Bs) in Leisler's bat Nyctalus leisleri (Kuhl, 1817). in Comparative Cytogenetics. 2022;16(3):173-184.
doi:10.3897/CompCytogen.v16i3.89911 .

Rajičić, Marija, Budinski, Ivana, Miljević, Milan, Bajić, Branka, Paunović, Milan, Vujošević, Mladen, Blagojević, Jelena, "The new highest number of B chromosomes (Bs) in Leisler's bat Nyctalus leisleri (Kuhl, 1817)" in Comparative Cytogenetics, 16, no. 3 (2022):173-184,
https://doi.org/10.3897/CompCytogen.v16i3.89911 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Čabrilo, Borislav
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Bjelić-Čabrilo, Olivera
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
PY  - 2022
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5168
AB  - Nematode burdens and variation in morphological characteristics were assessed in eighty-eight animals from three host species (Apodemus sylvaticus, Apodemus flavicollis, and Myodes glareolus) from eight localities in Serbia. In total, 15 species of nematodes were identified, and the overall mean parasite species richness (IndPSR) was 1.61 per animal (1.98 in A. flavicollis, 1.43 in M. glareolus, and 0.83 in A. sylvaticus). Furthermore, the studied host species significantly differed in individual parasite load (IndPL) and in the following morphological characters: spleen mass, body condition index (BCI), and body mass. We aimed to analyze the relationship between the burden of intestinal nematodes, on one hand, and the body conditions of the host and its capability to develop immune defends on the other. Spleen mass was considered as a measure of immune response. In all host species, larger animals with a better condition (higher BCI) were infected with more parasites species (IndPSR), while parasite load was not related to BCI. Only in A. flavicollis were males significantly larger, but females of the same sizes were infected with more parasite species. This female-biased parasitism is contrary to the theoretical expectation that males should be more parasitized, being larger, more active, with a wider home range. Although the spleen size was significantly correlated with body condition and body mass, IndPSR was not related to spleen mass in any studied species, but in M. galareolus, we found that a smaller spleen was related to higher infection intensity (IndPL).
PB  - Basel: MDPI
T2  - Animals
T1  - Host-Parasite Relationship-Nematode Communities in Populations of Small Mammals
IS  - 19
VL  - 12
DO  - 10.3390/ani12192617
SP  - 2617
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Miljević, Milan and Čabrilo, Borislav and Budinski, Ivana and Rajičić, Marija and Bajić, Branka and Bjelić-Čabrilo, Olivera and Blagojević, Jelena",
year = "2022",
abstract = "Nematode burdens and variation in morphological characteristics were assessed in eighty-eight animals from three host species (Apodemus sylvaticus, Apodemus flavicollis, and Myodes glareolus) from eight localities in Serbia. In total, 15 species of nematodes were identified, and the overall mean parasite species richness (IndPSR) was 1.61 per animal (1.98 in A. flavicollis, 1.43 in M. glareolus, and 0.83 in A. sylvaticus). Furthermore, the studied host species significantly differed in individual parasite load (IndPL) and in the following morphological characters: spleen mass, body condition index (BCI), and body mass. We aimed to analyze the relationship between the burden of intestinal nematodes, on one hand, and the body conditions of the host and its capability to develop immune defends on the other. Spleen mass was considered as a measure of immune response. In all host species, larger animals with a better condition (higher BCI) were infected with more parasites species (IndPSR), while parasite load was not related to BCI. Only in A. flavicollis were males significantly larger, but females of the same sizes were infected with more parasite species. This female-biased parasitism is contrary to the theoretical expectation that males should be more parasitized, being larger, more active, with a wider home range. Although the spleen size was significantly correlated with body condition and body mass, IndPSR was not related to spleen mass in any studied species, but in M. galareolus, we found that a smaller spleen was related to higher infection intensity (IndPL).",
publisher = "Basel: MDPI",
journal = "Animals",
title = "Host-Parasite Relationship-Nematode Communities in Populations of Small Mammals",
number = "19",
volume = "12",
doi = "10.3390/ani12192617",
pages = "2617"
}

Miljević, M., Čabrilo, B., Budinski, I., Rajičić, M., Bajić, B., Bjelić-Čabrilo, O.,& Blagojević, J.. (2022). Host-Parasite Relationship-Nematode Communities in Populations of Small Mammals. in Animals
Basel: MDPI., 12(19), 2617.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192617

Miljević M, Čabrilo B, Budinski I, Rajičić M, Bajić B, Bjelić-Čabrilo O, Blagojević J. Host-Parasite Relationship-Nematode Communities in Populations of Small Mammals. in Animals. 2022;12(19):2617.
doi:10.3390/ani12192617 .

