Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in the Balkans: Clonal distribution and associated resistance determinants

Carbapenems are considered to be among the last line antibiotics against extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Enterobacterales. Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) has been frequently reported and its spread in Europe is indisputable and poses an enormous threat to hospitalized patients which is of growing concern. This review aims to record prevalence of CRKP in the Balkan region and to review the current knowledge about this life-threatening pathogen. In this review, we summarize data about clinical isolates of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae from Greece, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania from published reports between 2000 and 2023. Among Balkan countries, Greece and Romania are the ones with the most reports about CRKP. Since 2007, KPCs are the dominant carbapenemases in both countries. KPC-2 and NDM-1-producing K. pneumoniae strains have been identified as the most frequent CRKP in Croatia, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Slovenia. OXA-48 enzyme has been identified in most Balkan countries. In addition, since 2018, CRKP sequence type 11 (ST11) seems to have replaced ST258 in Balkan Peninsula, while ST15 continues to thrive throughout the years. Not only efficacy of colistin against CRKP has decreased dramatically during the last ten years but colistin resistance mechanism is based on alterations of chromosomal mgrB gene, rather than the already known mcr genes.Moreover, ceftazidime-avibactam-resistant CRKP were detected mostly in Greece. Emergence of CRKP poses a severe threat to the Balkan countries. Due to the narrow therapeutic window, it is essential to prevent the spread of multiresistant K. pneumoniae strains.

Atlas Florae Europaeae notes, 35. Further critical notes on Cytisussect.Tubocytisus (Fabaceae) in Europe

A few species names in Cytisussect.Tubocytisus are re-assessed and taxonomically evaluated. Diagnostic characters are discussed and the species status of C.absinthioides Janka, C.eriocarpus Boiss., C.frivaldszkyanus Degen, C.jankae Velen. and C.smyrnaeus Boiss. is confirmed. The holotype of Cytisustriflorus Lam. was found to belong to C.hirsutus L. rather than to the C.ratisbonensis group as currently treated. Cytisuslasiosemius Boiss. is not the correct name for C.frivaldszkyanus Degen, but another synonym of C.hirsutus. Cytisuslitwinowii V.I.Krecz., which was known solely from the holotype, is a synonym of C.austriacus L. s.str. Chamaecytisuspseudojankae Pifkó & Barina, reported from a small area shared between Albania, Greece and North Macedonia, is treated as a subalpine variant of C.austriacus. Cytisustmoleus Boiss. is removed from the synonymy of C.eriocarpus and added to the synonymy of C.pygmaeus Willd. Cytisusfalcatussubsp.albanicus Degen & Dörfl. and C.pubescens Gilib. are synonymised with C.hirsutus. Cytisusmicrophyllus Boiss. is moved from C.austriacus s.l. to the synonymy of C.frivaldszkyanus, and C.pindicola (Degen) Halácsy to the synonymy of C.jankae. Chamaecytisuscalcareus (Velen.) Kuzmanov is accepted as Cytisuscalcareus (Velen.) Sennikov & Val.N.Tikhom., comb. nov., and its distribution is circumscribed. Cytisushirsutusvar.ciliatus (Wahlenb.) Hazsl. and C.polytrichusvar.subglabratus Val.N.Tikhom. & Sennikov, var. nov. are recognised as glabrous variants of the corresponding species. Lectotypes of C.ciliatus, C.hirsutissimus K.Koch, C.jankae, C.lasiosemius, C.pubescens, C.rhodopeus J.Wagner ex Bornm. and C.thirkeanus K.Koch are designated. Cytisuspolytrichus is reported from the Western Caucasus in place of C.wulffii auct.

At a crossroads: Genetic lineages and dispersal routes of Morimusasper (Sulzer, 1776) s.l. (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) in Bulgaria

The present study fills a knowledge gap in the distribution and genetic variation of Morimus populations in the Balkans, by studiyng the representatives of the genus in Bulgaria - M.asperfunereus Mulsant, 1862, M.verecundusbulgaricus Danilevsky, 2016 and M.orientalis Reitter, 1894. Additional information is provided for Albania and northern Greece. The mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) marker and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) were used for the genetic analyses. Three of the previously-defined mitochondrial lineages (Lb/HgA, L2 and L3) were detected in Bulgaria, as well as a new lineage (Str) from the Strandzha Mountains (south-eastern Bulgaria). A total of 24 distinct haplotypes, 20 of them in Bulgaria, were found. Bulgarian populations of Morimus demonstrated relatively high nucleotide diversity. The L3 COI lineage was confirmed as the most diverse and frequent in the Balkans. The L3 lineage is dominant in most of Bulgaria, but was not identified in the easternmost parts near the Black Sea coast, where the L2 and Str lineages were found. New data highlighted two dispersal routes of the L2 mitochondrial lineage on the Balkan Peninsula: 1) northwards along the Black Sea coast and 2) westwards, across the Balkans where only disjunct populations remain. North-western Bulgaria seems to be the eastern limit of the basal lineage Lb/HgA distribution. Our results show high levels of genetic exchange between most of the mitochondrially defined lineages, yet some of the easternmost populations probably remained isolated for comparatively longer periods.

Evaluation of Risk Factors for the Occurrence of Limb Fractures in Children Due to Unintentional Injury in Podgorica, Montenegro, Mediterranean

Background and Objectives: Limb injuries in childhood are very common, with most of them being unintentional and often accompanied by soft tissue injuries. The aim of our study was to determine the risk factors that contribute to the occurrence of limb fractures as the most common type of accidental injury to children in our conditions. Materials and Methods: This study was designed as a prospective clinical analysis of predictive factors with a "nested" case-control study. It included all patients under the age of 18 who were diagnosed with unintentional limb injury and limb fracture due to accidental injury, at the Clinical Center of Montenegro, Podgorica, in the period of 7 January 2020-30 June 2021. Results: The gender of the child and the occurrence of the fracture are not related, and a statistically significant relationship was found between the occurrence of the fracture and the place of residence, the child's age, body mass index (BMI), the affected limb, the method of injury, and the mental state of the parents of the injured child, as well as their economic status. It was proved that the older the child was, the lower the chance of injury, while multivariate analysis proved that BMI could be a predictor of accidental fracture. The most common method of accidental limb fractures in children was a fall from a height. Conclusions: The analysis of factors that influence the occurrence of children's injuries is of great importance for public health. Such and similar research can enable a better understanding of the factors that influence accidental injuries, and therefore influence the prevention of these injuries by organizing various educational materials at the primary healthcare level or at the school level, for both children and parents.

The Bats of Greece: An Updated Review of Their Distribution, Ecology and Conservation

Bats of Greece have been studied since the second half of the 19th century. Their distribution and ecology, however, remain poorly understood. Conservation efforts for the protection of the roosting and foraging habitats of their populations in Greece are limited. To date, 35 bat species have been recorded from Greece. Four species (Eptesicus anatolicus, Plecotus auritus, Myotis brandtii and Rousettus aegyptiacus) have a limited distribution in the country and the presence of one species (Myotis mystacinus) requires verification. The present study summarises all existing knowledge and adds several hundred new records on the distribution of bats of Greece. Additionally, it provides a summary of new insights on various aspects of their roosting ecology, foraging habitat use, altitudinal distribution, winter activity and landscape characteristics around major roosts. Finally, it discusses the current research and conservation needs of Greek bats.

Terrestriality as reflected in the humerus of Mesopithecus delsoni (Cercopithecidae, Colobinae) from Hadjidimovo, Bulgaria

The fossil colobine genus Mesopithecus is the oldest European monkey, ranging from the Late Miocene to the earliest Pleistocene. It is one of the most successful genera of Old World monkeys since the late Neogene. Its ecology, as an indicator of Late Miocene environments, is of particular interest. Several investigations have clarified the locomotor adaptations of the middle and late Turolian Balkan Mesopithecus pentelicus, but such studies are virtually absent for the earliest known taxon, the early Turolian Mesopithecus delsoni, due to the lack of fossil material. However, a large collection of postcranial material of M. delsoni from the Bulgarian Early Turolian locality of Hadjidimovo provides the first opportunity for such an analysis. The present study examines the functional morphology of the fossil humeri of M. delsoni from Hadjidimovo, Bulgaria, and of M. pentelicus from Bulgarian and Greek fossil localities. We provide detailed comparative qualitative descriptions and use univariate and multivariate quantitative analyses of one angular and 12 linear measurements in comparison with 149 extant Cercopithecidae, representing 14 genera and 34 species. Our analyses demonstrate that the humeral elements from Hadjidimovo show important morphological differences from those of M. pentelicus from Pikermi, Kalimantsi, and Gorna Sushitsa, suggesting strong terrestrial tendencies for M. delsoni. This finding, when considered together with the paleobiologial inference of semiterrestriality for the early cercopithecoid Victoriapithecidae, might indicate that the first colobines (still unknown) were also semiterrestrial. Finally, the morphological features related to terrestriality in M. delsoni, which differ from those of the later M. pentelicus, provide additional data in support of the idea that the older taxon represents a separate species.

