S U M M A R YEchinococcus granulosus sensu latu (s.l.) and Taenia hydatigena are common parasites of ruminant intermediate hosts in the Balkans. Transmission is linked mainly to home slaughtering and the feeding of infected organs to dogs. In Kosovo, many old sheep are slaughtered particularly during Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice). To determine whether this tradition could affect parasite transmission, we compared the probability of 504 dogs to contract taenid infections after deworming during one period before Eid al-Adha and a similar period beginning with this event. Initially, taeniid eggs were detected in 6·2% (CI 4·2-8·6) of the dogs. The prevalence before Eid al-Adha was significantly lower (1·2%, CI 0·4-2·6) as compared with the prevalence after the event (4·3%, CI 2·6-6·3). A comparable trend was apparent at species level for T. hydatigena and E. granulosus. These results indicate that the pronounced increase of taeniid infections, including E. granulosus s.l., after Eid al-Adha is linked to traditional home slaughtering that occurs during this celebration. This particular epidemiological situation provides an opportunity for implementing focussed control activities.

BackgroundThe poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae (D.g.) is a serious ectoparasitic pest of poultry and potential pathogen vector. The prevalence of D. g. and the prevalence of Salmonella spp. within mites on infested laying poultry farms were investigated in Kosovo.FindingsIn total, 14 populated layer farms located in the Southern Kosovo were assessed for D. g. presence. Another two farms in this region were investigated 6 months after depopulation. Investigated flocks were all maintained in cages, a common housing system in Kosovo. A total of eight farms were found to be infested with D. g. (50%) at varying levels, including the two depopulated farms. The detection of Salmonella spp. from D. g. was carried out using PCR. Out of the eight layer farms infested with D. g., Salmonella spp. was present in mites on three farms (37.5%).ConclusionsThis study confirms the high prevalence of D. g. in layer flocks in Kosovo and demonstrates the link between this mite and the presence of Salmonella spp. on infested farms.

Salmonella and the poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) remain very challenging diseases for the poultry industry worldwide because of the inefficiency of implementing and integrating eradication and control programs, which results in very high economic losses to the poultry industry. The aim of this study was to determine the association between biosecurity levels in layer farms and the occurrence of both D. gallinae and Salmonella spp., as well as the relationship between D. gallinae infestations on farms and Salmonella occurrence. For this purpose, 22 layer farms using the common battery cage housing system in different parts of Kosovo were randomly selected and analyzed for the presence of D. gallinae and Salmonella in samples, such as feces, water, feed, and dust. Two pooled samples of D. gallinae (2n = 100) were directly analyzed for the presence of Salmonella in the outer and inner parts of cuticula from D. gallinae. A chi-square test was used to determine the association between experience in poultry production, rearing, and level of different biosecurity elements in relation to the occurrence of D. gallinae and Salmonella. Dermanyssus gallinae was found on 15 farms, whereas Salmonella was found on eight of those 15 farms from different environmental samples and on one farm where D. gallinae was not found. In two pooled samples Salmonella was isolated directly from the inner part of the cuticula from D. gallinae, which represents the first direct isolation of Salmonella from D. gallinae mites. Association between the level of biosecurity and the occurrence of D. gallinae and Salmonella was strong. The study indicates that proper biosecurity measures should be in place to lower the occurrence of D. gallinae and Salmonella.

Water used in a modern poultry processing line was tested from October 2005 to June 2006 to determine the level of bacteria in an abattoir in Germany. A total of 420 water samples were taken from 14 processing sites (PSs), at 10 times, and from three different hours of the working shift at three sampling hours (SHs) at 5:00 a.m. (SH 1), 9:00 a.m. (SH 2) and 12:00 a.m. (SH 3). Each sample was assessed for the aerobic plate count (APC) and the prevalence of Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria and Yersinia over 30 sampling weeks. The APC numbers of each PS from three SHs were compared, and the prevalence of Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria and Yersinia from each PS of three SHs was determined as well as change from the initial PS to the end of the processing line. A total of 46 water samples were positive for Salmonella, 120 positive for Campylobacter and 4 positive for Listeria. None of the water samples was found to be positive for Yersinia. During the course of the day, the APC increased. Salmonella was mostly found during SH 1 (5 a.m.) in water from all PSs. A high number of Campylobacter were observed at SH 2 (9 a.m.) and SH 3 (12 a.m.) from all PSs. The results show that water, which is still used in substantial amounts in present poultry processing technology, can serve as a carrier for Salmonella and Campylobacter. The findings indicate that birds might progressively contaminate the equipment and become contaminated via the same equipment, that water at every processing position of the line constitutes a risk and that more attention should be paid to effective water management in the processing plan.

, 2016. Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates from subclinical mastitis in dairy farms in Kosovo. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 19, No 4,[299][300][301][302][303][304][305][306][307] The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows in Kosovo and the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated bacteria. Six hundred and twenty four milk samples from individual quarters of 156 lactating cows were tested using California Mastitis Test (CMT) and the positive samples were further analysed using conventional methods for isolation of main mastitis causing agents and finally identified using biochemical tests. The overall prevalence of subclinical mastitis was 25.6%. Twenty one mastitis positive cows belonged to Holstein Friesian breed, 11 to Simmental and 8 were crossbred. Regarding age susceptibility, 13 cows resulting positive in the CMT test were 2-5 years of age and the other 27: 6-9 years of age. A total of 112 bacterial isolates were recovered. The most prevalent species were Staphylococcus aureus (28.6%) followed by coagulase negative staphylococci (21.4%), E. coli (13.4%), Streptococcus agalactiae (14.3%), Streptococcus dysgalactiae (3.6%), Streptococcus uberis (6.2%), Corynebacterium spp. (8%), and Bacillus spp. (4.5%). The isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test using the disc diffusion method. In vitro tests of bacterial isolates revealed higher sensitivity to amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, oxytetracycline, trimethoprim and gentamicin. The lowest susceptibility was shown to penicillin and streptomycin except for Corynebacterium spp. and Bacillus spp.