Miljević, Milan, Čabrilo, Borislav, Budinski, Ivana, Rajičić, Marija, Bajić, Branka, Bjelić-Čabrilo, Olivera, Blagojević, Jelena, "Host-Parasite Relationship-Nematode Communities in Populations of Small Mammals" in Animals, 12, no. 19 (2022):2617,
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192617 . .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Rončević, Aleksa
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Adnađević, Tanja
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
PY  - 2022
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5191
AB  - The global process of urbanization largely affects the natural environment and its wildlife. The main effects of that process are the fragmentation of habitats and their mutual isolation. Urban infrastructure surrounds preserved forest areas in the cities and prevents the migration of small mammals between them. Yellow-necked mice Apodemus flavicollis is a widespread species in Palearctic forests. Due to extensive urbanization processes in Belgrade city, we wanted to explore its effects on morphometric variation using skulls of this species as convenient objects. We chose two urban and two natural forest populations. One of the chosen locations in Belgrade has been isolated for a long time, while the highway relatively recently separated the other. The main goal of this study was to understand how habitat alteration influence populations of A. flavicollis by determining differences in morphological variation among studied populations. A total of 95 skulls of A. flavicollis adult and subadult animals were analysed from four locations in Serbia, two urban (Košutnjak 29; Stepin gaj 22) and two natural (Avala 30; Senokos 15). Animals were collected from 2015 to 2020, sacrificed, and their skulls were cleaned using dermestid beetles. Images of the mandibles and skulls, together with the scale in millimeters, were obtained with a digital camera. We digitized 14 mandible and 30 cranium landmarks using tpsDig software. The size (Centroid size) and shape (Procrustes distances) variations of the left mandibles and cranium’s ventral side were compared between populations and sexes using landmark-based geometric morphometry in MorphoJ software. Skull and mandible shape variations differed significantly among the central urban population on Košutnjak and the other three analyzed populations and between the population of Stepin gaj and the most distant location from Belgrade, Senokos. The same pattern of variations between analyzed populations was observed for the mandible and the cranium regarding the size. Differences between sexes were not observed in terms of locations or the size of the mandible and cranium. Two natural populations did not morphologically differ from each other. Obtained results indicate that the urban populations of A. flavicollis are morphologically affected by urbanization. The urban environment produces a decrease in migration rate between forest patches and thus decreases gene flow. In theory, small populations, highly isolated, are becoming exposed to the strong effect of genetic drift. The most isolated population from Košutnjak shows limited phenotypic variability, otherwise characteristic of the island population. The other urban population, Stepin gaj differs from the closely located Košutnjak but not from the natural population from Avala, which is also closely located but relatively recently separated by highway and regional roads. Using landmark-based geometric morphometry, we obtained that natural and urban (Belgrade) populations of yellow-necked mouse A. flavicollis are divergent in skull traits. We suggest that phenotypic divergence is associated with human activity that leads to the isolation of natural habitats and their conversion into urban forests.
PB  - Skopje: Macedonian Ecological Society
C3  - Abstract book: 6th Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of North Macedonia, with International Participation; 2022 Oct 15-18; Ohrid, North Macedonia
T1  - The effects of urban habitats on morpholological variations of a skull in populations of yellow-necked mice Apodemus flavicollis
SP  - 165
EP  - 165
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5191
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Rončević, Aleksa and Rajičić, Marija and Budinski, Ivana and Miljević, Milan and Bajić, Branka and Adnađević, Tanja and Blagojević, Jelena",
year = "2022",
abstract = "The global process of urbanization largely affects the natural environment and its wildlife. The main effects of that process are the fragmentation of habitats and their mutual isolation. Urban infrastructure surrounds preserved forest areas in the cities and prevents the migration of small mammals between them. Yellow-necked mice Apodemus flavicollis is a widespread species in Palearctic forests. Due to extensive urbanization processes in Belgrade city, we wanted to explore its effects on morphometric variation using skulls of this species as convenient objects. We chose two urban and two natural forest populations. One of the chosen locations in Belgrade has been isolated for a long time, while the highway relatively recently separated the other. The main goal of this study was to understand how habitat alteration influence populations of A. flavicollis by determining differences in morphological variation among studied populations. A total of 95 skulls of A. flavicollis adult and subadult animals were analysed from four locations in Serbia, two urban (Košutnjak 29; Stepin gaj 22) and two natural (Avala 30; Senokos 15). Animals were collected from 2015 to 2020, sacrificed, and their skulls were cleaned using dermestid beetles. Images of the mandibles and skulls, together with the scale in millimeters, were obtained with a digital camera. We digitized 14 mandible and 30 cranium landmarks using tpsDig software. The size (Centroid size) and shape (Procrustes distances) variations of the left mandibles and cranium’s ventral side were compared between populations and sexes using landmark-based geometric morphometry in MorphoJ software. Skull and mandible shape variations differed significantly among the central urban population on Košutnjak and the other three analyzed populations and between the population of Stepin gaj and the most distant location from Belgrade, Senokos. The same pattern of variations between analyzed populations was observed for the mandible and the cranium regarding the size. Differences between sexes were not observed in terms of locations or the size of the mandible and cranium. Two natural populations did not morphologically differ from each other. Obtained results indicate that the urban populations of A. flavicollis are morphologically affected by urbanization. The urban environment produces a decrease in migration rate between forest patches and thus decreases gene flow. In theory, small populations, highly isolated, are becoming exposed to the strong effect of genetic drift. The most isolated population from Košutnjak shows limited phenotypic variability, otherwise characteristic of the island population. The other urban population, Stepin gaj differs from the closely located Košutnjak but not from the natural population from Avala, which is also closely located but relatively recently separated by highway and regional roads. Using landmark-based geometric morphometry, we obtained that natural and urban (Belgrade) populations of yellow-necked mouse A. flavicollis are divergent in skull traits. We suggest that phenotypic divergence is associated with human activity that leads to the isolation of natural habitats and their conversion into urban forests.",
publisher = "Skopje: Macedonian Ecological Society",
journal = "Abstract book: 6th Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of North Macedonia, with International Participation; 2022 Oct 15-18; Ohrid, North Macedonia",
title = "The effects of urban habitats on morpholological variations of a skull in populations of yellow-necked mice Apodemus flavicollis",
pages = "165-165",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5191"
}

