Circoviruses occur in a variety of animal species and are common pathogens of mammalian and avian hosts. In our study internal organ samples of wild birds were processed for screening of circoviral sequences. Two novel viruses were identified and characterized in specimens of a little bittern and a European bee-eater that suffered from wing injuries, were weakened, had liver or kidney failures, and finally succumbed at a rescue station. The 1935 nt and 1960 nt long viral DNA genomes exhibited a genomic structure typical for circoviruses and were predicted to encode replication-associated protein in the viral strand, and a capsid protein in the complementary strand of the replicative intermediate DNA form. The genome of the newly described viruses showed 37.6% pairwise identity with each other and ≤41.5% identity with circovirus sequences, and shared a common branch with fish, human and Weddel seal circoviruses in the phylogenetic tree, implying evolutionary relationship among the ancestors of these viruses. Based on the results the little bittern and European bee-eater circoviruses represent two distinct species of the Circovirus genus, Circoviridae family.

The genus Erinaceus is commonly found in rescue centres across the European continent despite the reported decline in some countries. Parasite infections are frequently detected in rescued hedgehogs, leading to increased morbidity and mortality and consequently conditioning their recovery. Some of the most frequent parasites include respiratory nematodes, such as Crenosoma striatum and Capillaria spp., which may lead to important pneumonia. Moreover, some of these agents have zoonotic potential, such as Cryptosporidium spp., Sarcoptes spp., and several species of ticks and fleas, which may transmit different vector-borne pathogens. This review provides a brief guide on hedgehogs’ internal and external parasitology, as well as some suggestions for diagnosis and treatment that are relevant for wildlife veterinarians, biologists and other researchers.

Being the largest still-living terrestrial mammal on earth, an elephant’s feet play an important role in its health status. The musculoskeletal structures in the forefoot are well described in the literature, but information about vascularization is limited. The novel aim of this work is to provide anatomical guidance to structures found in the forefoot, focusing on the arterial system. Initially, native CT and MRI sequences were taken of the left forefoot of a deceased 6-year-old female Asian elephant; the foot was then filled with an iodine-containing contrast medium through the a. mediana and the CT scans were repeated in the same position. The images obtained were processed with 3D Slicer software for the 3D reconstruction of the bones and arteries. The results clearly showed the palmar blood supply of the forefoot. A so far undescribed vessel was revealed, stemming from the a. metacarpea, supplying the first digit and the digital cushion. The course of the deep palmar arch’s terminal section was also established. This paper provides the first description of the exact disposition of the arteries in the palmar aspect of an elephant’s forefoot and may be used in planning surgeries in clinically affected animals.

Hedgehogs, Erinaceus spp., are commonly admitted to rescue centres in European countries. However, there are still few studies on parasitological fauna and treatment possibilities, including for E. roumanicus. This study aimed to evaluate parasitism in 34 hedgehogs directly after their admission to the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden Wildlife Rescue Centre, as well as the efficacy of fenbendazole treatment. The Mini-Flotac method was used to quantitatively evaluate and assess the efficacy of treatment with fenbendazole (100 mg/kg PO. BID for 7 days) in five selected individuals. Faecal samples were analysed at D0 and D14 after the beginning of the treatment. Globally, the prevalence of positive animals was 76%. Capillaria spp. were the most prevalent (68%), while coccidia showed a prevalence of 32%. Considering the range of action of this benzimidazole, the treatment provided an efficacy of 100%, eliminating all forms of Capillaria spp. Considering the high number of hedgehogs admitted to rescue centres and the potential effects of parasitism in morbidity and mortality during recovery, it is essential to improve our knowledge with regard to the parasitological fauna of these species and to attain effective treatment protocols.

Ecdysteroids are steroid hormones involved in moulting and development of arthropods. Blood samples of 32 individual bats of eight insectivorous species were analysed for the presence of ecdysteroids, using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Nine ecdysteroids were detected. The spectrum of these ecdysteroids was similar in bat species which take their preferred food items from the same insect order. The spectrum of blood‐borne ecdysteroids was broader in the autumn than in the summer, and higher concentrations of 20‐hydroxyecdysone (the most common ecdysteroid) occurred in samples from large bat species than from small ones. Ecdysteroids may have anabolic effects on insectivorous bats and may also affect their blood‐feeding arthropod parasites.

Bats are vital parts of ecosystems but also act as important reservoirs of viruses that can infect humans. Studying bat-borne viruses is essential for preventing spillover events, and passive surveillance offers a promising, bat-friendly approach. Among these viruses, lyssaviruses are a major public health concern because infection in humans is almost always fatal. In Europe, the European bat lyssavirus type 1 (EBLV-1) is the most widespread. We aimed to expand the Hungarian rabies surveillance system into a One Health-based passive surveillance framework for multiple bat viruses, using lyssaviruses and filoviruses as examples. Dead-found or injured bats that died despite care were collected for examination. In total, 208 bats from 15 species were tested for lyssaviruses and Lloviu virus. Three serotine bats (Cnephaeus serotinus, formerly Eptesicus) tested positive for EBLV-1, and complete viral genomes were obtained. All sequences belonged to the EBLV-1a lineage, closely related to previously described Hungarian strains. All bats tested negative for Lloviu virus. These results confirm the feasibility of passive surveillance for detecting bat-borne viruses and highlight the importance of collaborative monitoring systems for future zoonotic outbreak preparedness.