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.

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The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, and Cd) in the soil and earthworm body (Lumbricus terrestris), as well to estimate Bioaccumulation Factor (BAF) in earthworm body. The soil and earthworm samples were taken three times, from March to June 2018, in six different locations in Kosovo (Mitrovicë, Kishnicë, Kastriot, Barilevë, Drenas and Lipjan) and were brought to the laboratory for heavy metal analysis. Concentrations of heavy metals in soil and earthworm samples were determined by an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) Perkin-Elmer brand model 1100 (Boston, MA, USA). Mean heavy metal concentration in soils were, 0.03-0.78mg/kg, 70.62-264.29mg/kg, 18.96-82.24mg/kg, 0.11-0.52 and 0.03-0.42mg/kg for Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, and Cd respectively. The mean concentration range recorded in earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) were 0.02-0.42mg/kg for Cu, 53.11-205.31mg/kg for Fe, 15.74-53.15mg/kg for Zn, 0.07-0.43mg/kg for Pb, and 0.01-0.37mg/kg for Cd. Based on the results obtained it was shown that there are statistically significant differences of different levels of significance regarding the content of heavy metals according to locality (Factor A), substrate (Factor B), heavy metal (Factor C) and factor interactions (A*B), (A*C), (B*C), and (A*B*C). The accumulation of heavy metals in earthworm samples maintains the same profile as mean heavy metal concentration of the soil Fe>Zn>Pb>Cu>Cd. Since some organisms like reptiles, birds and some other vertebrates feed on earthworms, transfer of these metals across the food chain is most likely, and therefore this research will be useful for risk assessment by relevant institutions responsible for the monitoring and surveying of environmental pollution and food security and safety in Kosovo.

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The aim of this study was to assess the presence of metals in three regions of Kosovo using chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) breast feathers collected from the industrial regions of Mitrovica and Obiliq and the non-industrial region of Dragash. This study was carried out from September to November 2016, and feathers were collected from 90 individual domestic chickens housed as free range. The concentrations of metals in the chicken feathers were determined with atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The range of average measured concentrations of metals (µg g -1 ) in examined regions were: