Rabies outbreak in Greece during 2012-2014: use of Geographical Information System for analysis, risk assessment and control

The objectives of this work were (i) geographical analysis of the 2012–2014 outbreak of rabies in Greece using GIS and (ii) comparative analysis of animal cases with data of potential human exposure to rabies together with environmental data, in order to provide information for risk assessment, effective monitoring and control. Most animal cases (40/48) involved red foxes, while domestic animals were also diagnosed with rabies. Overall, 80% of the cases were diagnosed in central northern Greece; 75% of the cases were diagnosed in low altitudes (<343·5 m), within a distance of 1 km from human settlements. Median distance from livestock farms was 201·25 m. Most people potentially exposed to rabies (889/1060) presented with dog bite injuries. Maximum entropy analysis revealed that distance from farms contributed the highest percentage in defining environmental niche profiles for rabid foxes. Oral vaccination programmes were implemented in 24 administrative units of the country during 2013 and 2014, covering a total surface area of ~60 000 km2. Rabies re-occurrence in Greece emphasizes the need for ongoing surveillance in cross-border areas and in areas with intense human activity

Demographic and energetic parameters of blackbird Turdus merula L. in an area of Central Greece

Abstract 240 blackbirds (Turdus merula L.) were collected from a Mediterranean ecosystem. More females were captured during afternoon hours and the total sex ratio of 105 males and 135 females slightly differs from the ratio of 1:1. The sex ratio did not differ seasonally. Body condition index, total body weight and stomach weight were not influenced by sex or hunting hours, but did increase significantly when temperature decreased and in February. Heart weight was higher in males than females

Hunting engagement and attitude to hunting management strategies

Abstract Aim of the present research is to analyze what strategies the hunters are willing to follow for the improvement of hunting management. Not all hunters are engaged with hunting in the same way and not all possible strategies are equally &quot;easy&quot; or &quot;desirable&quot;. The engagement of hunters with hunting activity differentiates their willingness to accept the difficulties connected with each hunting management strategy. Engagement is defined as a) the interest in hunting and b) the informing channel about hunting issues. 237 standardized questionnaires have been distributed to hunters of Macedonia and Thrace. It is shown that hunters who update frequently the hunting license desire the control of predators. Those who possess many guns are supporters of habitat improvement. The supporters of cross-bow do not desire quarry release as they prefer to test their skills. The supporters of rifle legalization are patient hunters who want to try their shooting skill. Based on their general principle of patience they also desire habitat improvement which is a long-term strategy. Similar results come about also in the case of air gun supporters. They desire predator control, as they normally hunt small species whose population is influenced by predators. Hunters interested in trying muzzle-loading gun show a moderate eco-centrism as they desire habitat improvement but not bars to roads. Printed communication means (magazines, books) is negatively correlated with the easy solution of release and encourages the acceptance of long-term and sustainable strategies (habitat improvement, feeding, predator control). Thus, printed communication means seem to disseminate the value of sustainability and patience. Other communication means like tv do not have similar effect

Do weather and moon have any influence on spotlighting mammals? The case of hare in upland ecosystem

Nocturnal spotlight survey is a common census technique for many mammal species. The influence of abiotic factors may be essential for the appropriate design of censuses, however this method has not been examined sufficiently in relation to abiotic factors such as weather conditions and the moon. We tested their influence for a commonly counted species, the brown hare (Lepus europaeus). Spotlight surveys were conducted at certain night time and transects in three upland Mediterranean areas, at different times of the year, different moon phases and under a variety of weather conditions. Wind speed and direction had an influence on hare counts with stronger winds resulted in fewer juvenile hares being observed, and more hares were counted when wind was blowing from the hare towards the vehicle. No significant effects were found from the other factors probably due to the intense relief and thick vegetation of the studied areas. © 2015, ALÖKI Kft

Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of West Nile virus lineage 2 in sedentary wild birds (Eurasian magpie), Greece, 2010

A West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 strain was molecularly identified and characterised in a Eurasian magpie hunted in Greece in 2010, during a WNV outbreak in humans. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the highest sequence similarity (> 99%) with other WNV lineage 2 strains derived from birds of prey in Austria and Hungary (2004-2009). This first molecular detection of WNV in sedentary wild birds in Greece, which are possible reservoirs of the virus, is a public health concern

Population density, roads and altitude influences on spatial distribution of hares positive to EBHSV

Understanding of the ecology of infected animals facilitates disease risk assessment and is also crucial for wildlife conservation. Relatively little is known about the spatial distribution of infected wild mammals in relation to environmental factors. In neighboring Mediterranean ecosystems 250 European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) were collected and examined with RT-PCR to detect European Brown Hare Syndrome Virus (EBHSV). Multivariate statistics and Geographical Information System (GIS) analysis were applied to estimate spatial patterns of biotic and abiotic factors and human activities as determinants of EBHSV positivity. Hare population abundance was estimated using faeces counts and belt drive censuses. The study showed that EBHSV infected hares had widespread distribution even in isolated areas. However, EBHSV infection prevalence was higher in areas with higher hare abundance, closer to paved road networks and at lower altitudes. The risk map revealed the potential distribution of EBHSV-infected hares. This study shows that host abundance and landscape influence the ecology of the disease, a finding that should be taken into account in future studies. The management of harvest and restocking of hares is also discussed for population conservation. © 201

Abiotic factors and autumn migration phenology of Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola Linnaeus, 1758, Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae) in a Mediterranean area

This research examines the relationship of abiotic factors to the autumn number increase of Eurasian woodcocks in a wintering area. Data on the number of woodcocks spotted per day using dogs for 12 years in an area of Macedonia are presented. From these records, we attempt to correlate the increase in number of woodcocks with moon phase, photoperiod, temperature, precipitation, visibility, wind intensity and barometric pressure. Meteorological data were obtained from five meteorological stations located in the study area, breeding areas and along the migration route. Descriptive and applied statistics [Factor Analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Binary Logistic Regression] were used for the analysis. Woodcock numbers increase significantly in October and November. Barometric pressure, wind and precipitation, as measured by the nearer climatic stations to the study area, influence the increase in number of woodcocks. The between-years analysis showed that woodcocks' arrival was delayed in warmer autumns. Correlating the numerical increase of woodcocks with abiotic factors is a complicated phenomenon, but the constructed model provides evidence for some patterns and it facilitates the design of a future study

DETECTION AND GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF PORCINE CIRCOVIRUS 2 ISOLATES FROM THE FIRST CASES OF POSTWEANING MULTISYSTEMIC AND WASTING SYNDROME IN WILD BOARS IN GREECE

In 2002, postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) was diagnosed in a European female wild boar (Sus scrofa), based on the detection of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) DNA in various organs, including the uterus, and on histopathologic lesions. This is the first detection of PCV2 DNA in the uterus of a wild boar. Three years later (2005), a wild boar < 6-8 mo of age was found moribund. It presented wasting and dyspnea and finally died. PCV2 DNA was detected in tissue samples, and histopathologic lesions consistent with PMWS were observed. Both wild boars were from neighboring hunting areas in central Greece. Two PCV2 strains from the wild boars were genetically characterized and compared to other reported PGV2 sequences from wild boars and domestic pigs. The PCV-2 sequences from the wild boars in this study were closely related to each other and were grouped with two isolates from wild boars from Hungary. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the virus might be transmitted between hunting areas. In addition, PCV2 may spread from domestic pigs to wild boars and vice versa