Wild animals represent a constant source of Trichinella spp. infections for domestic animals and humans. To date, four species of Trichinella have been isolated in wild boar populations in Europe: T. pseudospiralis, T. spiralis, T. britovi and T. nativa, in addition to several mixed infection types and one hybrid formation between T. britovi and T. spiralis. Meanwhile, insufficiently thermally processed wild boar meat has been reported to be a source of trichinellosis in humans in several European countries. In Croatia, there have been no reported or proven cases of trichinellosis caused by wild boar meat consumption. The aim of this study was to obtain data on the prevalence of Trichinella species present in Croatia and to anticipated the potential risk of infection for humans in specific Croatian regions based on information obtained over an eight-year surveillance period. A veterinary inspection of wild boar carcasses for Trichinella larvae in Croatia has been mandatory since 1989, and the artificial digestion method was introduced as a compulsory test for wild boar samples in 2008. Based on the official data submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture, Directorate of Veterinary Services, in the period 2010–2017, 303 of 183,184 (0.17%) wild boar meat samples tested positive for Trichinella spp. Infected wild boar were found in 18 of 21 counties. Of these positive samples, 85 were submitted by the authorised veterinary inspectors to the National Reference Laboratory for further examination. The intensity of infection in muscle samples was 0.04–152.66 (mean: 23,37) larvae per gram, and Trichinella species were identified as T. spiralis, T. britovi, T. pseudospiralis and T. spiralis + T. britovi. Genetic analysis of T. pseudospiralis isolates demonstrated their belonging to the Palaearctic population.

Rotaviruses (RV), especially Rotavirus A (RVA), are globally recognized as pathogens causing neonatal diarrhea, but they also affect intensive animal farming. However, the knowledge on their significance in wildlife is rather limited. The aim of the study was to unveil the prevalence, molecular epidemiology, and genetic diversity of RVA strains circulating in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) population in Croatia. From 2018 to 2019, 370 fecal samples from fox carcasses hunted for rabies monitoring were collected. All samples were first tested using a VP2 real-time RT-PCR; in the subsequent course, positives were subjected to VP7 and VP4 genotyping. The results revealed an RVA prevalence of 14.9%, while the circulating RVA strains showed a remarkable genetic diversity in terms of 11 G and nine P genotypes, among which one G and three P were tentatively identified as novel. In total, eight genotype combinations were detected: G8P[14], G9P[3], G9P[23], G10P[11], G10P[3], G11P[13], G15P[21], and G?P[?]. The results suggest a complex background of previous interspecies transmission events, shedding new light on the potential influence of foxes in RVA epidemiology. Their role as potential reservoirs of broad range of RVA genotypes, usually considered typical solely of domestic animals and humans, cannot be dismissed.

Background: Trichinellosis in Croatia posed a significant health concern during the 1990s, followed by a notable improvement in the epidemiological situation. However, in 2017, there was a resurgence, with 37 recorded cases in 3 outbreaks and 3 sporadic cases. The source of this epidemic was homemade meat products derived from wild boar meat, leading to 26 infections. Methods: At the beginning of the outbreak and during the treatment of the patients, the medical and epidemiological records prepared throughout the investigation and over the course of patient treatment were reviewed. The recovery of the first-stage (L1) larvae from suspect meat products was achieved by artificial digestion. The molecular identification of the isolated larvae was performed by multiplex PCR. The molecular identification of the meat used to prepare the meat products was performed by real-time PCR assays. Results: The epidemic started in early 2017. In total, 71 exposed persons were documented: 26 with clinical symptoms and 3 hospitalised in two cities in different counties. The L1 burden in three different meat products was from 5.25 to 7.08 larvae per gram (LPG), and T. spiralis was determined as the aetiological agent of the outbreak. The molecular and biological identification confirmed that implicated meat products were made solely from wild boar meat. Conclusions: Although trichinellosis is no longer a frequent occurrence in Croatia, several cases are still registered nearly every year. Wild boar meat poses an important risk factor for human health if compulsory testing is not conducted before consumption, especially if the meat products are consumed without proper thermal processing.

The prevention of trichinellosis is one of the most important tasks of the public veterinary services. In most EU countries, mandatory testing for parasites of the genus Trichinella includes domestic pigs as well as game species such as wild boar and bears. In Croatia, hunters occasionally also submit badger (Meles meles) meat for Trichinella testing. In addition to the samples from the genus Meles, samples from two other genera within the same family, Martes and Mustela, were analysed. These specimens were most frequently delivered to the laboratory, as roadkill, within a passive surveillance program for the rabies virus. During a 14-year study period, muscle samples from 40 badgers (M. meles), 11 martens (M. foina) and from one polecat (M. putorius) were examined using the artificial digestion method. Trichinella infection was confirmed in four badgers (10%) and one marten (9.1%). Molecular identification by multiplex PCR revealed T. spiralis and T. britovi in two badger specimens, while T. pseudospiralis was identified in a stone marten. Further genetic analysis of the T. pseudospiralis isolate demonstrated its belonging to the Palaearctic population. This study evaluates the epidemiological significance of these findings in relation to trichinellosis, the most important foodborne parasitosis in Croatia, and emphasizes the need for further epidemiological studies in the country targeting both Mustelidae and T. pseudospiralis in the sylvatic cycle of Trichinella.

Clinical signs of lower urinary tract inflammation are common in domestic carnivores. In dogs, they are usually the result of a bacterial infection, while in cats, they are more often caused by sterile inflammation or behavioural disorders. The prevalence of individual bacterial pathogens isolated from urine samples of dogs and cats was determined, and the relationship between a positive urine culture and the presence of organic and inorganic elements, and proteins was investigated. From January 2022 to June 2024, a total of 563 dog urine samples and 86 cat urine samples were analysed in the Split branch of the Laboratory for Diagnostics, Croatian Veterinary Institute. A clinically significant number of bacteria were isolated from 196 of 563 (34.81%) dog urine samples and 21 of 86 (24.41%) cat urine samples. Of the total number of bacterial isolates, 141 (64.4%) were gram-negative and 78 (35.6%) were gram-positive. Escherichia coli was the most common isolate (45.9% in dogs, 33.3% in cats). In dogs, the second most common isolates were Staphylococcus spp. (20.9%), Streptococcus spp. (9.2%), Proteus spp. (7.7%), Enterococcus spp. (4.6%), Klebsiella spp. (4.08%), and Pseudomonas spp. (3.6%), while other bacterial isolates were <2%. In cats, the most frequently isolated bacteria were Proteus spp. (23.8%), Pseudomonas spp. (14.3%), Streptococcus and Enterococcus spp. (9.5% each), and Staphylococcus spp. and Pasteurella spp. (4.8% each). In dogs, a significant and positive correlation was found between a positive bacteriological result and pyuria, haematuria, proteinuria, and age. In cats, no significant correlations were found between a positive bacteriological culture and variables such as pyuria, haematuria, proteinuria, crystals, or animal age or sex.