Surveillance for influenza A viruses in wild birds has increased substantially as part of efforts to control the global movement of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. Studies conducted in Egypt from 2003 to 2007 to monitor birds for H5N1 identified multiple subtypes of low pathogenicity avian influenza A viruses isolated primarily from migratory waterfowl collected in the Nile Delta. Phylogenetic analysis of 28 viral genomes was performed to estimate their nearest ancestors and identify possible reassortants. Migratory flyway patterns were included in the analysis to assess gene flow between overlapping flyways. Overall, the viruses were most closely related to Eurasian, African and/or Central Asian lineage low pathogenicity viruses and belonged to 15 different subtypes. A subset of the internal genes seemed to originate from specific flyways (Black Sea-Mediterranean, East African-West Asian). The remaining genes were derived from a mixture of viruses broadly distributed across as many as 4 different flyways suggesting the importance of the Nile Delta for virus dispersal. Molecular clock date estimates suggested that the time to the nearest common ancestor of all viruses analyzed ranged from 5 to 10 years, indicating frequent genetic exchange with viruses sampled elsewhere. The intersection of multiple migratory bird flyways and the resulting diversity of influenza virus gene lineages in the Nile Delta create conditions favoring reassortment, as evident from the gene constellations identified by this study. In conclusion, we present for the first time a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of full genome sequences from low pathogenic avian influenza viruses circulating in Egypt, underscoring the significance of the region for viral reassortment and the potential emergence of novel avian influenza A viruses, as well as representing a highly diverse influenza A virus gene pool that merits continued monitoring.

War has always brought millions of silent non-human victims but the scale of this suffering is often either unknown, neglected or difficult to quantify. Further, the complexities associated with long-term and large-scale monitoring of marine species make it difficult to assess the impacts of war and the mortality of cetaceans resulting from warfare has not been investigated. Here we propose the use of a modified form of citizen science, namely gathering the information from social media. Dolphin stranding is such a poignant incident for most people, that the probability of eyewitness posting information on social media appears high. We test this idea by collecting data on cetacean strandings along the Black Sea published on the Internet over the three months of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. We also validate this method with a small-scale scientific study on cetacean mortality during the same period of time, conducted in ‘Tuzlivski lymany’ Nature National Park in Ukraine. Our dual approach has produced similar results, indicating a dramatic increase in cetacean mortality due to war operations in the Black Sea. We advocate the future use of social media to bridge the knowledge gap on the impacts of war on animals, in particular cetaceans.

Analysis of mass outbreak of tularaemia in humans of Kosovo after the mass bombardments of the territory in 1999 suggests the possible anthropogenic nature of its origin. The emergence of mass epizooty among wild mammals and mass outbreaks of the disease among people of that dangerous infection may be possible in the case of activation of natural foci, or as a result of the infection import. Natural foci of tularaemia in Kosovo were not registered earlier. Consequently, outbreaks and epizootics of tularaemia may have the anthropogenic nature.

The paper is devoted to the problem of occurrence of bacteria Francisella tularensis in steppe coastal zone of the Black Sea west part in the second half of XX century. The key factor decreasing the activity of tularaemia natural foci is anthropogenic influence. Resumed activity of natural foci appeared after implementation of big irrigation and drainage construction in former USSR – building of the Danube-Dniester-Dnepr irrigation system resulted in forming new environmental conditions as well as corridors for tularaemia distribution. The practical recommendation is to implement the eco-epizootological monitoring and to collect data for developing practical management of the natural foci of disease.

The article presents data on the appearance, spatial distribution, and ecological features of the golden jackal in the Tuzlivski Lymany National Nature Park. The estimated abundance of the jackal population is given along with its influence on local fauna of the national nature park. During the 20 years since the first jackals were recorded in the Ukrainian Black Sea coast, the jackal has become well-adapted to natural ecosystems of the Tuzlivski Lymany National Nature Park. Suitable protection and foraging conditions are provided in the park for this predator by steppe areas, sandbars of the Black Sea coast, and the artificial Lebedivskiy forest. For nursing the puppies, in addition to open natural habitats, especially reeds of wetlands, shrubs in the artificial forest, the jackal also uses burrows dug by itself. Currently, there are at least five jackal groups in the territory of the park. The number of broods and size of jackal groups fluctuates depending on seasonal climatic conditions and water level in the estuaries, which determine the availability of food and the character of hunting. The number of jackals in the park and surrounding areas was higher in 2020 than in the period when the water level in the estuaries was higher, and the number of jackals reached about 150 specimens. The population density of jackals in the park and surrounding areas is about 10 specimens per 1000 hectares. During the five years of observations in 2015 to 2020, the number of jackals increased slightly in the Tuzlivski Lymany National Nature Park due to the expansion of dry meadows to areas of former shoals. The area of sandbars has also increased providing access to the island systems where birds used to nest making these lands attractive for jackals as foraging sites. There is no sharp tendency to increase in the number of common jackals in the park. However, due to the likelihood of infection and spread of rabies by this predator species, some recreational areas should use rabies vaccine for oral immunisation of carnivores against rabies, which was done in September 2020 in the Lebedivskiy Forest tract of the park.