We present the first documented case of mass mortality in farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) linked to tefluthrin contamination in a freshwater stream. In June 2013, a twelve-day pollution event occurred in the Rogačica River, Republic of Serbia, resulting in the death of approximately 160,000 trout fingerlings and yearlings, with a total biomass of 4,190 kg. Water samples were analyzed for pesticide residues using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with an Agilent 1260 Infinity LC system (Agilent Technologies, USA) coupled to a 6460 Triple Quad LC/MS mass spectrometer. Water analysis revealed tefluthrin concentrations of 2.04 and 0.52 μg/L, representing 9- to 34-fold exceedances of the reported 96 h LC50 for rainbow trout (0.06 μg/L). The contamination originated from washing pesticide-coated corn seed in a local distillery, representing a previously undocumented source of aquatic pesticide pollution. This case highlights the vulnerability of aquaculture to agricultural pesticides, the particular sensitivity of early life stages of salmonids to pyrethroids, and the need for improved regulatory and biosecurity measures to prevent similar events.

Impaired renal function is one of the main characteristics of dogs infected with Leishmania infantum. Early diagnosis of kidney injury is essential for improving patient’s prognosis. This study aims to evaluate physiological biomarkers as predictors of kidney injury and prognostic markers. Medical records of fifty-nine dogs of different breed, age, and sex, naturally infected with L. infantum, were analyzed. Red blood cells, leucocytes, platelets count, hematocrit, total plasma proteins, plasma globulin, plasma albumin, serum creatinine, serum urea, serum phosphorus, serum symmetrical dimethyl arginine, urine analysis, urinary density, urinary protein creatinine ratio, urinary creatinine, urinary protein, and systemic blood pressure were examined in trial 0. Six months after trial 0, twenty-four dogs returned for clinical and laboratory examination. The second medical record analysis was identified as trial 1. The twenty-four dogs were examined using the same tests performed in trial 0. The physiological biomarker such as platelets and leukocyte count, hematocrit, serum phosphorus, urinary density, and systemic blood pressure, showed a significant correlation as prognostic and predictive factors of kidney injury in dogs. The platelet count was used as the physiological biomarker to show the value as a predictive factor and prognostic marker related to biomarkers of kidney injury in dogs naturally infected with L. infantum.

African swine fever (ASF) is currently the most important challenge for domestic pig production worldwide. The virus reached Eurasia in 2007, and is today affecting more than half of European Union member countries. Among Western Balkan countries, Serbia suffered the first case of ASF in a backyard holding in 2019. Since then, numerous outbreaks in domestic pigs and wild boar have been reported throughout the country despite the efforts of the veterinary authorities to control the disease. The lack of an effective vaccine is one of the main constraints, and the only currently available option to prevent further ASF infections is the application of strict biosecurity measures. Regarding biosecurity, backyard pig producers and smallholding farmers in Serbia have substantial gaps in the knowledge and fail to comply with safe production behaviour that favours the spread of ASF virus. In the currently prevailing smallholder and backyards farming systems, farm biosecurity is largely non-existent. The aim of this review was to identify specific ASF-risks factors in the current pig production system and gaps in biosecurity measures related to the human activities recognised as social and cultural identity in Serbia. Moreover, the main risk factors for ASF spreading and transmission at the domestic/wild boar interface, biosecurity practices in different production systems, and possible future control measures and awareness campaigns are discussed.

