Aim We analysed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in the Balkans, including individuals from the northern Dinaric Balkans, an area that had not previously been characterized. Our aims were: (1) to reveal the level of genetic diversity and structuring and examine the demographic expansion of wild boar populations in the Balkans and Europe; (2) to examine the role of the Balkan gene pool in the post‐LGM (Last Glacial Maximum) recolonization of Europe; and (3) to elucidate the phylogenetic position of European and Balkan wild boar in a Eurasian context by comparing sequences of wild boar worldwide. Location Balkan Peninsula. Methods A fragment of the mtDNA control region (443 bp) was sequenced in 163 wild boar from the Balkans. Phylogenetic analyses, using MrBayes and network, were carried out together with 188 previously published sequences from the Balkan Peninsula. Phylogenetic analyses were also performed with an additional 876 wild boar sequences from around the world. Results Sixteen haplotypes were found in the new samples, including 11 not previously reported in the Balkans. Phylogenetic analyses based on all known Balkan haplotypes indicated the existence of population structuring, revealing two groups: Continental Balkans and South Balkans. The analysis of the complete dataset, comprising 1227 mtDNA sequences from wild boar sampled worldwide, revealed the presence of 168 different haplotypes. All Balkan haplotypes fell into the E1 haplogroup, except one sample that possessed an Asian haplotype. Within the E1 haplogroup, 50% of the haplotypes were unique to the Balkan Peninsula. Main conclusions Wild boar from the Balkans exhibited high genetic diversity. Similar phylogeographical patterns emerge in all southern European peninsulas, arising from post‐LGM expansion, and all three peninsulas played a similar role in the post‐glacial recolonization of Europe by wild boar. This supports a leading‐edge colonization hypothesis for all three peninsulas.

Dirofilaria repens causes an emerging zoonotic disease in Europe, particularly in its southern part, the Mediterranean region. Many reports on human dirofilariosis have been published recently, but little is known about the wildlife hosts and reservoirs of this parasite in nature. This paper presents the first records of adult D. repens specimens from free-ranging carnivores in Central Balkan countries (Serbia and Macedonia). During the period 2009-2013, a total of 145 regularly shot canids were examined for the presence of D. repens adults. In order to investigate their role as hosts and potential wild reservoirs of this zoonosis, 71 wolves (Canis lupus), 48 foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and 26 jackals (Canis aureus) were examined. Under the skin of two wolves (one from Serbia and one from Macedonia) and of a red fox from Serbia D. repens adults were found. In all three cases only one parasite was present. Further research on wild canids is needed, particularly on species widening their range (such as jackals) and those living near human settlements (foxes and jackals), which facilitates the transmission of the parasites to dogs and humans.

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Linguatula serrata is a cosmopolitan, bloodsucking parasite found in both domestic and wild animals. Humans are not considered as its main hosts but can act as both intermediate (visceral linguatuliasis) and final hosts (nasopharyngeal linguatuliasis). Reports on wild canids as definitive hosts of this parasite are scarce. During 2009-2011 the autopsy was performed on 42 legally hunted grey wolves (Canis lupus) from Serbia and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Only one specimen was infected with a single adult female of L. serrata. The parasite was found in the nasal cavity of the grey wolf. The infected male wolf was shot in the eastern part of the territory of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). This finding is the first record of linguatuliasis in wolves from FYROM. Previous records of this parasite from the central Balkans region originated from dogs, cattle and hares. Only few records of this parasite are known for the grey wolf in general.

In order to study the influence of climatic factors on the participation of the young in the population of brown hare in Vojvodina, in the period from 1993 to 2008 data have been processed for the average monthly temperature and rainfall by month of brown hare reproductive activity (March-August) on the % of participation of the young in the population. The average number of brown hare in Vojvodina in the mentioned period was 261,216, with expressive cycle. The minimum number of 204,528 brown was recorded in 2001, and the largest in 1995 -326,901. At the same period the average yearly shooting was 41,115 specimens, most shoots were made in 1994 -65,848 specimens, while the smallest shooting was recorded in 2002 -25,753 brown hare. In order to test the age of the rabbit on the basis of eye lenses weight and determining the % of the young processed a total of 133,545 eye lenses for 16 years, with yearly average of 8,346 eye lenses. The average percentage of the young brown hare in the observed period was 60%, which is very good. The average percentage of the young shows cycle depending on climatic factors. The highest % of young brown hare was established in 1994 and was 70%, while the lowest % of the young was in 2006 -50%. On the basis of regression analysis there has been found a small dependence on % of the young brown hare on the temperature and precipitation in the reproduction period from March to August for the last 16 years which is not statistically significant.

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