Bats are hosts to a number of ectoparasites—acarines (ticks, chiggers, other mites), bat flies, and fleas. Bat ectoparasites might have significant ecological and public health importance as they may be potential vectors of zoonotic agents. It is important to identify their distribution, diversity, and host-parasite associations. Bat ectoparasites in the central Balkans have been largely understudied. The present research was conducted in 45 localities at the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. In total, 1,143 individuals of 18 species of bats have been examined for the presence and abundance of ectoparasite species during 3 yr of research. In total, 21 ectoparasite species have been identified: three species of ticks, seven species of mites (including one species of chigger), eight species of bat flies, and three species of fleas. In total, 80 host-parasite associations have been identified. The largest number of ectoparasites parasitized primarily only one host species. The highest total number of hosts was identified for ectoparasite species Ixodes vespertilionis Koch, Nycteribia schmidlii Schiner, and Spinturnix myoti Kolenati. The spinturnicid mite Spinturnix psi Kolenati was the most abundant ectoparasite species and together with Penicilidia dufouri Westwood the most widely distributed species of bat ectoparasite, being present at 21 localities in the central Balkans. The presented data include the first systematic records of patterns of prevalence, mean intensity, mean abundance, and host specificity for bat ectoparasites in the central Balkans.

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of the hyperparasitic fungus Arthrorhynchus nycteribiae and to analyze its spatio-temporal pattern in the two bat flies (Penicillidia conspicua and P. dufourii) parasitizing on bats. We collected 612 samples of bat flies from 400 bats in 20 caves in the Central Balkans. Hyperparasite was identified based on morphological and molecular analyses of rDNA genes (LSU and SSU). A. nycteribiae was reported for the first time in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, and confirmed in Serbia. Of the 20 sites examined, we found A. nycteribiae at 11 sites. The prevalence of A. nycteribiae infection in the bats examined was approximately 17%. Miniopterus schreibersii harbored the highest number of bat flies and was the only bat species hosting the infected bat flies of the species P. conspicua. Our results showed significant differences in infection patterns during the different seasons: the highest prevalence of bat flies with hyperparasitic fungi was found in the summer season (23%) and the lowest in spring (2%). Female bat fly hosts showed a significantly higher prevalence of infection than male bat flies. This study makes an important contribution to the knowledge of the distribution of A. nycteribiae and to the understanding of complex parasite-host relationships in the poorly studied areas of the Central Balkans.

The selection and field application of animal‐based welfare measures for pigs, sheep, dairy cows and broilers was the first step towards the future development of welfare improvement schemes for Serbia – a country that is applying for EU accession. The aim of this pilot study was to: (1) test the feasibility of a protocol for monitoring farm animal welfare in Serbia, (2) ascertain preliminary data on animal‐based outcomes of farm welfare and (3) gain insight into Serbian farmers’ understanding of animal welfare as part of a wider project working towards inclusion of animal‐based assessments in a ‘higher welfare’ voluntary assurance scheme. This study encompasses the first national survey of farm animal welfare in which animal‐based outcomes were tested on 105 farms by a total of ten trained assessors. Data on the views and aspirations of the farmers from these 105 farms were also systematically gathered during face‐to‐face interviews. Existing animal‐based measures for pigs, sheep, dairy cows and broilers that have been successfully applied and identified as valid, reliable and feasible measures in other countries, were found to be largely transferable. However, some on‐farm protocols, previously used in other countries, had to be shortened for logistical reasons when used in Serbia. Our findings suggest that further refinement may be needed in order to allow local application of all measures. While the term ‘animal welfare’ has only recently been introduced into the Serbian language, seventy‐three percent of farmers had heard of it. Overall, few positive associations were found between farmer satisfaction with animals’ living conditions and animal‐based data. Many farmers had aspirations to develop and expand their farms, which may potentially enhance animal welfare, but these farmers identified that financial and technical advice and support would be needed in order to achieve these goals.

Cave ecosystems represent environmentally constrained habitats that host diverse and highly specialized fungal communities. Many cave-dwelling fungi act as decomposers, transient colonizers, or cave fauna symbionts. During a mycological survey of Sesalačka cave (Serbia), a previously undescribed species was isolated from the skin of a Miniopterus schreibersii. The aim of this study was to characterize this isolate using an integrative taxonomic approach combining morphology, physiology, and multilocus phylogenetics. The fungus was cultured on different media under and its morphophysiological traits were recorded. DNA sequences of ITS, LSU, SSU, and TEF1α were compared with existing Gamsia species and phylogenetic analysis placed the isolate within the Gamsia clade, forming a well-supported lineage the most closely related to G. aggregata, but differing from it by 8–12 base pairs across loci. Distinctive morphological features of this species include obovoid to pyriform polyblastic conidia, hyaline to pale-brown annelloconidia, and reduced conidiophores, clearly separating the species from described congeners. It is psychrotolerant and does not grow at 37 °C, suggesting it is a cave-associated saprobe rather than a mammalian pathogen. This study expands the known diversity of Gamsia species and contributes to the growing evidence that subterranean habitats harbor numerous undescribed fungal kingdom members.

Ectoparasite-host interactions are influenced by a complex interplay of factors, including host species, body condition, sex, age, reproductive status, and seasonal variations. These interactions are often complex, varying not only between species but also across different biogeographical regions. This study evaluates how seasonal changes and host characteristics affect ectoparasite abundance on 3 bat species, with ectoparasite abundance as the response variable and seasonality and host traits (sex, age, reproductive status, and body condition) as predictor variables. We examined the total ectoparasite burden and the most prevalent ectoparasite species across 3 bat species from 29 localities in the Central Balkans. The abundance of ectoparasites was influenced by season (Rhinolophus euryale), host sex (R. ferrumequinum), and a combination of season and host sex (Miniopterus schreibersii). Overall, the highest ectoparasite numbers were recorded in spring and summer when bat hosts, particularly females and juveniles, form dense colonies, providing optimal conditions for parasite transmission and reproduction. While there were slight variations between species, ectoparasite reproduction generally synchronized with the host's reproductive cycle. In M. schreibersii, host pregnancy was associated with increased overall ectoparasite abundance, particularly elevating the numbers of Ixodes simplex and Nycteribia schmidlii, whereas lactation specifically led to a significant rise in I. simplex abundance. Additionally, besides season and host sex, host body condition emerged as a significant trait affecting ectoparasite abundance in M. schreibersii and R. euryale. This study highlights key regional and species-specific factors shaping bat ectoparasite communities in the Central Balkans, providing a foundation for future research and conservation.

Bats are the only mammals capable of active flight, with wing membranes that function in both locomotion and environmental interaction, reflecting physiological and ecological pressures. Here, we investigated seasonal, species-specific, sex-related, and condition-dependent variation in epidermal thickness and pigmentation in the wing membranes of four bat species (Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis capaccinii, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, and Rhinolophus euryale). Using light microscopy and image analysis of wing membrane biopsies, we found that epidermal pigmentation varied significantly with season and marginally by species, with the highest pigmentation observed in spring across taxa. Notably, R. euryale exhibited higher pigmentation levels than M. capaccinii and R. ferrumequinum, and female R. ferrumequinum had more pigmentation than males. Epidermal thickness in R. euryale was greater in summer than in autumn, with a similar trend seen in females relative to males. The body condition index (BCI) was negatively related to epidermal thickness only in R. ferrumequinum. These results indicate that epidermal thickness appears to be interspecifically conserved, whereas pigmentation appears more responsive to seasonal variation. These findings provide a foundation for future research on these epidermal traits in the broader context of mammalian integumentary biology.