Is supplementary feeding essential for red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Hungary?

Practical deer management requires understandingthe relationship between the quantity and quality of the available food and resource use by deer in the habitat. Although red deer (Cervus elaphus) primarily forages on woody plant species from the shrub layer, supplementation by non-browse food is very common among game managers. Provision of extra food in addition \ud to the natural supply has significant costs. Consequently, it is important to know how essential this feeding may be for populations of game like red deer. In our study area we determined the consumption by red deer of two feed types (maize silage and apple pomace which is the residue from pressing apples) commonly offered at feeding plots in Hungary during the winter. Additionally, we assessed the minimum distance for these feeders to have an attractive effect. We used microhistological analysis of faeces and rumen content and macroscopic observation of markers mixed into the food. Based on our analyses, 20 to 90% of the red deer (depending on the date and method of investigation) had eaten the supplemental food. However, the proportion of supplementary food in the red deer droppings collected in the immediate surroundings of the feeding plots was always very low (<10%). The detected range of effect of the feeding plots (the distance from which deer came to the feeder) was typically around 1.7 km, but no more than 3.2 km. All this indicates that only a part of the red deer population visits the feeding plots, and from short distances from the forest. Thus, our data strongly suggests that supplementary food did not necessarily play an important role in the diet of the red deer individuals regularly visiting these sites. Managers considering supplementary feeding should evaluate the quality of the forest area because the natural food supply can greatly influence the use of the feeding plots

Növényevő nagyvadak rágáspreferenciái, mint a táplálkozási igények indikátorai.

Traditional clearcutting system homogenise forest habitats (one tree species, one age class, understory destroyed), which will be more sensitive to other human and natural impacts, such as the effect of large herbivores. Since forest game damage is a very important problem in Hungary, we hypothesised that the main target tree species (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. and Robinia pseudoacacia ) are strongly preferred as browsed forage. Therefore, our study question was which woody species are selected by game browsing: 1. native (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp.) or non-native target tree species (Robinia pseudoacacia ) 2. other economically non or less relevant woody species. We have collected data on the species composition of the understory and the browsing impact on it in five different Hungarian even-aged forests between 2003 and 2005. Based on these investigations the non-native Robinia pseudoacacia was generally preferred (Jacobs’ selectivity index: D=0,04±0,77), meanwhile the native Fagus sylvatica and Quercus spp. (Q. cerris, Q. petraea, Q. robur) were avoided (D= -0,37±0,11; -0,33±0,85; -0,79±0,56; -0,9±0,16; respectively) among target tree species. However, economically less or not relevant species, e.g. elderberry (Sambucus spp.), blackberry (Rubus spp.) or common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) were the most preferred ones (D=0,01±0,71; -0,12±0,58; -0,2±0,78, respectively). Our results clearly show that biodiversity conservation i.e. maintaining or establishing a multi-species understory layer can be a good solution to diminish the negative game impact on native target tree species. Due to its preference selective browsing can mitigate the penetration of Robinia pseudoacacia into native forest habitats. The herbivorous selection pattern revealed will help us in forest biodiversity conservation by facilitating positive and mitigating negative impacts of selective browsing by ungulates

Multiple SARS-CoV-2 Introductions Shaped the Early Outbreak in Central Eastern Europe: Comparing Hungarian Data to a Worldwide Sequence Data-Matrix

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 is the third highly pathogenic human coronavirus in history. Since the emergence in Hubei province, China, during late 2019, the situation evolved to pandemic level. Following China, Europe was the second epicenter of the pandemic. To better comprehend the detailed founder mechanisms of the epidemic evolution in Central-Eastern Europe, particularly in Hungary, we determined the full-length SARS-CoV-2 genomes from 32 clinical samples collected from laboratory confirmed COVID-19 patients over the first month of disease in Hungary. We applied a haplotype network analysis on all available complete genomic sequences of SARS-CoV-2 from GISAID database as of 21 April 2020. We performed additional phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses to achieve the recognition of multiple and parallel introductory events into our region. Here, we present a publicly available network imaging of the worldwide haplotype relations of SARS-CoV-2 sequences and conclude the founder mechanisms of the outbreak in Central-Eastern Europe

