The aim of this study was to determine the effects of sex and hunting location on carcass characteristics and meat quality of wild-living mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) from Croatia. Twenty-eight mallards (14 ♂; 14 ♀) were hunted at two hunting locations (HL I = 8 ♂, 8 ♀; HL II = 6 ♂, 6 ♀) in the Croatian lowlands. The carcasses were eviscerated, dressed, and dissected, and the individual internal organs and carcass parts were weighed. The breast muscle (m. pectoralis major) was sampled and used to determine color, pH, drip loss, cooking loss, shear force, and proximate chemical and fatty acid composition. Sex and HL had a significant effect on the majority of carcass characteristics analyzed, but they had no effect on the physical meat parameters. The protein and ash content of mallard meat was significantly higher in HL II (23.16% vs. 22.67%; 1.45% vs. 1.36%, respectively) and the moisture content in females (72.40% vs. 71.59%). HL had a significant effect on SFA (II 33.96% vs. I 29.91%), PUFA n-3 (II 3.55% vs. I 2.69%), PUFA/SFA and n-6/n-3 ratios, and all lipid indices. Females had a significantly higher C22:6n-3 content, a higher PI index and a lower n-6/n-3 ratio. The data presented in this study contribute to a better understanding of game-bird meat quality originating from different regions.

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are important ectoparasites and vectors of numerous pathogens affecting wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. Although birds play a significant role in tick ecology, information on tick infestations in wild galliform birds remains limited. The aim of this study was to identify tick species associated with rock partridge (Alectoris graeca) populations in Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean habitats of Croatia, and to evaluate their potential importance in tick ecology. A total of 39 rock partridges were examined from four localities in Croatia (Pag, Lozovac, Primorski Dolac and Svilaja). A total of 47 ticks were collected from 27 birds (69.2%). Molecular analysis based on sequencing of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene confirmed the morphological identification of all tick species. Four tick species belonging to the genus Ixodes were identified: Ixodes festai, Ixodes gibbosus, Ixodes ventalloi and Ixodes hexagonus. Ixodes festai was the dominant species (72.3%) and was recorded at all four localities. The remaining ticks belonged to I. gibbosus (10.6%), I. ventalloi (8.5%), and I. hexagonus (8.5%) and were found exclusively on Pag Island. Among the collected ticks, adult stages (55.3%) and nymphs (42.6%) predominated. The results indicate that rock partridges represent important hosts for several Mediterranean tick species of the genus Ixodes and may contribute to the maintenance of their local populations. The dominance and widespread occurrence of I. festai suggest a strong ecological association between this ornithophilic tick species and rock partridge populations. Furthermore, the exclusive occurrence of I. ventalloi, I. gibbosus and I. hexagonus on Pag Island indicates the influence of local ecological conditions and host community composition on tick population structure. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of tick ecology and provide an important basis for future research on tick-borne pathogens in Mediterranean ecosystems.

Ticks are hematophagous ectoparasites of major veterinary and public health importance, acting as vectors of numerous pathogens affecting wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. Data on tick species infesting lagomorphs in Croatia remain scarce. This study investigated the species composition and genetic diversity of ticks collected from European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) in Croatia during 2024–2025 using morphological and molecular methods. A total of 158 hares from 18 localities were examined, and ticks were detected on 145 individuals, resulting in an infestation prevalence of 91.8%. Morphological identification and molecular analyses revealed nine tick species. The tick community was dominated by Ixodes ricinus (59.1%; n = 821), followed by Ixodes festai (26.8%; n = 372) and Rhipicephalus bursa (9.6%; n = 133), together accounting for more than 95% of all collected ticks. Molecular analyses confirmed species identification and revealed 10 haplotypes of I. ricinus, eight of I. festai, two of I. ventalloi, and one in I. inopinatus. The results demonstrate that European brown hares are important hosts for diverse tick species in Croatia and provide baseline data for future studies on tick ecology, tick-borne pathogens, and wildlife health management.

Ticks are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites of public health importance, acting as vectors of numerous pathogens affecting wildlife, domestic animals and humans. Although birds play an important role in tick ecology and dispersal, information on tick infestations of pheasants in Europe remains limited. This study investigated the prevalence, species composition, developmental stage structure and haplotype diversity of ticks infesting pheasants in Croatia using ecological, morphological and molecular approaches. During the hunting seasons, 255 pheasants from continental and Mediterranean regions of Croatia were examined. Ticks were collected from harvested pheasants and road-killed individuals, morphologically identified, and representative specimens were molecularly confirmed. Overall, 213 pheasants were infested, resulting in a prevalence of 83.5%, and a total of 1103 ticks were collected. Six tick species were identified, with Ixodes ricinus dominating the tick community (80.1%). Molecular analyses confirmed the occurrence of several closely related Mediterranean Ixodes species, including Ixodes festai and Ixodes ventalloi. Nymphs predominated (78.2%), highlighting the importance of pheasants as hosts for immature tick stages. Significant geographical differences were observed. Continental localities were dominated by I. ricinus, whereas coastal and island regions showed significantly higher tick species diversity. Mean tick abundance per pheasant was significantly higher in Mediterranean regions. Male pheasants exhibited higher infestation prevalence and intensity than females. The marked regional differences highlight the influence of Croatia’s biogeographical heterogeneity on tick community composition. These findings demonstrate that pheasants serve as important hosts for diverse tick species and likely contribute to the maintenance of local tick populations, thereby providing a valuable baseline for future surveillance of tick-borne pathogens in Croatia.