Status and Numbers of the Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L.) in Bulgaria

Until recently, the Bulgarian bear population (Ursus arctos L.) was considered one of the significant ones in Europe and one of the few with more than 500 bears. While the numbers of some neighboring populations may be increasing, the Bulgarian population has been on a downward trend since the early 1990s. The probable numbers of the species at the end of the 1980s was about 700-750 individuals. Calculations based on field data from national monitoring and statistical analysis show probable numbers in Bulgaria in 2020 of about 500 individuals (data for the autumn state). This decline is mostly related to poaching due to weaker control activity, the reduction of forest areas and habitat fragmentation. The preservation of the Bulgarian population, which, together with the other Balkan populations and the Apennine bear, has a unique gene pool, is particularly important from the point of view of preserving the biodiversity of the species in Europe.

A Novel Tool to Assess the Risk for African Swine Fever in Hunting Environments: The Balkan Experience

In Europe, African swine fever (ASF) can be sustained within wild boar populations, thus representing a constant source of virus and a huge challenge in the management of the disease. Hunters are the key stakeholders for the prevention, detection and control of ASF in wild boar. Their behavior and the biosecurity standards applied in infected or at-risk hunting grounds have a huge impact on disease dynamics and management. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has developed a semi-quantitative survey-based novel tool to assess the risk of ASF in hunting grounds (namely the risks of introduction and spread into and between hunting grounds, and the risk of not detecting the infection) and how such risks could be reduced if mitigation or corrective measures were applied at low, medium and high effort. The weight of risk factors was determined through an expert knowledge elicitation (EKE). The surveys for each hunting ground were filled in by their respective managers. The tool's outputs allow users to visualize the different ASF risks of hunting grounds, whether as numerical values or color-coded maps, at sub-national, national and regional levels. These outputs can be used to guide policy makers, highlighting gaps or geographical areas to prioritize. The tool was used to assess hunting grounds in Kosovo¹ (¹ As per United Nations Security Council resolution 1244). Montenegro and Serbia, showing overall a high risk.

Redescription of the Planthopper Bursinia genei (Dufour, 1849), with a New Record from Greece (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Dictyopharidae)

Bursinia genei (Dufour, 1849) is the most widespread species of the planthopper subfamily Orgeriinae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Dictyopharidae) in Europe, found from the Iberian Peninsula to the Western Balkans. However, its diagnostically important genitalia and biology have been insufficiently described. We employ state-of-the-art synchrotron X-ray microtomography and photomicrography to re-describe B. genei, and to study the morphology of both its sexes in unprecedented detail. By examining specimens from across the distribution of B. genei, we find that they probably belong to a single, broadly distributed morphospecies. Our morphological examination allowed us to make inferences on its jumping mechanism and capacity for vibrational communication. We also record B. genei for the first time from Greece, further extending the range of this elusive species. Detailed information on the habitat of B. genei is also provided.

Geographic differentiation in male calling song of Isophyamodestior (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Phaneropterinae)

We studied the songs and morphology of the stridulatory file of Isophyamodestior across its complete geographic range, in order to test our hypothesis that the male calling song of the species shows strong differentiation between the northern (Pannonian) and southern (Balkan) parts of its distribution range, reflecting its disjunct distribution. Our analyses confirm this hypothesis, separating analyzed specimens of I.modestior into two main groups - one present in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula (representing Isophyamodestior sensu stricto), with the second group occurring in the Pannonian Basin, Dinarides, Slovenia and NE Italy. The most reliable difference between the groups is the duration of the main syllable, the number of stridulatory teeth and number of pulses in the main syllable, where all values are higher in specimens from the Balkan Peninsula. Additional analyses showed that within the second group, there are differences in analyzed characters between specimens from the Pannonian Basin and specimens from the Dinaric area, the latter ones having intermediate song characteristics, closer to the group from the Balkan Peninsula. Our study shows that detailed bioacoustic analyses can help to unravel patterns of intraspecific differentiation and thus provide a useful tool for taxonomic studies.

Analyzing Consumer Perception on Quality and Safety of Frozen Foods in Emerging Economies: Evidence from Albania and Kosovo

Freezing technology is one of the most well established long-term preservation techniques for producing high-quality, nutritious foods with prolonged shelf-life. Frozen foods (FFs) are a significant section of the global food market experiencing rapid growth. It also represents an alternative to small producers in developing countries to add value to their products in a competitive market. However, unfairly, FFs are often perceived as less qualitative than fresh produce, although studies have shown that some FFs have higher nutritional values than fresh products. This study’s aim is to analyze consumers’ perceptions in the two Balkan countries towards FFs. A total of 380 questionnaires were completed in both countries (182 in Kosovo and 198 in Albania). Consumers’ perceptions towards FFs were measured through eleven items using a five-point Likert scale. The items addressed issues related to the quality and safety of FFs, information on FFs, and the impact of origin on the perception of FFs. The differences between populations were tested with the t-test and correlation analysis with the bootstrapping method for sociodemographic factors. The results show that Kosovo consumers generally show a higher positive attitude toward FFs than Albanian consumers. Albanian consumers prefer fresh foods over FFs. The lack of trust in food safety institutions was expressed with concern for the conditions of the frozen chain applied both on the imported and domestic frozen products. Similarly, the findings show that Albanian consumers are willing to pay more than the baseline price to obtain fresh products instead of frozen compared with Kosovo consumers. Additional studies are needed to explore whether the lack of trust in food safety institutions inhibits the successful development of FFs in Albania and Kosovo. In both countries, responsible authorities should help consumers to have a more profound knowledge of the quality of FFs and boost these activities to increase farmers’ incomes and play an active role in reducing food loss and waste.

Assessment of household food waste management during the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia: a cross-sectional online survey

The Serbian government has taken several measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These measures may have led to a disruption of daily life and affected food-related behaviors. This paper investigates the state of food waste management in Serbia and COVID-19's direct effect on consumer awareness, food consumption, and food waste behaviors. The study is based on an online survey using a structured questionnaire administered in Serbian from May 13 until June 13, 2020, through the Google forms platform. A total of 1212 valid answers were collected, mainly from female, young, and high-educated people. The survey results suggested that (i) household food waste in Serbia is low and there is a positive attitude toward food waste prevention; (ii) food waste increased during the COVID-19 pandemic; (iii) consumers reduced the number of shopping trips and shopped more than usual during the pandemic. This study contributes to a better understanding of consumers' consumption habits and attitudes toward food waste to prevent and reduce it.

Epidemiological study on the incidence of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in five Western Balkan countries for a 10-year period: 2006-2015

BACKGROUND

Large-scale epidemics of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) have been reported mostly in Asia and Europe, with around 100,000 people affected each year. In the Southeast Europe, Balkan region, HFRS is endemic disease with approximately 100 cases per year. Our aim was to describe epidemiological characteristics of HFRS in five Western Balkan (WB) countries and to describe correlation between HFRS incidence and major meteorological event that hit the area in May 2014.

METHODS

National surveillance data of HFRS from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia obtained from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2015 were collected and analysed.

RESULTS

In a 10-year period, a total of 1,065 HFRS patients were reported in five WB countries. Cumulative incidence rate ranged from 0.05 to 15.80 per 100.000 inhabitants (in North Macedonia and Montenegro respectively). Increasing number of HFRS cases was reported with a peak incidence in three specific years (2008, 2012, and 2014). Average incidence for the entire area was higher in males than females (5.63 and 1.90 per 100.000 inhabitants respectively). Summer was the season with the highest number of cases and an average incidence rate of 1.74/100.000 inhabitants across 10-year period. Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome incidence was significantly increased (7.91/100.000 inhabitants) in 2014, when a few months earlier, severe floods affected several WB countries. A strong significant negative correlation (r = -.84, p < .01) between the monthly incidence of HFRS and the number of months after May's floods was demonstrated for the total area of WB.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that the HFRS incidence had similar distribution (general, age, sex and seasonality) across majority of the included countries. Summer was the season with the highest recorded incidence. Common epidemic years were detected in all observed countries as well as a negative correlation between the monthly incidence of HFRS and the number of months after May's cyclone.

Checklist of Pseudoscorpions (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones) of Albania

A checklist is presented comprising 42 species in 21 genera and 10 families of the arachnid order Pseudoscorpiones from Albania. Two taxa are identified only to the genus level -Neobisium Chamberlin, 1930 and Roncus L. Koch, 1873. The checklist was constructed according to available published data, material deposited in the Natural History Museum in Vienna and newly collected material. Individual families contained the following numbers of species: Chthoniidae (8), Neobisiidae (13), Garypinidae (1), Geogarypidae (2), Olpiidae (1), Cheiridiidae (1), Atemnidae (1), Cheliferidae (7), Chernetidae (7) and Withiidae (1). Sixteen species and four families (Garypinidae, Cheiridiidae, Atemnidae, Withiidae) are recorded for the first time in Albania -Chthonius jonicus Beier, 1931, C. rhodochelatus Hadži, 1933,C. tenuis L. Koch, 1873, Ephippiochthonius serbicus (Hadži, 1937), E. tuberculatus (Hadži, 1937), Amblyolpium dollfusi Simon, 1898, Geogarypus italicus Gardini, Galli and Zinni, 2017, Apocheiridium ferum (Simon, 1879), Atemnus syriacus (Beier, 1955), Beierochelifer peloponnesiacus (Beier, 1929), Hysterochelifer cyprius (Beier, 1929), H. meridianus (L. Koch, 1873), Rhacochelifer peculiaris (L. Koch, 1873), Dinocheirus panzeri (C.L. Koch, 1837), Lamprochernes chyzeri (Tömösváry, 1883) and Withius piger (Simon, 1878). Moreover, A. dollfusi and G. italicus are newly recorded from the Balkans. Data on European distribution, habitat preferences and taxonomic considerations are reported. The Albanian pseudoscorpion fauna is compared with that of other Balkan countries.

A phylogenetic analysis of the wild Tulipa species (Liliaceae) of Kosovo based on plastid and nuclear DNA sequence

In Kosovo, the genus Tulipa is represented by eight taxa, most of which form a species complex surrounding Tulipa scardica. To investigate the phylogenetic relationship of these Tulipa species a Bayesian analysis was undertaken using the ITS nuclear marker and trnL-trnF, rbcL and psbA-trnH plastid markers. The resulting phylogenetic trees show that Kosovarian Tulipa species consistently group into two main clades, the subgenera Eriostemones and Tulipa. Furthermore, our analyses provide some evidence that the subspecies of Tulipa sylvestris are genetically distinguishable, however not significantly enough to support their reclassification as species. In contrast, the markers provide some novel information to reassess the species concepts of the T. scardica complex. Our data provide support for the synonymisation of Tulipa luanica and Tulipa kosovarica under the species Tulipa serbica. Resolution and sampling limitations hinder any concrete conclusion about whether Tulipa albanica and T. scardica are true species, yet our data do provide some support that these are unique taxa and therefore should continue to be treated as such until further clarification. Overall, our work shows that genetic data will be important in determining species concepts in this genus, however, even with a molecular perspective pulling apart closely related taxa can be extremely challenging.

From leaves to seeds? The dietary shift in late Miocene colobine monkeys of southeastern Europe

Extant colobine monkeys are specialized leaf eaters. But during the late Miocene, western Eurasia was home to colobines that were less efficient at chewing leaves than they were at breaking seed shells. To understand the link between folivory and granivory in this lineage, the dietary niche of Mesopithecus delsoni and Mesopithecus pentelicus was investigated in southeastern Europe, where a major environmental change occurred during the late Miocene. We combined dental topographic estimates of chewing efficiency with dental microwear texture analysis of enamel wear facets. Mesopithecus delsoni was more efficient at chewing leaves than M. pentelicus, the dental topography of which matches an opportunistic seed eater. Concurrently, microwear complexity increases in M. pentelicus, especially in the northernmost localities corresponding to present-day Bulgaria. This is interpreted as a dietary shift toward hard foods such as seeds or tubers, which is consistent with the savanna and open mixed forest biomes that covered Bulgaria during the Tortonian. The fact that M. delsoni was better adapted to folivory and consumed a lower amount of hard foods than M. pentelicus suggests that colobines either adapted to folivory before their dispersal to Europe or evolved adaptations to leaf consumption in multiple occurrences.

Crenobiont, stygophile and stygobiont molluscs in the hydrographic area of the Trebišnjica River Basin

In the paper the crenobiont, stygophile and stygobiont malacofauna of the karst area of Popovo Polje around Trebinje (Eastern Herzegovina, BiH) is presented. The materials were collected from springs, caves and interstitial habitats (with a Bou-Rouch pump) at 23 localities. The following species were found: Pisidium cf. personatum A.W. Malm, 1855, Theodoxus callosus (Deshayes, 1833), Sadleriana fluminensis (Küster, 1852), Radomaniola curta (Küster, 1852), Radomaniola cf. bosniaca (Radoman, 1973), Kerkia briani Rysiewska & Osikowski, 2020, Montenegrospeum bogici (Pešić & Glöer, 2012), Litthabitella chilodia (Westerlund, 1886), Travunijana vruljakensis Grego & Glöer, 2019, a new genus and species of the Sadlerianinae, Emmericia ventricosa Brusina, 1870, Iglica cf. absoloni (A.J. Wagner, 1914), Plagigeyeria tribunicae Schütt, 1963, Paladilhiopsis arion Rysiewska & Osikowski, 2021, Valvata montenegrina Glöer & Pešić, 2008, Radix labiata (Rossmässler, 1835), Galba truncatula (O. F. Müller, 1774), Ancylus recurvus Martens, 1783, Ancylus sp. and the amphibiotic Succinea cf. putris (Linnaeus, 1758). The redescription of the genus Travunijana Grego & Glöer, 2019, applying the characteristics of shell, female reproductive organs and penis, is also presented. The new genus and species are described, based on the shell, penis, radula and fragmentary data on the female reproductive organs. For all species, the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) is applied to confirm the determination; in the case of Travunijana and the new genus, the nuclear histone H3 locus is also used, in order to infer both their distinctiveness and phylogenetic relationships.

Ant genus Strongylognathus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Bulgaria: a preliminary review

Background

Strongylognathus Mayr, 1853 is a Palaearctic genus, comprising 25 ant species and one subspecies, all permanent social parasites, infesting colonies of various species of Tetramorium Mayr, 1855. They have patchy distribution throughout their areas and most of them are very rare and listed as vulnerable.

The taxonomy of the Strongylognathushuberi group needs thorough revision and the results presented below can be considered as preliminary.

New information

Four species of the socially parasitic ant genus Strongylognathus (S.karawajewi Pisarski, 1966, S.huberidalmaticus Baroni Urbani, 1969, S.afer Emery, 1884 and S.italicus Finzi, 1924) are recorded for the first time from Bulgaria and, together with the previously-known S.testaceus and S.bulgaricus stat. rev., their total number reaches six. The taxonomic position and geographic distribution of all species are discussed and a Key for their identification, based on worker caste, is compiled.

Potamophylax coronavirus sp. n. (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae), a new species from Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park in the Republic of Kosovo, with molecular and ecological notes

Background

The Western Balkans are an important hotspot of caddisfly diversity in Europe, with several microscale endemics, many of which were discovered during the recent years. The genus Potamophylax Wallengren, 1891 likely originated and diversified in Europe, with the Balkan Peninsula being one of the most important diversity hotspots.

New information

In this paper, we describe the new species Potamophylax coronavirus sp. n. from Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park in the Republic of Kosovo. The new species belongs to the Potamophylax winneguthi species group and is morphologically most similar to Potamophylax juliani Kumanski, 1999, currently known only from Bulgaria and Potamophylax winneguthi Klapalek, 1902, known from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. The male of the new species differs from its most similar congeners mainly in exhibiting: (1) elongated subrectangular superior appendages in lateral view; (2) hardly acuminate, almost rounded apex of intermediate appendages; (3) differently shaped, irregular and higher inferior appendages; (4) narrow spinate area, roughly rectangular in dorsal view, slightly wider at the base and (5) different paramere shape and/or spine pattern. The new species also differs by its considerably smaller size and association with open, high altitude eucrenal zones.The uncorrected interspecific pairwise distance between P. coronavirus and other species of the P. winneguthi species group is on par with those amongst other recognised species in the group, as well as with the yet ambiguously identified taxa from the Sharr, Rila and Bajgorë Mountains.The new species is most probably a microendemic of Bjeshkët e Nemuna, thus highlighting further this area as an important hotspot of caddisfly biodiversity in Europe.