Porcine respiratory coronavirus is an enzootic, viral, respiratory disease of pigs, which manifests with mild clinical signs, but it takes part in the etiopathogenesis of the porcine respiratory disease complex. The virus was first discovered in Belgium in 1984 as a deletion mutant of the transmissible gastroenteritis virus. The two viruses are strongly antigenically related which is why they cross-react in serological tests. In this study, we tested 276 serum samples from different categories of pigs using ELISA test, which allows differentiation between the porcine respiratory coronavirus infection and transmissible gastroenteritis. The seroconversion for coronavirus infection was determined in 80.4% of tested samples. Out of 222 positive samples, 219 samples (98.6%) were positive for porcine respiratory coronavirus antibodies, while 3 (1.01%) samples were positive for transmissible gastroenteritis virus antibodies. Depending on the production category, 97.7% of piglets, 83% of sows, and 35% of gilts tested positive for porcine respiratory coronavirus antibodies. In total, 2.3% of piglets tested positive for transmissible gastroenteritis virus antibodies. Taking into account the characteristics of the ELISA test, its sensitivity and specificity, this result can be considered a false positive, because of a cross-reaction between the porcine respiratory coronavirus antibodies and the transmissible gastroenteritis virus. Specific antibodies in other swine production categories against the transmissible gastroenteritis virus were not determined.

It has been established that some clones of pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli ST131, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) tend to spread worldwide. Therefore, epidemiological surveys have been conducted to identify the source of infection and to break the chain of infection. In this article, it was pointed out that common international clones of Salmonella are represented with the serotypes Typhimurium, Kentucky, Infantis and Enteritidis. Serovars Typhimurium and Kentucky display multidrug-resistant phenotypes more frequently. Several sequence types of E. coli and the international clone ST131 are described, including clades C1 and C2 with the extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistance genes (blaCTX-M-15 or blaCTX-M-27). These pathogens are often found in both humans and animals. It is noted that Staphylococcus aureus became resistant to methicillin almost instantly after its introduction into clinical practice. Soon afterwards, MRSA found its way to farm animals and wildlife. The cycles of infection are bidirectional: humans can disseminate MRSA in the environment but animals may also be sources of infection for humans. Comprehensive work has been done by epidemiologists to introduce all necessary measures to eliminate MRSA from hospitals. Also, much effort has been made in MRSA control to prevent infections on animal farms and contamination in the primary food production chain. As the struggle with pathogenic bacteria continues, we face the incessant threat of new resistance and virulence mechanisms, which bacteria use to resist the hostile environment and enhance their survival in their natural habitats including humans and animals. Therefore, the capacity of certain bacteria to spread due to their virulence mechanisms and resistance phenotypes is presented, and a brief description of the research conducted in Serbia is included.

The concentration of radioactive isotopes in honey is an important bioindicator of environmental contamination. For that purpose, a total of 66 samples of different types of honey (acacia, meadow, linden, sunflower, flower, forest, oilseed rape, chestnut) were examined. The samples were collected during 2020 and 2021 at different localities in the Republic of Serbia (Vojvodina, Central Serbia, Kosovo). Gamma spectrometric analysis was used to determine natural radionuclides 40K, 232Th, 226Ra, 238U, 235U and 22Na and anthropogenic radionuclide 137Cs. The obtained results indicate that the predominant radionuclide in all the analyzed honey samples is natural K-40, whose average activity was 74 Bq / kg. The activity of other tested radionuclides ranged as follows: Th-232: <1-2.0; Ra-226: 1.9-15.6; U-238: <1-31.4; U-235: <0.2-1.61 and Na-22: <0.2-2.4 Bq / kg. The activity of the artificial radionuclide Cs-137 was measured in 53% of the tested samples from the territory of Kosovo with the maximum value of 3.63 Bq / kg. Regarding the determined level of radioactive residues, it can be concluded that the honey produced in the Republic of Serbia is healthy and environmentally safe food.
 Key words: honey, natural radionuclides, artificial radionuclides

