Background: According to the WHO (2019), more than 1.5 billion people worldwide are infected with soil-transmitted parasites. Previous research in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H) was mainly conducted in the area of the Sarajevo Canton. Therefore, the aim of the research was to explore contamination of soil and vegetation with developmental forms of parasites in the other cantons of FB&H. Methods: Between Apr and Oct 2018, a total of 1,618 soil and vegetation samples were taken from 386 different locations in the 9 cantons of the FB&H. Results: Positive samples were observed, 65/66 (98.48%) municipalities/cities and on 239/386 (61.92%) locations. Out of 1,618 samples taken in total (1,263 soil samples and 355 vegetation samples), 357 (22.06%) were positive, out of which 337 (26.68%) and 20 (5.63%) were soil and plant samples, respectively. In total, the following adult and developmental forms were identified: Taeniidae eggs (7.30%), Toxocara spp. eggs (62.08%), Ancylostomatidae eggs (25.00%), Trichuris spp. eggs (9.55%), Capillaria spp. eggs (3.37%), Toxascaris leonina eggs (1.40%), Nematodes larvae (19.38%), Giardia duodenalis cysts (5.06%), Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts (1.4%), oocysts and cysts of different species of Protozoa (3.93%). Conclusion: The identified developmental forms of parasites pose a permanent threat to human health. It is necessary to carry out measures to reduce the contamination of soil and vegetation in coordination with systematic solutions (legislation), paralelly with contribution of animal owners, veterinarians, physicians, ecologists, parents and all the others involved in this issue.

Abstract More than 30 dog parasite species have been identified in Bosnia and Herzegovina so far, and half of these are zoonotic. The aim of the study was to investigate the occurrence of parasitic infections in dogs from Bosnian-podrinje canton with a focus on zoonotic parasites. The study included 212 dogs (107 owned and 105 stray). One or more of the twenty parasite species were found in 82.55% of tested samples. Dicrocoelium dendriticum (Class Trematoda) was found in 0.94% of dogs. Dipylidium caninum and Mesocestoides lineatus (Class Cestoda) were found in 7.55% and 0.94% of dogs, respectively. Taenia spp. and Echinococcus spp. (Family Taeniidae) were found in 0.47% and 0.94% of samples, respectively. In the family of Nematoda, the following parasite species were identified with corresponding percent among tested dogs: Toxocara canis (25.94%), Toxascaris leonine (8.96%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.47%), Ancylostoma caninum (3.77%), Uncinaria stenocephala (52.36%), Trichuris vulpis (22.17%), Eucoleus aerophilus (1.42%), Dirofilaria immitis (1.89%) and Dirofilaria repens (1.42%). In the kingdom of Protozoa, the following parasite species were identified with corresponding percent among tested dogs: Cystoisospora canis (8.49%), C. ohioensis (2.36%), Cryptosporidium spp. (4.72%), Sarcocystis spp. (0.47%), Babesia spp. (5.19%), and Giardia duodenalis (15.57%). Leishmania infantum was not identified in tested samples. The results showed a high level of parasitic infestation in the dog population in the Bosnian-Podrinje canton, with a high occurrence of zoonotic parasites. Significant differences were found between owned and stray dogs for all classes of detected parasites with exception of the class Trematoda, disregarding specific parasite species.

In the present study modern technology of DNA extraction and automatic genotyping was applied in Bosnian and Herzegovinian autochthonous horse breed by using 17-Plex horse genotyping kit. The study was aimed at investigating usefulness of the 17-plex STR Kit for Bosnian mountain horse genotyping and establishing highly useful microsatellite markers system for genetic diversity studies in Bosnian mountain horse breed. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood collected from 22 unrelated Bosnian mountain horse specimens. A total of 95 alleles were detected. Average number of detected alleles per locus was 5.588, varying from 3 (HTG7) to 10 (ASB17). Average effective number of alleles was 3.603, fluctuating from 1.789 (HMS7) to 5.728 (HMS2). The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.136 (HMS3) to 0.909 (ASB2) with a mean of 0.631. The results indicate that the studied population originates from the appropriate number of parent generations. The mean expected heterozygosity was 0.690, varying from 0.441 (HMS7) to 0.853 (ASB17) indicating high genetic variability within Bosnian mountain horse population. The PIC values ranged from 0.409 (HMS7) to 0.837 (ASB17) with a mean of 0.643, suggesting that 94.12% markers were quite informative in terms of their suitability for genetic diversity studies .The most polymorphic locus was HMS2 and the least polymorphic locus was HMS7. The inbreeding coefficient ranged from -0.030 (HMS7) to 0.807 (HMS3) with a mean of 0.077. Inbreeding coefficient values indicated no shortage of heterozygotes in Bosnian mountain horses. Deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p<0,05) was found in three loci (HTG10, HMS3 and ASB17). The applied set of 17 microsatellite markers proved to be sufficiently specific for use in genotyping of Bosnian mountain horse. Considering the values of HO, HEand PIC over 0.6, five microsatellite markers system (HTG4, AHT4, AHT5, ASB2, HMS2) is considered to be highly useful for genetic diversity studies in Bosnian mountain horse breed.