Dispersals as demographic processes: testing and describing the spread of the Neolithic in the Balkans

Although population history and dispersal are back at the forefront of the archaeological agenda, they are often studied in relative isolation. This contribution aims at combining both dimensions, as population dispersal is, by definition, a demographic process. Using a case study drawn from the Early Neolithic of South-Eastern Europe, we use radiocarbon dates to jointly investigate changes in speed and population size linked to the new food production economy and demonstrate that the spread of farming in this region corresponds to a density-dependent dispersal process. The implications of this characterization are evaluated in the discussion. This article is part of the theme issue 'Cross-disciplinary approaches to prehistoric demography'.

Sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in eight Balkan countries: historical review and region-wide entomological survey

BACKGROUND

Sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are medically important vectors of human and veterinary disease-causing agents. Among these, the genus Leishmania (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), and phleboviruses are of utmost importance. Despite such significance, updated information about sand fly fauna is missing for Balkan countries where both sand flies and autochtonous leishmaniases are historically present and recently re-emerging. Therefore, a review of historical data on sand fly species composition and distribution in the region was followed by a large-scale entomological survey in eight Balkan countries to provide a recent update on local sand fly fauna.

METHODS

The literature search involved the period 1910-2019. The entomological survey was conducted at 1189 sampling stations in eight countries (Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia), covering 49 settlements and 358 sampling sites between June and October in the years 2014 and 2016, accumulating 130 sampling days. We performed a total of 1189 trapping nights at these stations using two types of traps (light and CO2 attraction traps) in each location. Sampling was performed with a minimal duration of 6 (Montenegro) and a maximal of 47 days (Serbia) between 0-1000 m.a.s.l. Collected sand flies were morphologically identified.

RESULTS

In total, 8490 sand fly specimens were collected. Morphological identification showed presence of 14 species belonging to genera Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia. Historical data were critically reviewed and updated with our recent findings. Six species were identified in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2 new records), 5 in Montenegro (2 new records), 5 in Croatia (2 new records), 9 in Bulgaria (5 new records), 11 in North Macedonia (1 new record), 10 in Serbia (no new records), 9 in Kosovo (3 new records) and 4 in Slovenia (no new records).

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents results of the first integrated sand fly fauna survey of such scale for the Balkan region, providing first data on sand fly populations for four countries in the study area and presenting new species records for six countries and updated species lists for all surveyed countries. Our findings demonstrate presence of proven and suspected vectors of several Leishmania species.

A new species of Kerkia Radoman, 1978 (Caenogastropoda, Hydrobiidae) from Bosnia and Herzegovina

A new species of Kerkia, K.briani Rysiewska & Osikowski, sp. nov. is described from the spring Polički Studenac Vrelo (Crkvina), adjacent to the Trebišnjica River (Bosnia and Herzegovina) collected with Bou-Rouch technique, pumped from an interstitial habitat 50 cm below the bottom of the spring. The shell, female reproductive organs, and the penis are described and illustrated. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear histone H3 partial sequences confirm the distinctness of the new species, and molecularly based phylogenetic relationships of Kerkia are briefly presented.

Neethling vaccine proved highly effective in controlling lumpy skin disease epidemics in the Balkans

Despite the wide use of the live attenuated Neethling lumpy skin disease (LSD) vaccine, only limited data existed on its efficacy and effectiveness prior to the large LSD epidemic in the Balkans, which took place during 2016-2017. In addition, analysis of risk factors for the disease was hardly performed with proper control for vaccination effects and potential differences in exposure to the virus. Data from the LSD epidemics in six Balkan countries (Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Montenegro, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Albania) affected during 2016 were analyzed to determine vaccine effectiveness (VE) and risk factors for LSD infection at the farm level. Vaccination was performed along the occurrence of the epidemics and thus vaccination status of some of the farms changed during the epidemic. To allow for this, left truncated and right censored survival analysis was used in a mixed effects Cox proportional hazard regression model to calculate VE and risk factors for LSD. The results indicated of an average VE of 79.8% (95% CI: 73.2-84.7)) in the six countries, with the lowest VE of 62.5% documented in Albania and up to VE of more than 97% as documented in Bulgaria and Serbia. Analysis of time from vaccination to development of protective immunity showed that VE mostly developed during the first 14 days after vaccination. Data from Greece showed that the vaccination adjusted hazard ratio for LSD was 5.7 higher in grazing farms compared to non-grazing farms. However, due to a difference in geographical location of grazing and non-grazing farms and higher vaccination rate in non-grazing farms, this effect can be at least partly attributed to indirect protection due to herd immunity provided by surrounding vaccinated farms.

Essential Oil-Bearing Plants From Balkan Peninsula: Promising Sources for New Drug Candidates for the Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus and Dyslipidemia

Metabolic diseases like diabetes mellitus or dyslipidemia have a complex etiology characterized by the interference of genetic predisposition and environmental factors like diet or lifestyle. Over time they can cause significant vascular complications, leading to dysfunction or failure of key organs (brain, heart), with possible fatal consequences or a severe reduction of life quality. Although current authorized drugs may successfully control blood glucose or cholesterol level, their use is often associated with severe side effects, therefore the development of new drug candidates is necessary for a better management of metabolic diseases. Among potential new drug sources, aromatic plants rich in essential oils like Melissa officinalis L., Mentha x piperita L., Cuminum cyminum L. or Pistacia lentiscus L. var. chia are very promising due to their diverse chemical composition and multiple mechanisms of action. This review describes a series of recent experimental studies investigating antidiabetic and hypolipemic effects of essential oils extracted from several aromatic plant species with an ethnopharmacological relevance in the Balkan peninsula. The pharmacological models used in the studies together with the putative mechanisms of action of the main constituents are also detailed. The presented data clearly sustain a potential administration of the studied essential oils for the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases. Further research is needed in order to ascertain the therapeutic importance of these findings.

First record of Harpellales, Orphellales (Kickxellomycotina) and Amoebidiales (Mesomycetozoea) from Bulgaria, including a new species of Glotzia

This paper presents the results obtained from a short survey performed in Bulgaria, southeast Europe, where the trichomycetes (sensu lato), an ecological group of arthropod gut endosymbionts, were previously completely unknown. The present study initiates the comprehension of these cryptic organisms, members of the Kickxellomycotina (Harpellales, Orphellales) and the Mesomycetozoea (Amoebidiales), in this Balkan country. Eighteen new geographic records for Bulgaria are reported, including 10 species of Harpellales, three species of Orphellales and five species of Amoebidiales. Within the Harpellales, the species Glotziabalkanensissp. nov. is described. This new species is most related to the rare species G.centroptili Gauthier ex Manier & Lichtw. and G.stenospora White & Lichtw., but is differentiated by spore and thallial characteristics. Photographs are provided and biogeographic implications of these records are discussed.

Phlebovirus seroprevalence in Austrian Army personnel returning from missions abroad

Background

Phleboviruses are mainly transmitted by sand flies and infections can result in various symptoms, including meningitis and meningoencephalitis. In endemic regions, seroprevalences in humans and animals are high. Military personnel on missions in endemic areas are at increased risk of infection, however, for soldiers from central European countries, data are scarce. The aims of this study were to determine the exposure to phleboviruses of Austrian soldiers returning from missions abroad and to assess potential risk factors. A retrospective serological study was performed with sera of 753 healthy Austrian soldiers returning from missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH, n = 61), Kosovo (n = 261), Syria (n = 101) and Lebanon (n = 63) and of soldiers prior to their missions (n = 267).

Results

Altogether, 119 sera (15.8%, 119/753) were positive for anti-Phlebovirus IgG antibodies, with highest seroprevalences found in soldiers returning from Kosovo (20.69%, 54/261), followed by Syria (17.82%, 18/101), Lebanon (14.29%, 9/63) and BIH (11.48%, 7/61). Of the soldiers tested prior to their missions 11.61% (31/267) were positive. Of the 119 seropositive individuals, 30 (25.2%, 30/119) also had anti-Phlebovirus IgM antibodies. Phlebovirus seropositivity significantly correlated with symptoms of febrile illness during the respective mission (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–3.4, P = 0.03) and with Leishmania seropositivity (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.2–5.8, P = 0.009). Also, the outdoor activity “running” during the mission showed a strong trend towards an association with Phlebovirus seropositivity (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 0.9–4.4, P = 0.08), and seropositivity generally increased with the duration of a mission (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 0.9–7.5, P = 0.07).