Rončević, A., Rajičić, M., Budinski, I., Miljević, M., Bajić, B., Adnađević, T.,& Blagojević, J.. (2022). The effects of urban habitats on morpholological variations of a skull in populations of yellow-necked mice Apodemus flavicollis. in Abstract book: 6th Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of North Macedonia, with International Participation; 2022 Oct 15-18; Ohrid, North Macedonia
Skopje: Macedonian Ecological Society., 165-165.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5191

Rončević A, Rajičić M, Budinski I, Miljević M, Bajić B, Adnađević T, Blagojević J. The effects of urban habitats on morpholological variations of a skull in populations of yellow-necked mice Apodemus flavicollis. in Abstract book: 6th Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of North Macedonia, with International Participation; 2022 Oct 15-18; Ohrid, North Macedonia. 2022;:165-165.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5191 .

Rončević, Aleksa, Rajičić, Marija, Budinski, Ivana, Miljević, Milan, Bajić, Branka, Adnađević, Tanja, Blagojević, Jelena, "The effects of urban habitats on morpholological variations of a skull in populations of yellow-necked mice Apodemus flavicollis" in Abstract book: 6th Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of North Macedonia, with International Participation; 2022 Oct 15-18; Ohrid, North Macedonia (2022):165-165,
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5191 .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera
AU  - Čabrilo, Borislav
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Tošić, Božana
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
PY  - 2022
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5193
AB  - Helminths represent hidden components of biodiversity in natural communities. Rather than elicit interest in their conservation, these endoparasitic worms tend to cause indifference or even disgust because of their appearance and way of life. However, they are present in every ecosystem and play a key role by integrating themselves into food webs and thereby securing their survival. Over the course of decades of research, 47 helminths were recorded in 10 rodent species in Serbia, with nematodes being the dominant group (29 species). Some helminths have high zoonotic potential due to their ability to infect humans, pets and domestic animals. This study focusses on hepatic helminths in a sample of six host species analysed over an eight-year period. Three tapeworm species and one nematode species were recorded, and their significance is broadly stated.
A total of 770 wild rodents belonging to the species Apodemus flavicollis, A. agrarius, A. sylvaticus, Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, and M. subterraneus were captured from 42 sites in Serbia from 2013-2021, dissected, and examined for cysts and lesions. For confirmation of parasite species, DNA was extracted and mitochondrial marker 12S rDNA was amplified and sequenced. Nematode eggs and larvae were detected based on histological slides made from the liver samples. 
The livers of 47 hosts contained cysts or visible lesions (6.1%). 12S rDNA fragment amplified successfully in 13 larval samples (1.68%), and three Taenia species were identified. Hydatigera (Taenia) taeniaeformis was dominant, followed by T. martis and T. crassiceps. No cysts were found in A. sylvaticus and M. subterraneus. Histological examination of the liver confirmed the presence of the nematode Calodium hepaticum in all three Apodemus host species, with a prevalence of 0.9%.
Carnivores act as definitive hosts for all the registered tapeworm species: canids for T. crassiceps, felids for T. taeniaeformis (including domestic dogs and cats) and mustelids for T. martis. Rodents are intermediate hosts and carry cysts (cysticerci) on their livers. All three species have been confirmed to infect humans. Another tapeworm species whose larvae are found in rodent livers is Echinococcus multilocularis. This parasite has been found in foxes and jackals in Serbia, and it is only a matter of time before it is reported from rodents as well. Considering the grave clinical presentation of E. multilocularis infection in humans, increased vigilance and monitoring of its presence in intermediate and definitive hosts is advised. Both adults and eggs of C. hepaticum are found in rodent hepatic tissue but can infect other animals and humans. Infections are most frequently reported in children aged one to five and may be fatal.