In this pilot study, a method for the determination of phthalates in honey was developed. The following phthalates are included: diethyl phthalate, di-isobutyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, bis (2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate, and di- (n-octyl) phthalate. For the preparation of the samples, the method of liquid-liquid extraction with hexane with an ultrasonic bath was used. The analysis of the prepared samples was performed using gas chromatography and a mass detector. The method is reliable, sensitive, and reproducible with a detection limit of 0.28 - 1.38 ug/kg. This paper presents the results of testing samples of honey stored in glass and plastic packaging for three years in order to determine the migration of phthalates. Dimethyl phthalate was not found in the tested samples. Diethyl phthalate in glass samples from glass packaging was below the LOQ, and it ranged from 2.1 to 4.11 µg / kg in the samples of honey in plastic packaging. The values of di-isobutyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate ranged between 5.32 and 22.60 µg / kg respectively;1.32 – 27.80 µg/kg; 4.45-19.19 µg/kg; di-(n-octyl) phthalate and di-methyl phthalate were < LOQ

Toxic element pollution is an ecological concern in the regions where mining, industry and agriculture are developing. Anthropogenic impact on the environment results in the reduction of the population of honey bees over the world with varying degrees of morbidity and mortality. Bees exposed to contaminants produce polluted products through various sources, including foraging activities on contaminated plants. Therefore, monitoring of honey bee products in terms of toxic elements is very important for food safety and for preventing potential future ecological problems. The data presented in this review are useful for bee health protection and improving the quality and safety of honey production chain.

Abstract The economic losses caused by gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants are increasing today due to the development of anthelmintic resistance. Therefore, researchers from different parts of the world are searching for new, alternative strategies to control these parasites. As a valuable natural resource, medicinal plants and their products have emerged as a viable option. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro ovicidal activity of two chemotypes of the yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) essential oil against sheep gastrointestinal nematodes. For this purpose, nematode eggs were collected from naturally infected sheep of two farms located in Southern Italy to perform the egg hatch test. In both farms, the coproculture examination identified the presence of four genera of sheep GINs: Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Teladorsagia and Chabertia. Main components of the yarrow essential oil identified by GC-MS analysis were 1,8-cineole (41.69%), camphor (8.37%) and trans-chrysanthenyl acetate (4.90) for the type 1 and β-pinene (28.53%), β-caryophyllene (18.71%) and 1,8-cineole (11.69%) for the type 2. In vitro ovicidal activity was evaluated at six different concentrations (50, 12.5, 3.125, 0.781, 0.195 and 0.049 mg/mL), whereby the inhibitory effect of the essential oil (Achillea millefolium L.) on egg hatchability varied from 46.5-99.5% (type 1) and 69.6-97.25% (type 2) and all concentrations tested showed a significantly higher efficacy compared to the negative control (p<0.0001). Furthermore, the inhibitory effect on egg hatching was similar (p>0.05) to the positive control (98.0%) at concentrations of 50 mg/mL (99.5%), 12.5 mg/mL (98.0%) and 3.125 (95.25%) of the type 1, and at concentrations of 50 mg/mL (97.25%) and 12.5 mg/mL (90.0%) of the type 2. The obtained results suggested that the A. millefolium essential oil has high anthelmintic potential, especially azulene-free chemotype rich in 1,8-cineole and camphor, which requires confirmation in further in vivo studies.

Sturgeon aquaculture is economically important in many countries, for both meat and caviar production. Sturgeon is the common name for 27 species of fish belonging to the family Acipenseridae. Among them, only the sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) and the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) completes the lifecycle in fresh water. In Serbia, in the last few years, aquaculture enterprises have shown more interest in farming these fish species. Also, the importance of sturgeon aquaculture grows due to the rapid decrease of wild populations caused by overfishing, water pollution and destruction of habitat. The development of sturgeon aquaculture activities has been accompanied by the disease outbreaks, and possibility of the emergence and rapid dissemination of several infectious disease agents may represent serious problem in sturgeon aquaculture. Several viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic diseases have been reported worldwide. Due to the limited knowledge about epizootiology and disease control methods, infectious diseases may represent a major challenge in sturgeon aquaculture. Moreover, none of the diseases reported in sturgeon are regulated in the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) or European Union (EU) legislations. Due to the increasing interest in sturgeon aquaculture in Serbia present study is focused on the most important pathogens that may represent a threat to sturgeon aquaculture in Serbia.