Conclusions

This study indicates that soldiers are exposed to sand flies and at significant risk for Phlebovirus infection during missions in the Mediterranean area and the Middle East. Adequate prevention measures should be applied particularly during vespertine outdoor activities.

Checklist of the Sarcophagidae (Diptera) of Croatia, with new records from Croatia and other Mediterranean countries

An updated checklist of Croatian flesh flies is presented based on the literature, on material collected from 2004 to 2017, and on specimens in museum collections. The checklist comprises 22 genera and 148 species (two left unnamed), 105 of which are represented by new Croatian records. Twenty-five species are recorded from Croatia with certainty for the first time: Amobiapelopei (Rondani, 1859), Apodacraseriemaculata Macquart, 1854, Craticulinatabaniformis (Fabricius, 1805), Macronychiastriginervis (Zetterstedt, 1838), Metopiacampestris (Fallén, 1810), Miltogrammabrevipila Villeneuve, 1911, Miltogrammaiberica Villeneuve, 1912, Miltogrammaoestracea (Fallén, 1820), Miltogrammapunctata Meigen, 1824, Oebalia cylindrica (Fallén, 1810), Phyllotelespictipennis Loew, 1844, Senotainiaconica (Fallén, 1810), Taxigrammahilarella (Zetterstedt, 1844), Taxigrammastictica (Meigen, 1830), Agriamonachae (Kramer, 1908), Nyctialugubris (Macquart, 1843), Blaesoxipha (Blaesoxipha) aurulenta Rohdendorf, 1937, Blaesoxipha (Blaesoxipha) batilligera Séguy, 1941, Blaesoxipha (Blaesoxipha) plumicornis (Zetterstedt, 1859), Sarcophaga (Helicophagella) okaliana (Lehrer, 1975), Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) amita Rondani, 1860, Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) ancilla Rondani, 1865, Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) pseudobenaci (Baranov, 1942), Sarcophaga (Myorhina) lunigera Böttcher, 1914 and Sarcophaga (Stackelbergeola) mehadiensis Böttcher, 1912. Taxigrammahilarella, Nyctialugubris, Agriamonachae, Blaesoxipha (Blaesoxipha) aurulenta and Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) amita are recorded from Southeast Europe with certainty for the first time. The species Sarcophaga (Sarcophaga) hennigi Lehrer, 1978 is omitted from the list, as previous records from Croatia are shown to be based on an erroneous synonymy with Sarcophaganovaki Baranov, 1941 (= Sarcophaga (Sarcophaga) croatica Baranov, 1941). Blaesoxipha (Blaesoxipha) rufipes (Macquart, 1839) could not be confirmed from Croatia and is not included in the checklist. Three new synonymies are proposed: Golania Lehrer, 2000 = Thyrsocnema Enderlein, 1928, syn. nov., Parasarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) kovatschevitchi Strukan, 1970 = Sarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) marshalli Parker, 1923, syn. nov., and Sarcophagasubvicinassp.novaki Baranov, 1941 = Sarcophaga (Sarcophaga) croatica Baranov, 1941, syn. nov. As part of an effort to update the European distributions of all Croatian species, the following new national and regional records are also provided: Miltogrammabrevipila, Miltogrammataeniata Meigen, 1824 and Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) pandellei (Rohdendorf, 1937) new to Greece; Sarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) harpax Pandellé, 1896 and Sarcophaga (Sarcophaga) croatica new to Italy (respectively mainland and mainland and Sicily); Miltogrammaiberica new to Bulgaria and Sardinia; Pterellaconvergens (Pandellé, 1895) new to mainland Italy and Sicily; Nyctialugubris new to mainland Italy and Sardinia; Blaesoxipha (Blaesoxipha) litoralis (Villeneuve, 1911) new to Sardinia and thus confirmed for Italy; Apodacraseriemaculata, Macronychiastriginervis, Protomiltogrammafasciata (Meigen, 1824) and Blaesoxipha (Blaesoxipha) ungulata (Pandellé, 1896) new to Sardinia and Sicily; Macronychiadolini Verves & Khrokalo, 2006, Macronychiapolyodon (Meigen, 1824), Metopiaargyrocephala (Meigen, 1824), Senotainiaalbifrons (Rondani, 1859), Taxigrammamultipunctata (Rondani, 1859), Taxigrammastictica, Blaesoxipha (Blaesoxipha) unicolor (Villeneuve, 1912) and Sarcophaga (Helicophagella) agnata Rondani, 1860 new to Sardinia; Metopodiapilicornis (Pandellé, 1895), Miltogrammaoestracea, Miltogrammarutilans Meigen, 1824, Nyctiahalterata (Panzer, 1798), Blaesoxipha (Blaesoxipha) lapidosa Pape, 1994 and Blaesoxipha (Blaesoxipha) plumicornis new to Sicily.

A survey of parasitoids from Greece with new associations

We report 22 parasitoid species from Greece that have emerged from their hosts belonging to Blattodea, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera, including 12 Braconidae, one Eulophidae, one Evaniidae, seven Ichneumonidae, and one Tachinidae. Nine parasitoids are reported for the first time in Greece, i.e., three Ichneumonidae: Campoplexdifformis (Gmelin, 1790), Gelisalbipalpus (Thomson, 1884), and Lysibiatenax Townes, 1983; five Braconidae: Charmoncruentatus Haliday, 1833, Dendrosoterprotuberans (Nees, 1834), Dolichogenidealongipalpis (Reinhard, 1880), Ecphylussilesiacus (Ratzeburg, 1848), and Spathiuscurvicaudis Ratzeburg, 1844; and one Eulophidae: Melittobiaacasta (Walker, 1839). Nine of the 23 recorded parasitoid-host associations are new. These findings are discussed in relation to the overall related parasitoid-host associations in the target area, as well as the potential of parasitoid use in the biological control of pests.

Field observations and experiences gained from the implementation of control measures against lumpy skin disease in South-East Europe between 2015 and 2017

The first epidemics of lumpy skin disease (LSD) reported in Europe in 2015 severely affected the cattle farming sector in several Balkan countries. After the first incursion into Greece in 2015, the disease quickly spread across the Balkan region with over 7000 outbreaks reported by the end of 2016. Thanks to a coordinated regional control and eradication policy, the spread of the disease was halted by the end of 2017. Regional large-scale vaccination campaign with effective homologous vaccines and high vaccination coverage revealed to be essential for the successful control the disease, supported by other measures such as early detection of outbreaks, total or partial stamping out and restrictions on cattle movements. The aim of this paper is to discuss the field observations, challenges and lessons learnt while dealing with the first LSD epidemics in Europe. The cross-border collaboration by the veterinary authorities of all affected countries, coordinated by the European Commission and the technical support provided by many other international organizations played a fundamental role in stopping the spread of a disease that otherwise could have expanded further to the European territory causing a large damage to the whole European cattle farming industry. The experience obtained during the control of LSD epidemics indicates that in the future LSD spread can be effectively halted, provided that appropriate surveillance plans and vigilance remains in place in the areas at risk of re-incursion, especially those bordering endemic countries.

An update of the Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) checklist for the Balkans

BACKGROUND

The prime significance of species belonging to the genus Culicoides Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is their ability to transmit viruses such as bluetongue virus (BTV) to wild and domestic ruminants. Prior to 1998, BTV was considered exotic in Europe, but according to recent history of its outbreaks, it has become endemic in southern and eastern European countries circulating beyond its expected historical limits, into the Balkan region. The wind-borne long-distance dispersal of Culicoides spp. over water bodies and local spreading between farms emphasize the necessity of filling in the information gaps regarding vector species distribution. In most Balkan countries, data on Culicoides fauna and species distribution are lacking, or information is old and scarce.

RESULTS

During this study, 8586 specimens belonging to 41 species were collected. We present the first faunistic data on Culicoides species in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia. For other countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Croatia), all historical records were compiled for the first time and then expanded with our findings to various extents. In all countries, confirmed or suspected BTV vector species belonging to the subgenera Avaritia and Culicoides were collected. The total number of species sampled during our field collections was 20 in Bosnia and Herzegovina (15 new records), 10 in Bulgaria (2 new records), 10 in Croatia (5 new records), 13 in FYROM, 9 in Kosovo, 15 in Montenegro, and 28 in Serbia. Of these, 14 species were registered for the first time in this part of the Balkans.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper provides the first data about Culicoides fauna in FYROM, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as new records and an update on the checklists for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Croatia. These findings provide preliminary insights into the routes of BTV introduction and spreading within the Balkans, and present a valuable contribution to further research related to Culicoides-borne diseases in Europe.

