Contact between European bison and cattle from the cattle breeders’ perspective, in the light of the risk of pathogen transmission

Abstract

Pathogens transmitted between wildlife and domestic animals can pose a threat to endangered species, undermine conservation efforts in wildlife, and affect productivity and parasite control in domestic animals. There are several examples of pathogen transmission between European bison and other animals. The present study surveyed breeders from the vicinity of four large wisent populations in eastern Poland about observed contacts between wisent and cattle. Such contacts were noted by 37% of breeders, indicating a significant risk of contact between European bison and cattle in the study areas, even in the areas where the European bison live mainly in a forest complex, i.e., in the Borecka Forest. A higher potential risk of contacts between European bison and cattle was noted in the Białowieska Forest and the Bieszczady Mountains than in the Borecka and Knyszyńska Forests. In the Białowieska Forest, the risk of viral pathogen transmission resulting from contacts is higher (more direct contacts), and in the case of the Bieszczady Mountains, the probability of parasitic diseases is higher. The chance of contacts between European bison and cattle depended on the distance of cattle pastures from human settlements. Moreover, such contact was possible throughout the year, not only in spring and fall. It appears possible to minimize the risk of contacts between wisent and cattle by changing management practices for both species, such as keeping grazing areas as close as possible to settlements, and reducing the time cattle graze on pastures. However, the risk of contact is much greater if European bison populations are large and are dispersed beyond forest complexes.

Prevalence of coronaviruses in European bison (Bison bonasus) in Poland

“…BCoV seroprevalence differed between herd sizes, with the lowest 50% infected in the smallest barns under 77 head which may represent those with which free-ranging European bison populations come into contact on pastures 33 . However, our results do not corroborate the observations of the results of a questionnaire among cattle breeders, which were asked to assess the quality of their cattle’s contact with European bison 43 . On the basis of their opinion the highest risk for virus transmission by direct or indirect contact or sharing pastures between European bison and cattle should be considered in in the area of Białowieża Forest, which was not supported by the relatively low BCoV seroprevalence among the free-ranging populations in our study 43 .…”

“…However, our results do not corroborate the observations of the results of a questionnaire among cattle breeders, which were asked to assess the quality of their cattle’s contact with European bison 43 . On the basis of their opinion the highest risk for virus transmission by direct or indirect contact or sharing pastures between European bison and cattle should be considered in in the area of Białowieża Forest, which was not supported by the relatively low BCoV seroprevalence among the free-ranging populations in our study 43 . However, the higher exposure of European bison may be explained by the higher density of cattle and their breeding in extensive conditions and more frequently grazed.It was supported by the number of seropositive (15 out of 26) and BCoV infected (2 out of 3) European bison, which originated from the Podlaskie region, a part of Poland with the highest cattle density per 100 ha of agricultural land (95.9 animals per 100 ha 44 ).…”

“…The direction of transmission from cattle to European bison, has already been concluded for several endemic bovine pathogens 27 , 32 , which may suggest that this recently booming in numbers and expanding geographically population could threaten the very conservation of the species itself. European bison are often considered as an additional epidemiological risk to livestock 43 . Therefore, efforts to monitor the health threats should be undertaken, including at the destinations prior to European bison translocations.…”

First molecular identification of Haemonchus contortus (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae), a blood‐sucking gastric nematode of artiodactyles, in the ground beetle Carabus granulatus (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

“…The risk and possible paths of the spread of highly pathogenic and treatmentresistant H. contortus between wild and domestic ruminants should be fully elucidated and monitored. The necessity of doing so is implied by the higher potential risk of direct contacts between European bison and cattle observed in the Białowieża Primeval Forest, which could lead to exchanges of pathogens between the species (Klich et al, 2023). Moreover, Haemonchus sp.…”