While far from attractive in the most general sense, helminths are an important component of biodiversity in every ecosystem and affect the behaviour, fitness and abundance of its constituent species. They can indicate the condition and population dynamics of endangered species and overall ecosystem function. Due to their effects on humans and domestic animals, it is of key importance to monitor helminth diversity and populations in intermediate and definitive hosts.
PB  - Skopje: Macedonian Ecological Society
C3  - Abstract book: 6th Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of North Macedonia, with International Participation; 2022 Oct 15-18; Ohrid, North Macedonia
T1  - Rodent hepatic helminths as components of hidden biodiversity
SP  - 50
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5193
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera and Čabrilo, Borislav and Miljević, Milan and Tošić, Božana and Bajić, Branka and Rajičić, Marija and Budinski, Ivana and Blagojević, Jelena",
year = "2022",
abstract = "Helminths represent hidden components of biodiversity in natural communities. Rather than elicit interest in their conservation, these endoparasitic worms tend to cause indifference or even disgust because of their appearance and way of life. However, they are present in every ecosystem and play a key role by integrating themselves into food webs and thereby securing their survival. Over the course of decades of research, 47 helminths were recorded in 10 rodent species in Serbia, with nematodes being the dominant group (29 species). Some helminths have high zoonotic potential due to their ability to infect humans, pets and domestic animals. This study focusses on hepatic helminths in a sample of six host species analysed over an eight-year period. Three tapeworm species and one nematode species were recorded, and their significance is broadly stated.
A total of 770 wild rodents belonging to the species Apodemus flavicollis, A. agrarius, A. sylvaticus, Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, and M. subterraneus were captured from 42 sites in Serbia from 2013-2021, dissected, and examined for cysts and lesions. For confirmation of parasite species, DNA was extracted and mitochondrial marker 12S rDNA was amplified and sequenced. Nematode eggs and larvae were detected based on histological slides made from the liver samples. 
The livers of 47 hosts contained cysts or visible lesions (6.1%). 12S rDNA fragment amplified successfully in 13 larval samples (1.68%), and three Taenia species were identified. Hydatigera (Taenia) taeniaeformis was dominant, followed by T. martis and T. crassiceps. No cysts were found in A. sylvaticus and M. subterraneus. Histological examination of the liver confirmed the presence of the nematode Calodium hepaticum in all three Apodemus host species, with a prevalence of 0.9%.
Carnivores act as definitive hosts for all the registered tapeworm species: canids for T. crassiceps, felids for T. taeniaeformis (including domestic dogs and cats) and mustelids for T. martis. Rodents are intermediate hosts and carry cysts (cysticerci) on their livers. All three species have been confirmed to infect humans. Another tapeworm species whose larvae are found in rodent livers is Echinococcus multilocularis. This parasite has been found in foxes and jackals in Serbia, and it is only a matter of time before it is reported from rodents as well. Considering the grave clinical presentation of E. multilocularis infection in humans, increased vigilance and monitoring of its presence in intermediate and definitive hosts is advised. Both adults and eggs of C. hepaticum are found in rodent hepatic tissue but can infect other animals and humans. Infections are most frequently reported in children aged one to five and may be fatal.
While far from attractive in the most general sense, helminths are an important component of biodiversity in every ecosystem and affect the behaviour, fitness and abundance of its constituent species. They can indicate the condition and population dynamics of endangered species and overall ecosystem function. Due to their effects on humans and domestic animals, it is of key importance to monitor helminth diversity and populations in intermediate and definitive hosts.",
publisher = "Skopje: Macedonian Ecological Society",
journal = "Abstract book: 6th Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of North Macedonia, with International Participation; 2022 Oct 15-18; Ohrid, North Macedonia",
title = "Rodent hepatic helminths as components of hidden biodiversity",
pages = "50",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5193"
}