Revision of the subterranean genus Spelaeodiscus Brusina, 1886 (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Spelaeodiscidae)

The Balkan genus Spelaeodiscus Brusina, 1886 is revised based on museum collections and newly collected samples from Montenegro and Albania. The following species and subspecies are introduced as new to science: Spelaeodiscus albanicus edentatus Páll-Gergely & P. L. Reischütz, ssp. n. (southern Montenegro and northern Albania), Spelaeodiscus densecostatus Páll-Gergely & A. Reischütz, sp. n., Spelaeodiscus hunyadii Páll-Gergely & Deli, sp. n., Spelaeodiscus latecostatus Páll-Gergely & Erőss, sp. n. (all three from southern Montenegro), Spelaeodiscus unidentatus acutus Páll-Gergely & Fehér, ssp. n., and Spelaeodiscus virpazarioides Páll-Gergely & Fehér, sp. n. (both from northern Albania). For all species and subspecies diagnoses and suggestions for conservation status assessments according to IUCN criteria are provided. An overview is given regarding the habitat preference of Spelaeodiscus species, and the "scratch and flotate" method to collect subterranean gastropods.

Exceptionally high levels of lead pollution in the Balkans from the Early Bronze Age to the Industrial Revolution

The Balkans are considered the birthplace of mineral resource exploitation and metalworking in Europe. However, since knowledge of the timing and extent of metallurgy in southeastern Europe is largely constrained by discontinuous archaeological findings, the long-term environmental impact of past mineral resource exploitation is not fully understood. Here, we present a high-resolution and continuous geochemical record from a peat bog in western Serbia, providing a clear indication of the extent and magnitude of environmental pollution in this region, and a context in which to place archaeological findings. We observe initial evidence of anthropogenic lead (Pb) pollution during the earliest part of the Bronze Age [∼3,600 years before Common Era (BCE)], the earliest such evidence documented in European environmental records. A steady, almost linear increase in Pb concentration after 600 BCE, until ∼1,600 CE is observed, documenting the development in both sophistication and extent of southeastern European metallurgical activity throughout Antiquity and the medieval period. This provides an alternative view on the history of mineral exploitation in Europe, with metal-related pollution not ceasing at the fall of the western Roman Empire, as was the case in western Europe. Further comparison with other Pb pollution records indicates the amount of Pb deposited in the Balkans during the medieval period was, if not greater, at least similar to records located close to western European mining regions, suggestive of the key role the Balkans have played in mineral resource exploitation in Europe over the last 5,600 years.

Taxonomic revision proves Trachusa pubescens (Morawitz, 1872) sensu lato to be a complex of allopatric and sympatric species in South-Eastern Europe and Western Asia (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Anthidiini)

Trachusa pubescens (Morawitz, 1872) s. l. has a distribution extending from south-eastern Europe over Anatolia and the Caucasus to Iran and Turkmenistan, and was formerly regarded as a species with high intraspecific variation. By means of an examination of 208 specimens from all parts of the distribution area, covering structural features of the head (mandibles, clypeus), the apical terga and the genitalia, the colouration pattern as well as a morphometric analysis of 26 body measurements with multivariate statistical methods (Principal Component Analysis, Discriminant Analysis), it was possible to assign the material to five species of which two are new to science (Trachusa balcanicasp. n. and T. hakkariensissp. n.). Two taxa which had previously been described as "variations" or subspecies are elevated to species rank: T. verhoeffi (Mavromoustakis, 1955), stat. n. and T. maxima (Friese, 1931), stat. n. Additionally, some populations can be distinguished by their colouration pattern or by subtle differences in size or body shape, but these features are apparently of no taxonomic significance at the species level. Trachusa balcanica sp. n. and T. verhoeffi have distribution areas which do not overlap with any of the other members of the species group and can thus be characterised as allospecies. By contrast, the distribution areas of the other three species, T. pubescens, T. maxima and T. hakkariensis sp. n., overlap to a certain extent and they co-exist at least to some degree in sympatry. While they have been found in the same region, they have so far never been found together at exactly the same location and it is suggested that species divergence occurred in parallel with ecological differentiation. Niche partitioning such as flower preferences is a mechanism which may be invoked to explain this. Some specimens with intermediate characters were found, particularly in contact zones, and it is thought that some hybridisation may occur. A partly melanistic individual of T. balcanicasp. n. was found, which is probably the first described melanistic individual in the tribe Anthidiini.

Small terrestrial mammals of Albania: distribution and diversity (Mammalia, Eulipotyphla, Rodentia)

In this paper new records are reported for 23 species of small terrestrial mammals (STM) of Albania collected during the field work campaigns organised in the framework of the project “Strengthening capacity in National Nature Protection – preparation for Natura 2000 network” (NaturAL) in Albania during the summer and autumn of 2016 and 2017 Data on small mammals were primarily collected through Sherman live-trapping campaigns in six high priority protected areas of Albania: Korab-Koritnik, Bredhi i Hotovës, Tomorri, Llogara-Karaburun, Divjakë-Karavasta, Liqeni i Shkodrës (Skadar lake), Lëpushë-Vermosh. Other data were obtained by analysis of owl pellets or by direct observation of individuals (dead or alive) in the field. For 21 species Erinaceusroumanicus, Neomysanomalus, Crocidurasuaveolens, Crociduraleucodon, Suncusetruscus, Talpastankovici/caeca, Myocastorcoypus, Sciurusvulgaris, Glisglis, Dryomysnitedula, Muscardinusavellanarius, Microtuslevis/arvalis, Microtussubterraneus, Microtusthomasi, Microtusfelteni, Myodesglareolus, Apodemussylvaticus, Apodemusflavicollis, Apodemusepimelas, Musmusculus, and Musmacedonicus additional records are provide and their distributions reviewed, while the presence of two new species of shrews (Sorexaraneus and Sorexminutus) for Albania is reported for the first time. A comprehensive review of the published and unpublished distribution records of STM species of the country is made, together with an updated checklist and distribution maps of the species.

The organic pollutant status of rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina as determined by a combination of active and passive sampling methods

There is an overall lack of data concerning the pollution status of Bosnia Herzegovina, which is confounded by fragmented national environmental management. The present study aimed to provide some initial data for concentrations of priority substances in two major Bosnian Rivers, using two types of passive sampler (PS) as well as by using high volume water sampling (HVWS). Overall, concentrations of most persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and legacy pesticides, were shown to be low. However, around the town of Doboj on the Bosna River, concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) breached European standards for several compounds and reached 67 ng L^-1 for freely dissolved concentrations and 250 ng L^-1 for total concentrations. In general, contamination was lower in the Neretva River compared to the Bosna, although for brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), results suggested an active source of PBDEs at one location based on the ratio of congeners 47 and 99. Direct comparisons between the different sampling techniques used are not straightforward, but similar patterns of PAH contamination were shown by HVWS and PS in the Bosna River. There are both scientific and practical considerations when choosing which type of sampling technique to apply, and this should be decided based on the goals of each individual study.

The trade of glass beads in early medieval Illyricum: towards an Islamic monopoly

The trade of glass beads has long been assumed to have been under Islamic dominance during the early centuries following the Arab conquest of the Middle East, judged by the prevalence of Islamic beads in the archaeological contexts from Viking Scandinavia to medieval Morocco. This paper explores the impact of the Byzantine-Slavic transition on the use and by extension trade of glass beads in the Balkans from the seventh to the ninth century CE. A series of 48 glass beads and 4 vessel fragments from two excavated sites in modern day Albania have been analysed morphologically, technologically and chemically by LA-ICP-MS. The seventh-century beads from Lezha have typological parallels among central European assemblages and are made from recycled natron-type glass. The presence of a high lead-iron-natron variant is of particular interest as it potentially reflects a regional production. The ninth-century beads from Komani are made from soda-rich plant ash glass from the eastern Mediterranean and Mesopotamia and correspond to an Islamic typology. The chronological and geographical differences are reflected in the distinctive cobalt sources used for the two groups. While the beads from Lezha are coloured with a cobalt not correlated with any particular element, the cobalt source of the Komani samples is associated with zinc, typical of Islamic glass making. It thus appears that the supply of beads during the seventh century when the Balkans were under Slavic occupation relied on regional production and recycled material, and that a long-distance trade with the eastern Mediterranean was revived following the Byzantine re-conquest of the south-eastern Adriatic in the ninth century. Intriguingly, the Albanian finds confirm the Islamic control of the production and trade of glass beads during this period and highlight the mediatory role of the Byzantine Empire.