Ungulate browsing shapes climate change impacts on forest biodiversity in Hungary

Climate change can result in a slow disappearance of forests dominated by less drought-tolerant native European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and oak species (Quercus spp.) and further area expansion of more drought-tolerant non-native black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) against those species in Hungary. We assumed that the shift in plant species composition was modified by selective ungulate browsing. Thus, we investigated which woody species are selected by browsing game. We have collected data on the species composition of the understory and the browsing impact on it in five different Hungarian even-aged forests between 2003 and 2005. Based on these investigations the non-native Robinia pseudoacacialiving under more favourable climatic conditions was generally preferred (Jacobs’ selectivity index: D=0.04±0.77), while the nativeFagus sylvatica and Quercus spp. (Q. petraea, Q. robur), both more vulnerable to increasing aridity, were avoided (D=-0.37±0.11;-0.79±0.56;-0.9±0.16; respectively) among target tree species. However, economically less or not relevant species, e.g. elderberry (Sambucus spp.), blackberry (Rubus spp.) or common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) were the most preferred species (D=0.01±0.71; -0.12±0.58; -0.2±0.78, respectively). Our results imply that biodiversity conservation, i.e. maintaining or establishing a multi-species understory layer, can be a good solution to reduce the additional negative game impact on native target tree species suffering from drought. Due to preference for Robinia pseudoacaciaselective browsing can decelerate the penetration of this species into native forest habitats. We have to consider the herbivorous pressure of ungulates and their feeding preferences in planning our future multifunctional forests in the light of climate change impacts

Rare extraintestinal infection caused by toxin-producing Clostridium difficile

Toxigenic Clostridium difficile is a well known cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea mainly among hospitalized patients, at the same time we have little information about extraintestinal infections caused by this bacterium. We report here on rare extraintestinal infection caused by toxigenic C. difficile: 31-year-old male, accident victim was admitted to the hospital because of polytrauma. Microbiological examination of the pus revealed a toxin-producing C. difficile as an etiologic factor of this infection. Empiric antibiotic treatment with cefuroxime had been administered right after the positive microbiological result. On the basis of antibiotic susceptibility testing, the isolated strain was susceptible to most antimicrobials, except from cefoxitin, thus cefuroxime was changed to imipenem. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd

Diagnostic pitfalls in a young Romanian ranger with an acute psychotic episode

The identification and distinction of the pathological conditions underlying acute psychosis are often challenging. We present the case of a 35-year-old ranger who had no history of acute or chronic infectious disease or any previous neuropsychiatric symptoms. He arrived at the Psychiatry Clinic and was admitted as an emergency case, displaying bizarre behavior, hallucinations, paranoid ideation, and delusional faults. These symptoms had first appeared 7 days earlier. An objective examination revealed abnormalities of behavior, anxiety, visual hallucinations, choreiform, and tic-like facial movements. After the administration of neuroleptic and antidepressant treatment, he showed an initial improvement, but on day 10 entered into a severe catatonic state with signs of meningeal irritation and was transferred to the intensive care unit. An electroencephalogram showed diffuse irritative changes, raising the possibility of encephalitis. Taking into consideration the overt occupational risk, Borrelia antibody tests were prescribed and highly positive immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG titers were obtained from serum, along with IgG and antibody index positivity in cerebrospinal fluid. In parallel, anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibodies and a whole battery of other autoimmune encephalitis markers showed negative. A complex program of treatment was applied, including antibiotics, beginning with ceftazidime and ciprofloxacin - for suspected aspiration bronchopneumonia - and thereafter with ceftriaxone. A gradual improvement was noticed and the treatment continued at the Infectious Disease Clinic. Finally, the patient was discharged with a doxycycline, antidepressant, and anxiolytic maintenance treatment. On his first and second control (days 44 and 122 from the disease onset), the patient was stable with no major complaints, Borrelia seropositivity was confirmed both for IgM and IgG while the cerebrospinal fluid also showed reactivity for IgG on immunoblot. On the basis of the putative occupational risk, acute psychotic episode, and the success of antibiotic therapy, we registered this case as a late neuroborreliosis with atypical appearance