Bjelić Čabrilo, O., Čabrilo, B., Miljević, M., Tošić, B., Bajić, B., Rajičić, M., Budinski, I.,& Blagojević, J.. (2022). Rodent hepatic helminths as components of hidden biodiversity. in Abstract book: 6th Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of North Macedonia, with International Participation; 2022 Oct 15-18; Ohrid, North Macedonia
Skopje: Macedonian Ecological Society., 50.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5193

Bjelić Čabrilo O, Čabrilo B, Miljević M, Tošić B, Bajić B, Rajičić M, Budinski I, Blagojević J. Rodent hepatic helminths as components of hidden biodiversity. in Abstract book: 6th Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of North Macedonia, with International Participation; 2022 Oct 15-18; Ohrid, North Macedonia. 2022;:50.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5193 .

Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera, Čabrilo, Borislav, Miljević, Milan, Tošić, Božana, Bajić, Branka, Rajičić, Marija, Budinski, Ivana, Blagojević, Jelena, "Rodent hepatic helminths as components of hidden biodiversity" in Abstract book: 6th Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of North Macedonia, with International Participation; 2022 Oct 15-18; Ohrid, North Macedonia (2022):50,
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5193 .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Čabrilo, Borislav
AU  - Tošić, Božana
AU  - Miljević, Milan
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Rajičić, Marija
AU  - Bajić, Branka
AU  - Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera
AU  - Blagojević, Jelena
PY  - 2022
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5192
AB  - Endoparasites are organisms that live in a very specific type of habitat: the internal organs of their hosts. The effect of host characteristics on parasites and vice versa can thus be compared to the interplay between free-living organisms and their environment. Host-parasite interactions are astoundingly complex and many studies to this date have attempted to shed more light on them. In the current study, we investigated the relationship between selected host traits and intestinal nematode abundance. The intestinal tracts of 76 rodents of seven species (Apodemus agrarius, A. flavicollis, A. sylvaticus, Micromys minutus, Microtus arvalis, M. agrestis, Mus musculus) from 6 localities in the Vojvodina province of Serbia were searched for nematode parasites. Biometric parameters (body mass, body, tail, hindfoot and ear length) and spleen mass were measured for all hosts. The intestinal tract of the dissected rodents was cut open and its contents examined under stereomicroscope; nematodes were collected and stored in 70% alcohol prior to species identification. The most common nematode species in the host sample was the trichostrongyloid Heligmosomoides polygyrus. To test for possible cause-and-effect relationships, linear regression was carried out with spleen mass as the response variable and body mass, body, tail, hindfoot and ear length, number of H. polygyrus and total number of nematodes as predictor variables. A separate linear regression used H. polygyrus and total nematode abundance as response variables, and host body mass and length as predictor variables. Body mass (F = 21.259, p < 0.001), body length (F = 18.208, p < 0.001), tail length (F = 4.465, p = 0.038), ear length (F = 5.181, p = 0.026) and hindfoot length (F = 5.089, p = 0.027) all significantly and positively influenced spleen mass. Conversely, abundance of H. polygyrus and intestinal nematodes in general had no significant effect on spleen mass. However, body mass (F = 23.173, p < 0.001) and body length (F = 9.746, p = 0.003) of the host significantly and positively affected H. polygyrus abundance; neither factor influenced total nematode abundance. The regression results suggest that there is a positive cause-and-effect relationship between host body size (mass and length) and the number of H. polygyrus worms. Such a result provides support for the hypothesis that larger hosts should be more infected because they represent better targets for parasites. While practically invisible, parasites are an important component of every community on planet Earth. With this in mind, disentangling the complicated biotic interactions between host characteristics and parasite abundance is an important part of ecological studies, as it provides us with a better understanding of processes and relationships within any given ecosystem.
PB  - Skopje: Macedonian Ecological Society
C3  - Abstract book: 6th Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of North Macedonia, with International Participation; 2022 Oct 15-18; Ohrid, North Macedonia
T1  - Relationship between host traits and intestinal nematode abundance in rodents of Vojvodine province, Serbia
SP  - 164
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5192