Lifetime and past-year prevalence of children's exposure to violence in 9 Balkan countries: the BECAN study

BACKGROUND

Children's exposure to violence is a major public health issue. The Balkan epidemiological study on Child Abuse and Neglect project aimed to collect internationally comparable data on violence exposures in childhood.

METHODS

A three stage stratified random sample of 42,194 school-attending children (response rate: 66.7%) in three grades (aged 11, 13 and 16 years) was drawn from schools in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Greece, Romania, Serbia and Turkey. Children completed the ICAST-C questionnaire, which measures children's exposure to violence by any perpetrator.

RESULTS

Exposure rates for psychological violence were between 64.6% (FYROM) and 83.2% (Greece) for lifetime and 59.62% (Serbia) and 70.0% (Greece) for past-year prevalence. Physical violence exposure varied between 50.6% (FYROM) and 76.3% (Greece) for lifetime and 42.5% (FYROM) and 51.0% (Bosnia) for past-year prevalence. Sexual violence figures were highest for lifetime prevalence in Bosnia (18.6%) and lowest in FYROM (7.6%). Lifetime contact sexual violence was highest in Bosnia (9.8%) and lowest in Romania (3.6%). Past-year sexual violence and contact sexual violence prevalence was lowest in Romania (5.0 and 2.1%) and highest in Bosnia (13.6 and 7.7% respectively). Self-reported neglect was highest for both past-year and lifetime prevalence in Bosnia (48.0 and 20.3%) and lowest in Romania (22.6 and 16.7%). Experiences of positive parental practices were reported by most participating children in all countries.

CONCLUSIONS

Where significant differences in violence exposure by sex were observed, males reported higher exposure to past-year and lifetime sexual violence and females higher exposure to neglect. Children in Balkan countries experience a high burden of violence victimization and national-level programming and child protection policy making is urgently needed to address this.

Microevolution of the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) in the Southern Balkan Peninsula

Background

The noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) displays a complex historical and contemporary genetic status in Europe. The species divergence has been shaped by geological events (i.e. Pleistocene glaciations) and humanly induced impacts (i.e. translocations, pollution, etc.) on its populations due to species commercial value and its niche degradation. Until now, limited genetic information has been procured for the Balkan area and especially for the southernmost distribution of this species (i.e. Greece). It is well known that the rich habitat diversity of the Balkan Peninsula offers suitable conditions for genetically diversified populations. Thus, the present manuscript revisits the phylogenetic relationships of the noble crayfish in Europe and identifies the genetic make-up and the biogeographical patterns of the species in its southern range limit.

Results

Mitochondrial markers (i.e. COI and 16S) were used in order to elucidate the genetic structure and diversity of the noble crayfish in Europe. Two of the six European haplotypic lineages, were found exclusively in Greece. These two lineages exhibited greater haplotypic richness when compared with the rest four (of “Central European” origin) while they showed high genetic diversity. Divergence time analysis identified that the majority of this divergence was captured through Pleistocene, suggesting a southern glacial refugium (Greece, southern Balkans). Furthermore, six microsatellite markers were used in order to define the factors affecting the genetic structure and demographic history of the species in Greece. The population structure analysis revealed six to nine genetic clusters and eight putative genetic barriers. Evidence of bottleneck effects in the last ~5000 years (due to climatic and geological events and human activities) is also afforded. Findings from several other research fields (e.g. life sciences, geology or even archaeology) have been utilized to perceive the genetic make-up of the noble crayfish.

Conclusions

The southernmost part of Balkans has played a major role as a glacial refugium for A. astacus. Such refugia have served as centres of expansion to northern regions. Recent history of the noble crayfish in southern Balkans reveals the influence of environmental (climate, geology and/or topology) and anthropogenic factors.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-017-0971-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Origin and diversification of Lake Ohrid's endemic acroloxid limpets: the role of geography and ecology

BACKGROUND

Ancient Lake Ohrid, located on the Albania-Macedonia border, is the most biodiverse freshwater lake in Europe. However, the processes that gave rise to its extraordinary endemic biodiversity, particularly in the species-rich gastropods, are still poorly understood. A suitable model taxon to study speciation processes in Lake Ohrid is the pulmonate snail genus Acroloxus, which comprises two morphologically distinct and ecologically (vertically) separated endemic species. Using a multilocus phylogenetic framework of Acroloxus limpets from the Euro-Mediterranean subregion, together with molecular-clock and phylogeographic analyses of Ohrid taxa, we aimed to infer their geographic origin and the timing of colonization as well as the role of geography and ecology in intra-lacustrine diversification.

RESULTS

In contrast to most other endemic invertebrate groups in Lake Ohrid, the phylogenetic relationships of the endemic Ohrid Acroloxus species indicate that the Balkan region probably did not serve as their ancestral area. The inferred monophyly and estimated divergence times further suggest that these freshwater limpets colonized the lake only once and that the onset of intra-lacustrine diversification coincides with the time when the lake reached deep-water conditions ca 1.3 Mya. However, the difference in vertical distribution of these two ecologically distinct species is not reflected in the phylogeographic pattern observed. Instead, western and eastern populations are genetically more distinct, suggesting a horizontal structure.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that both geography and ecology have played a role in the intra-lacustrine speciation process. Given the distinct morphology (sculptured vs. smooth shell) and ecology (littoral vs. sublittoral), and the timing of intra-lacustrine diversification inferred, we propose that the onset of deep-water conditions initially triggered ecological speciation. Subsequent geographic processes then gave rise to the phylogeographic patterns observed today. However, the generally weak genetic differentiation observed suggests incipient speciation, which might be explained by the comparatively young age of the lake system and thus the relatively recent onset of intra-lacustrine diversification.

Extending knowledge of the public awareness of aphasia in the Balkans: Serbia and Montenegro

PURPOSE

Public awareness of aphasia has been surveyed in a number of countries revealing that it is universally low. We report results of surveys in the Balkan countries Serbia and Montenegro and compare results with data from Croatia and Slovenia.

METHODS

Convenience surveys of the general public were conducted in public places like shopping centers/malls and parks in Serbia (N = 400) and Montenegro (N = 500) using an adapted version of the public awareness of aphasia survey questionnaire. Respondents were asked whether they have heard of aphasia and tested with questions about aphasia. Information on gender, age, occupation and education was recorded.

OUTCOMES

Twelve percent (Serbia) and 11% (Montenegro) had heard of aphasia, but just 4% (Serbia) and 3.2% (Montenegro) had a basic knowledge of aphasia. Age, gender and occupation interacted variably with awareness. Between 16% (Slovenia) and 60% (Croatia) said they had heard of aphasia (10.5% overall mean for the four countries) and basic knowledge of aphasia across the four countries ranged between 3.2 and 7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Levels of awareness of aphasia in the Balkans are low and variably associated with age, gender, socio-economic and educational levels. Respondents with some knowledge of aphasia gained it through personal or professional interaction with aphasia or the media. The data provide a basis for awareness raising in Balkan countries to reduce stigmatization, improve community access and understanding. Implications for rehabilitation Awareness of aphasia is low universally, even among healthcare workers. Low public awareness of a condition, like aphasia, results in under-funded research and service provision. In order to raise public awareness of aphasia we need to know how many members of the general public know about it. Improvements in public awareness could positively affect funding, the quality of services, and the public understanding and acceptance of individuals with aphasia in the community. Improving awareness of aphasia in those who come into contact with aphasic people, like healthcare workers, could significantly improve the healthcare experience of people with aphasia and their families.

Geographically Related Variation in Epicuticular Wax Traits of Pinus nigra Populations from Southern Carpathians and Central Balkans - Taxonomic Considerations

The chemical composition of epicuticular waxes of nine populations from three Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold subspecies (namely subsp. nigra, subsp. banatica (Borbás) Novák, and subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe) from Southern Carpathians and central Balkan Peninsula were analyzed using GC/MS and GC/FID chromatography, and multivariate statistical techniques with respect to biogeography and taxonomy. In the needle waxes, four primary alcohols and 14 n-alkanes ranging from C21 to C33 were identified, and the most abundant compounds were the four odd-numbered n-alkanes C27 , C25 , C23 , and C29. Multivariate statistical analyses (CDA and CA) have shown existence of three P. nigra groups and suggested clinal differentiation as a mechanism of genetic variation across a geographic area: the first group consisted of the southernmost populations of subsp. pallasiana from Macedonia, the second consisted of the northernmost subsp. banatica populations from Romania, while all populations in Serbia described as three different subspecies (nigra, banatica, and pallasiana) formed the third group together with subsp. nigra population from Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to simple linear regression, geographic latitude and four bioclimatic parameters were moderately correlated with the contents of epicuticular wax compounds that are important in population discrimination, while stepwise multiple regression showed that latitude participated in most of the regression models for predicting the composition of the epicuticular waxes. These results agree with CDA and CA analysis, and confirmed the possibility of recognition of fine geographic differentiation of the analyzed P. nigra populations.