The aim of the present study was to investigate values of hematological and some biochemical parameters of autochthonous Bosnian mountain horse breed by revealing the differences related to age and gender. These horses are adapted to specific environmental and climatic conditions in the region and their blood parameters might differ from other horse breeds. Blood samples were collected on stud farm “Borike” from 30 clinically healthy adult horses of both gender (16 females and 14 males), aged between two and twenty-three years. Horses were grouped in three age classes: young mature horses (2-6 years, n=10), middle age horses (7-14 years, n=10) and old horses (>14 years, n=10). A total of eleven hematological and twelve biochemical parameters were analyzed. Gender significantly affected LYM (p=0.009), EOS (p=0.016), UREA (p=0.018), P (p=0.028), TBIL (p=0.048) and AMYL (p=0.033) levels. Values of UREA, TBIL and AMYL were significantly higher in males, while values of LYM, EOS and P were significantly higher in females. Age significantly affected GLU (p=0.019) and UREA (p=0.001) levels. Values of GLU were significantly lower in middle age horses than in old horses while values of UREA were significantly lower in young mature horses than in middle age and old horses. UREA was the only parameter affected by both age and gender. Results obtained in the present study showed that gender had much more powerful effect on the investigated parameters in clinically healthy adult Bosnian mountain horses then did the age.

Scientific knowledge about the predispositions of Bosnian native breeds of sheep (Dubska) for the production of milk and milk products until recently were quite sparse and very scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the biochemical indicators and serum minerals, for monitoring the nutritional status. Until now subject research did not include testing of the effect of biochemical parameters and hormonal status of the blood of sheep on the quality of milk and milk products. Persistence of this connection is justified by the fact that most of the ingredients of milk just derived from the blood. The main objective of this research was to explore metabolic parameters of sheep’s blood, and their relative importance on the quality and quantity of milk components. The study included a total of 127 sheep blood samples from two different areas (Livno and Travnik) in summer feeding period (July, August and September). The animals were marked with the appropriate number of ear tags on the basis of which we always took samples from the same animals through different periods. In sheep blood serum, the concentration of biochemical parameters (glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, urea, AST, ALT, AP, GGT, LDH, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium) and metabolic hormones (triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and insulin cortisol), and samples of milk: milk parameters (milk fat, lactose and protein) as well as fatty acid composition of the milk. The concentrations of blood biochemical parameters were determined by spectrophotometry with automated analysis with ready-made package of slides. Concentrations of metabolic hormones (T3, T4, cortisol and insulin) in the serum were determined by ELISA method. The percentages of fat, protein and lactose in milk were determined by infrared spectrophotometry. Fatty acids in milk were determined by gas chromatography (GC). Our research showed hypoglicemia, mild hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia probably due to nutritional deificiencies during lactation period. Negative energy balance could be responsabile for changes found in the cholesterol concentration as well as in the activity of ALT, AST, GGT, LDH. Significant differences in milk fat and milk protein, as well as fatty acids composition were determined between localities and season sampling. In general, our results showed varriation of blood biochemistry and milk quality. Due to differencies in climate, botanical differences of soil and pasture these variations are considered to be acceptable. Statistical analysis was performed using the software package SPSS 15.00 (for biochemical paramters and parameters of milk) and 21.00 (for metabolic hormones and fatty acid composition of the milk).

The serum concentrations of hormones are widely used to diagnose thyroid and adrenocortical diseases in animals. The objectives of the present study were, for the first time, to determine serum thyroxine (T4) and cortisol values in Bosnian and Herzegovinian mountain horses, and to investigate the influences of age and gender on T4 and cortisol levels. Blood samples were collected on the stud farm Borike from 23 apparently healthy horses of both sexes aged between two and twenty-three years. Horses were grouped in three age classes: young mature horses, middle-aged horses and old horses. Serum samples were analyzed for T4 and cortisol concentrations. The T4 values ranged from 6 to 45 nmol/L with a mean ±SD of 22.83±8.32 nmol/L. The cortisol values ranged from 149 to 190 nmol/L with a mean ±SD of 171.57±11.46 nmol/L. Values of T4 decreased with increasing age (p=0.021). Mean value of T4 in young mature horses was 27.60 nm/L, in middle-aged horses was 19.40 nm/L and in old horses was 18.33 nm/L. Values of T4 were significantly higher (p=0.031) in females (24.88 nm/L) than in males (18.14 nm/L). Negative significant correlation between age and hormone concentration was observed for T4 (r = -0.431; p = 0.040). Differences between gender or age classes for cortisol values were not significant. The mean total serum T4 and cortisol values in Bosnian and Herzegovinian mountain horses were in the normal reference ranges for horses, and both age and gender significantly affected T4 levels.