Mediterranean monk seals (MMS) are among the most endangered marine mammals on Earth. We screened mitochondrial variability (control region [CR1] and mitogenomes) of the species through a 180‐yr timeframe and extended by 20% (n = 205) the number of samples from a previous investigation, including historical specimens from 1833 to 1975. Although we detected two new, rare CR1 haplotypes, genetic diversity remained extremely low. Fully resolved haplotype median network and rarefaction analysis both suggested low probability for further unscreened haplotypes. There was no clear phylogeographic structure across the 12 marine subdivisions covered by the species’ range. Haplotypes previously considered diagnostic of the extant North Atlantic and eastern Mediterranean populations had their distributions extended into the western Mediterranean and the North Atlantic, respectively, by both historical and recent samples. Our study suggests that MMS have been genetically depauperate since at least the mid‐19th century, and that the massive 1997 die‐off in Western Sahara (North Atlantic) could have caused local haplotype extinctions. Our results support the hypothesis of past metapopulation dynamics across the species range, where the current segregation into geographically distant and genetically depauperate breeding populations (i.e., North Atlantic and eastern Mediterranean Sea) derives from the combined effects of historical extinctions, genetic drift on small breeding groups, and persistently low levels of genetic diversity.

Introduction The grey wolf (Canis lupus) is the natural host of many parasites. These animals travel quite long distances to search for prey and nests, causing parasites to spread over large areas; therefore, determination of the parasites carried by grey wolves is important. Methods In this study, we used both morphological and molecular methods for parasitological identification of helminth species. For this purpose, the material obtained after necropsy was examined by macroscopic, microscopic, and molecular (multiplex PCR and DNA sequencing) methods. Results No pathological lesions and parasites were detected in the macroscopic examination of the trachea, lungs, heart, liver, spleen, stomach, and kidneys. The parasites collected from the intestines and diaphragm muscles were identified as Taenia hydatigena, Mesocestoides litteratus and Trichinella britovi. Conclusion The aim of this study was to determine the helminth species in a dead grey wolf from wildlife. To the best of our knowledge, with this study, Taenia hydatigena, Mesocestoides litteratus and Trichinella britovi were detected for the first time in a grey wolf in Turkey.

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Background/aim: SARS-CoV-2 disease was announced as a pandemic by The World Health Organization in on early 2020. It is still threatening the world population. Here, we aimed to produce hyperimmune sera that contain immunoglobulin G and F(ab')2 fragments sourced from horse antibodies as an urgent response to the pandemic.Materials and methods: SARS-CoV-2 was produced and inactivated with three different methods [formaldehyde (FA), formaldehyde, and binary ethylene amine (FA+BEI), and heat treatment]. After invitro in vitro inactivation control, immunogens were mixed with Freund's adjuvant, thereafter horses (n: 2 for FA, 4 for FA + BEI, 2 for Heat inactivation) and New Zealand rabbits (n: 6 for FA, 6 for FA + BEI, 6 for Heat inactivation) were immunized four times. Neutralizing antibody levels of the sera were measured at the 4 th , 6 th , and 8 th weeks. When the antibodies were detected at the peak level, plasma was collected from horses and hyperimmune sera procured after the purification process.Results: Horses and rabbits produced highly neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 in FA and FA + BEI inactivation groups, foreign proteins were removed effectively after purification. Conclusion:This study presents a profitable practice to develop horse-specific antisera against SARS-CoV-2 for emergency and low-cost response. In further studies, new purification methods can be used to increase the efficiency of the final product.

An adult, female harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena relicta) was found stranded on the southern Aegean Sea coast of Turkey. Thirteen holes made by copepods were observed on the lateral sides of the porpoise. The copepods were identified as Pennella balaenopterae, based on the morphological characteristics and measurement. Tissue samples were collected from embedded parts of parasites, histopathologically examined and panniculitis findings were observed. Although this parasite copepod had been reported on several marine mammals, this is the first report in the harbour porpoise, and in the Aegean Sea.

Genetic population structure of geographically isolated endangered Black Sea harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena relicta) is little known in Turkish waters, especially in the Turkish Straits System (TSS- Marmara Sea, Bosphorus and Dardanelles), which connects the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea. Mitochondrial DNA sequences of 70 new individuals sampled in the Turkish Black Sea, TSS and Aegean Sea, revealed five new haplotypes from the Black Sea. The findings support the idea that harbor porpoises from the Black Sea dispersed into the Aegean through the TSS. Considering signatures of population expansion, all subpopulations showed a signature of population expansion. The network data and the Фst calculations indicated that the Marmara Sea subpopulation was significantly differentiated from all of the other subpopulations, and supports the notion of its isolated. The finding of a potential management unit (MU) within an already heavily impacted subpopulation as a whole suggests that the individuals of P. p. relicta inhabiting the Marmara Sea require a very rigorous conservation strategy to ensure the survival of this subpopulation, represented by its unique haplotype.

Bu araştırma sığırların önemli atık etkenlerinden biri olan Neospora caninum'un atık yapmış sığırlardaki yaygınlığının araştırılması amacıyla yapıldı. Bu amaçla, atık geçmişi ile Veteriner Kontrol Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü Müdürlüğü'ne 25 ilden gönderilen 986 sığır kan serumu N. caninum antikorları yönünden competitive ELISA (c-E-LISA) ile tarandı ve örneklerde %32,35 (319/986) oranında N. caninum tespit edildi. Sığır çiftliklerinde N. caninum kaynaklı enfeksiyonlarda atıklara ilave olarak süt verimlerinde azalmaya, döl tutma problemine bağlı olarak erken damızlıktan çıkarmaya ve persiste enfekte buzağıların doğmasına neden olarak ciddi ekonomik kayıplara yol açmaktadır.

Animal welfare targets a life free of unfavourable feelings such as pain, suffering and stress, and the lack of any response to stress in animals is considered an indicator of welfare. Metabolic changes occur in animals depending on the severity of the stress (Avcı et al., 2008). Humoral immune responses in sheep are indicative of relative stress caused by both physical and emotional changes (Caroprese et al., 2006). It was reported that stress affects living life and productivity, causing negative consequences such as lipid peroxidation, protein denaturation and DNA mutations in cells and eventually reduced meat quality (Avcı et al., 2008). On the other hand, the oxidant-antioxidant balance may be disrupted in favour of free radicals as a result of the increase in enzyme activities such as lactic acid, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase as well as the increased levels of epinephrine and other catecholamines due to stress (Çetin et al., 2011). Sedatives, dopamine, opioids, central nervous system depressants, hormonal drugs, vitamins, minerals and amino acids are widely used to reduce the physiological and biochemical effects of stress in pets (Avcı et al., 2008).