Eyeworm infections in dogs and in a human patient in Serbia: A One Health approach is needed

Thelazia callipaeda eyeworm has been frequently reported parasitizing humans in Asia. In Europe, the parasite is endemic in wild and domestic carnivores and only eight cases have been reported in humans so far. We describe the first case of human thelaziosis in Serbia, along with two cases in dogs from the same area. A One Health approach, based on cooperation amongst veterinarians and physicians, is strongly advised for this emerging infection in order to assess the risk for and prevent of the zoonotic infection.

Assessing the effect of agricultural land abandonment on bird communities in southern-eastern Europe

Agricultural land abandonment is recognized as a major environmental threat in Europe, being particularly pronounced in south-eastern Europe, where knowledge on its effects is limited. Taking the Balkan Peninsula as a case study, we investigated agricultural abandonment impact on passerine communities at regional level. We set up a standard methodology for site selection (70 sites) and data collection, along a well-defined forest-encroachment gradient that reflects land abandonment in four countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Greece. Regardless the different socio-economic and political histories in the Balkans that led to diverse land abandonment patterns in space and time, rural abandonment had a consistent negative effect on bird communities, while regional-level analysis revealed patterns that were hidden at local level. The general trends were an increase of forest-dwelling bird species at the expense of farmland birds, the decline of overall bird species richness, as well as the decline of Species of European Conservation Concern (SPECs) richness and abundance. Many farmland bird species declined with land abandonment, whereas few forest species benefited from the process. In conclusion, our results support CAP towards hampering rural land abandonment and preserving semi-open rural mosaics in remote upland areas, using a suite of management measures carefully tailored to local needs. The maintenance of traditional rural landscapes should be prioritized in the Balkans, through the timely identification of HNV farmland that is most prone to abandonment. We also suggest that coordinated transnational research is needed, for a better assessment of conservation options in remote rural landscapes at European scale, including the enhancement of wild grazers' populations as an alternative in areas where traditional land management is rather unlikely to be re-established.

Clinical and epidemiological features of Guillain-Barré syndrome in the Western Balkans

The aim of this study was to define features of Guillain-Barré syndrome in a large cohort of patients from three Western Balkans countries. Data from adult Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) cases from 2009 to 2013 were retrospectively obtained from all tertiary health care centers. During the 5-year period, 327 new cases of GBS were identified with a male to female ratio of 1.7 : 1. The most common GBS variants were demyelinating (65%) and axonal (12%). At nadir 45% of patients were chair-bound, confined to bed, or required assisted ventilation, while 5% died. The crude incidence of GBS in Serbia and Montenegro was 0.93 per 100,000 population, and age-adjusted incidence according to the world standard population was 0.86 per 100,000. Incidence was particularly high in 50- to 80-year-old men. Statistically significant seasonal variations of GBS were not observed. This study of patients with GBS in the Western Balkans allows us to prepare the health system better and to improve the management of patients. This study also opens opportunities for international collaboration and for taking part in the multinational studies on GBS.

Does the genetic structure of spring snail Bythinella (Caenogastropoda, Truncatelloidea) in Bulgaria reflect geological history?

Bythinella is a minute dioecious caenogastropod that inhabits springs in central and southern Europe. In the Balkans, previous studies have addressed its morphological and genetic differentiation within Greece and Romania while the Bulgarian species have remained poorly known. The aim of the present paper has been to expand the knowledge on the subject in Bulgaria. Shell morphology and anatomy of the reproductive organs were examined, and a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and the nuclear ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS-1) were sequenced from 15 populations. Additional sequences from eight previously studied populations were included in our analyses. Phylogenetic analyses revealed five main mitochondrial DNA clades, which were partly confirmed by analyses of the ITS-1 sequences. The genetic differentiation between the clades was found to be in the range p=2.4-11.8%. Most of the populations belonged to clade I, representing Bythinellahansboetersi, and were distributed in SW Bulgaria. Clades II and III inhabit areas adjacent to clade I and were most closely related with the latter clade. Much more distinct were clade V, found at one locality in NW Bulgaria, and clade IV, found at one locality in SE Bulgaria, close to the sea. Four populations were found in caves, but only one of these represented a distinct clade. Considering the observed pattern of interpopulation differentiation of Bythinella in Bulgaria, we can suppose that isolation between clades I, II and III may have been caused by glaciations during the Pleistocene. The time of isolation between the above three clades and clade IV coincides with the Messinian Salinity Crisis, and the time of isolation between the clade V and the other four most probably reflects the isolation of the Rhodopes from western Balkan Mts by the seawater of the Dacic Basin.

A hundred years of change in wild vegetable use in southern Herzegovina

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Wild vegetable mixes used in southern Europe are interesting from the pharmacological point of view, as they contain many species which have considerable nutritional and medicinal value, but some are potentially toxic to humans. Although many ethnobotanical studies document the rich tradition of using wild vegetables at the turn of the 20th and 21st century in the Mediterranean region, there is a dearth of older historical studies which could help us to assess the extent of Traditional Knowledge loss.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The aim of this study was to document the use of wild foods in an area of southern Herzegovina (in Bosnia-Herzegovina) and to compare it with a list of 27 taxa of wild green vegetables used there, compiled in 1913 by Vejsil Ćurčić. We carried out 49 interviews in the same area to estimate the current use and knowledge of wild foods.

RESULTS

Eighty-two species of wild food and herbal tea plants were recorded in the study. This includes 44 species whose wild leaves are used as salads or cooked side dishes, 17 species with edible fruits and 24 species whose leaves, shoots or flowers are used for everyday herbal teas. On average, 14.2 species (median=16.5) were listed per interview, including 9.0 species of wild vegetables. Out of 27 plant names mentioned 100 years ago - five remain unidentified. Out of the 22 species or species groups, which were identified, 18 are still used as wild vegetables (including five species used very rarely and known by very few people or only by one person). Nowadays, the most commonly used wild greens are: Dioscorea communis, Sonchus spp., Allium spp., Papaver rhoeas, Rumex pulcher, Silene latifolia, and Taraxacum spp.

CONCLUSIONS

Although we observed some changes in the names and uses of plants compared to the list from a hundred years ago, around three quarters of the taxa are still used to some extent nowadays.

Changing what it means to 'become a man': participants' reflections on a school-based programme to redefine masculinity in the Balkans

Calls to engage men and boys in efforts to promote health, prevent violence and advance gender equality have grown in recent years. However, there remains little evidence or reflection on how most effectively to change harmful norms related to masculinity. The study addresses this gap by exploring the perspectives of participants in the Young Men Initiative (YMI), an innovative programme that aimed to promote healthier masculinities among boys attending vocational high schools in several Balkan countries through educational workshops, residential retreats and a social marketing campaign. Qualitative data were collected through 37 in-depth interviews and 11 focus-group discussions with boys, youth facilitators and teachers. Findings from four schools (in Belgrade, Sarajevo, Prishtina and Zagreb) suggest that several elements of the programme resonated strongly with participants and supported their meaningful engagement in project activities. Five themes emerged as most salient in identifying how and why specific aspects of YMI positively influenced participants: personal reflection, experience-based learning, connections with youth facilitators, new peer groups and aspirational messaging. Building on these insights, the study highlights potentially useful strategies for other programmes seeking to reach boys and transform their understanding of masculinity.

An Albanian open source telemedicine platform

INTRODUCTION

The use of open source technologies to create collaboration platforms can produce huge advantages with small investment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We set up a telemedicine network for a healthcare district with typical centralization issues of developing countries. Our network was built using broadband Internet connection, and the digital divide in rural areas was reduced by means of wireless Internet connection. A software infrastructure was deployed on the network to implement the collaboration platform among different healthcare facilities.

RESULTS

We obtained an integrated platform with modest investment in hardware and operating systems and no costs for application software. Messaging, content management, information sharing, and videoconferencing are among the available services of the infrastructure. Furthermore, open source software is managed and continuously updated by active communities, making it possible to obtain systems similar to commercial ones in terms of quality and reliability.

CONCLUSIONS

As the use of free software in public administration is being widely promoted across the European Union, our experience may provide an example to implement similar infrastructures in the field of healthcare and welfare.