Today, goats are spread throughout the world. They live in small or large herds and in different areas and environments. Because of its distinctive taste and desired chemical composition, goat meat is increasingly consumed in Serbia. As animal foods, it is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, but contains very little fat, especially cholesterol. The aim of this review paper is to highlight some health benefits, nutritional values and potential use of goat meat. On the chemical composition of goat meat affect race, gender, productivity and adaptability to stress, environment, management, diet, weight at slaughter and health condition as well as slaughter and procedures with the carcasses after slaughter. Average chemical composition of lean goat meat contains about 75.42% water, 3.55% fat, 19.95 % protein and 1.06% mineral matter. The energy value is about 580 kJ per 100 g. The goat meat has about the same nutritional value as well as sheep meat. Due to low content of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol, goat meat in the human diet is healthier alternative compared to other types of red meat. Polyunsaturated fatty acids prevalent in goatmeat, and the diet rich in unsaturated fatty acids is correlated with a reduced risk of stroke and coronary disease. In addition, in goat meat are present the essential amino acids such as lysine, threonine and tryptophan. Regardless to the nutritional value, goat meat is still less appreciated due to their specific smell and taste, the more if the animal is older.

Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is a genus of small biting midges (also known as “no-see ums”) that currently includes 1368 described species. They are proven or suspected vectors for important pathogens affecting animals such as bluetongue virus (BTV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV). Currently little information is available on the species of Culicoides present in Serbia. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine species diversity, host preference and the presence of BTV and SBV RNA in Culicoides from the Stara Planina Nature Park in south-eastern Serbia. In total 19,887 individual Culicoides were collected during three nights of trapping at two farm sites and pooled into six groups (Obsoletus group, Pulicaris group, “Others” group and further each group according to the blood-feeding status to freshly engorged and non-engorged). Species identification was done on subsamples of 592 individual Culicoides specimens by morphological and molecular methods (MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and PCR/sequencing). At least 22 Culicoides species were detected. Four animal species (cow, sheep, goat and common blackbird) as well as humans were identified as hosts of Culicoides biting midges. The screening of 8291 Culicoides specimens in 99 pools for the presence of BTV and SBV RNA by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR were negative. The biodiversity of Culicoides species in the natural reserve Stara Planina was high with at least 22 species present. The presence of C. imicola Kieffer was not recorded in this area. Culicoides showed opportunistic feeding behaviour as determined by host preference. The absence of SBV and BTV viral RNA correlates with the absence of clinical disease in the field during the time of sampling. These data are the direct outcome of a training programme within the Institutional Partnership Project “AMSAR: Arbovirus monitoring, research and surveillance-capacity building on mosquitoes and biting midges” funded by the programme SCOPES of the Swiss National Science Foundation.

Paramphistomum parasites identified by histology as Paramphistomum microbothrium were found in 18 of 34 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) intestines from central Serbia, examined between 1998 and 2004. This represents the first record of P. microbothrium in roe deer in Serbia.

West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic flavivirus whose transmission cycle in nature includes wild birds as amplifying hosts and ornithophilic mosquito vectors. Bridge vectors can transmit WNV to mammal species potentially causing West Nile Fever. Wild bird migration is a mode of WNV introduction into new areas. The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR) is a major stopover of wild birds migrating between Europe and Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of WNV in the DDBR during the 2016 transmission season in wild birds and mosquitoes. Blood from 68 wild birds (nine different species) trapped at four different locations was analyzed by competitive ELISA and Virus Neutralization Test (VNT), revealing positive results in 8/68 (11.8%) of the wild birds by ELISA of which six samples (three from juvenile birds) were confirmed seropositive by VNT. Mosquitoes (n = 6523, 5 genera) were trapped with CDC Mini Light traps at two locations and in one location resting mosquitoes were caught. The presence of WNV RNA was tested in 134 pools by reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). None of the pools was positive for WNV-specific RNA. Based on the obtained results, WNV was circulating in the DDBR during 2016.

Biodiversity of Ticks and Fleas of Dogs in the Western Balkans – Preliminary Examinations

Ltd. za kontrolu kvaliteta, Beograd KW Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus % coleopteras % swine's % epysootiology KR nema Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus infestation is parasitosis caused by Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus Adult forms parasite in small intestine of swine. Development of parasite is happening through intermediate hosts - coleopteras from Scarabaeidae family (Melolontha vulgaris, Cetonia aurata, Polyphilla fullo, Anomalia vitis etc). Infection begins when swines ingest infected coleopteras. Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus infestation is encountered in swines in extensive breeding, as well as in wild boars.