During the years 2015-2016 we obtained 15 samples of faeces of brown bears (Ursus arctos) and 2 samples of gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of young female brown bears for helminthological examinations. The samples of faeces were collected from various sites in the protected landscape area CHKO-Poľana, and the gastrointestinal tracts originated from bears hunted down in the same area within permitted regulation of bear population for 2015. Of the 17 samples collected from the CHKO-Poľana area, 13 were positive for the presence of parasites (76.47 %). Parasitological examinations revealed the presence of 5 species of endoparasites: Eimeria, Cryptosporidium, Sarcocystis, Baylisascaris and Ancylostoma. Roundworms Baylisascaris transfuga (46.15 %) and Ancylostoma spp. (30.77 %) were the dominant species. Observation of the seasonal dynamics showed the highest prevalence of parasites during autumn and winter.Genus/Species Prevalence Cryptosporidium 15.38 % Eimeria 7.69 % Sarcocystis 15.38 % Ancylostoma 30.77 % Baylisascaris transfuga 46.15 %

Similarly. no signifkant differences were recorded in the juvenile fallow deer when evaluated by their gender. On the other hand. in adult animals significant (P<0.05) differences were observed between male and female animals in Hb (11.07 and 13.89 g/dl. resp.) and hematocrit (OA3 and 0.51 lIl. resp.).Seasonal changes were as follows (P<0. These findings indicate a transition period in feeding. In winter. there is an increased proportion of dry matter in the diet due to nipping off tree twigs. and feeding hay and other dried foods. The change from winter to spring feeding is related to feeding green pasture--grasses and winter corns. As in domesticated ruminants. it may be suggested that there is a period of adaptation of rumen microflora and microfauna. This period is frequently associated with diarrhoea. which may cause the changes in haematological profile. Fallm\" deer, age, gellder, seasoll of the vear. erYlhrocvtes. leukocytes. haemoglobil1, haclIlatocritHealth management and production potential of livestock is closely related to application of effective diagnostic and preventive measures. Rearing of fallow deer in game parks, farms. and free nature is of increasing importance. Moreover. game animals serve as a valuable bioindicator of environment quality (Mlynarcikova et al. 1995; Legath et al. 1996). Therefore. clinical examination and metabolic tests (haematologica!. macro-and micro-elements. enzymatic. protein. energetic. vitamin. rumina!. and urinary profiles) in fallow deer are also inevitable to obtain a complex evaluation of their environment (including nutrition).By this approach, it is possible to detect metabolic disorders (lack or surplus of energy. protein. macro-and micro-elements) and increased exposure to risk elements in industrial areas or areas with high level of chemization.Archaeological findings indicate the presence of fallow deer in Middle Europe in the past two inter-glacial ages. During the last glacial age. fallow deer disappeared from this region. Spotted fallow deer (D{//I/G d(lfl/{/ Linne 1785) survived in Middle Asia. particularly in

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SummaryThe aim of the study was monitoring of liver fl ukes in wild ruminants including red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), fallow deer (Dama dama) and moufl on (Ovis musimon) in selected regions of Slovak Republic. Between 2014 -2016 we examined 782 faecal samples from selected wild ruminants using coprological techniques and serological methods (ELISA detection of F. hepatica coproantigens). None of the samples was positive for the presence of Fasciola hepatica, 5.89 % of faecal samples were positive for Dicrocoelium dendriticum. Higher prevalence was recorded in moufl on (30.83 %), lower in red deer (1.49 %). D. dendriticum infection was not determined in fallow deer and roe deer. The seasonal distribution of dicrocoeliosis indicated a highest prevalence in autumn. Signifi cantly higher prevalence was recorded in fenced rearing when compared with open hunting grounds, suggesting that animal agglomeration, constant use of the same areas and possible stress are the main risk factors. Parasitological examination of livers of hunted wild ruminants revealed dicrocoeliosis in moufl on.

In this study, we analysed the effect of human-mediated selection on the gene pool of wild and farmed red deer populations based on genotyping-by-sequencing data. The farmed red deer sample covered populations spread across seven countries and two continents (France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, New Zealand, Poland, and Slovakia). The Slovak and Spain wild red deer populations (the latter one in a large game estate) were used as control outgroups. The gene flow intensity, relationship and admixture among populations were tested by the Bayesian approach and discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC). The highest gene diversity (He = 0.19) and the lowest genomic inbreeding (FHOM = 0.04) found in Slovak wild population confirmed our hypothesis that artificial selection accompanied by bottlenecks has led to the increase in overall genomic homozygosity. The Bayesian approach and DAPC consistently identified three separate genetic groups. As expected, the farmed populations were clustered together, while the Slovak and Spanish populations formed two separate clusters. Identified traces of genetic admixture in the gene pool of farmed populations reflected a strong contemporary migration rate between them. This study suggests that even if the history of deer farming has been shorter than traditional livestock species, it may leave significant traces in the genome structure.