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Čabrilo, Borislav and Tošić, Božana and Miljević, Milan and Budinski, Ivana and Rajičić, Marija and Bajić, Branka and Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera and Blagojević, Jelena",
year = "2022",
abstract = "Endoparasites are organisms that live in a very specific type of habitat: the internal organs of their hosts. The effect of host characteristics on parasites and vice versa can thus be compared to the interplay between free-living organisms and their environment. Host-parasite interactions are astoundingly complex and many studies to this date have attempted to shed more light on them. In the current study, we investigated the relationship between selected host traits and intestinal nematode abundance. The intestinal tracts of 76 rodents of seven species (Apodemus agrarius, A. flavicollis, A. sylvaticus, Micromys minutus, Microtus arvalis, M. agrestis, Mus musculus) from 6 localities in the Vojvodina province of Serbia were searched for nematode parasites. Biometric parameters (body mass, body, tail, hindfoot and ear length) and spleen mass were measured for all hosts. The intestinal tract of the dissected rodents was cut open and its contents examined under stereomicroscope; nematodes were collected and stored in 70% alcohol prior to species identification. The most common nematode species in the host sample was the trichostrongyloid Heligmosomoides polygyrus. To test for possible cause-and-effect relationships, linear regression was carried out with spleen mass as the response variable and body mass, body, tail, hindfoot and ear length, number of H. polygyrus and total number of nematodes as predictor variables. A separate linear regression used H. polygyrus and total nematode abundance as response variables, and host body mass and length as predictor variables. Body mass (F = 21.259, p < 0.001), body length (F = 18.208, p < 0.001), tail length (F = 4.465, p = 0.038), ear length (F = 5.181, p = 0.026) and hindfoot length (F = 5.089, p = 0.027) all significantly and positively influenced spleen mass. Conversely, abundance of H. polygyrus and intestinal nematodes in general had no significant effect on spleen mass. However, body mass (F = 23.173, p < 0.001) and body length (F = 9.746, p = 0.003) of the host significantly and positively affected H. polygyrus abundance; neither factor influenced total nematode abundance. The regression results suggest that there is a positive cause-and-effect relationship between host body size (mass and length) and the number of H. polygyrus worms. Such a result provides support for the hypothesis that larger hosts should be more infected because they represent better targets for parasites. While practically invisible, parasites are an important component of every community on planet Earth. With this in mind, disentangling the complicated biotic interactions between host characteristics and parasite abundance is an important part of ecological studies, as it provides us with a better understanding of processes and relationships within any given ecosystem.",
publisher = "Skopje: Macedonian Ecological Society",
journal = "Abstract book: 6th Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of North Macedonia, with International Participation; 2022 Oct 15-18; Ohrid, North Macedonia",
title = "Relationship between host traits and intestinal nematode abundance in rodents of Vojvodine province, Serbia",
pages = "164",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5192"
}

Čabrilo, B., Tošić, B., Miljević, M., Budinski, I., Rajičić, M., Bajić, B., Bjelić Čabrilo, O.,& Blagojević, J.. (2022). Relationship between host traits and intestinal nematode abundance in rodents of Vojvodine province, Serbia. in Abstract book: 6th Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of North Macedonia, with International Participation; 2022 Oct 15-18; Ohrid, North Macedonia
Skopje: Macedonian Ecological Society., 164.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5192

Čabrilo B, Tošić B, Miljević M, Budinski I, Rajičić M, Bajić B, Bjelić Čabrilo O, Blagojević J. Relationship between host traits and intestinal nematode abundance in rodents of Vojvodine province, Serbia. in Abstract book: 6th Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of North Macedonia, with International Participation; 2022 Oct 15-18; Ohrid, North Macedonia. 2022;:164.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5192 .

Čabrilo, Borislav, Tošić, Božana, Miljević, Milan, Budinski, Ivana, Rajičić, Marija, Bajić, Branka, Bjelić Čabrilo, Olivera, Blagojević, Jelena, "Relationship between host traits and intestinal nematode abundance in rodents of Vojvodine province, Serbia" in Abstract book: 6th Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of North Macedonia, with International Participation; 2022 Oct 15-18; Ohrid, North Macedonia (2022):164,
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5192 .