We investigated the structure of gastrointestinal parasite communities in two sympatric sharks, a crustacean feeder Mustelus punctulatus and piscivorous Squalus acanthias. The overall prevalence of helminth parasites was very high (84.0%) for M. punctulatus with nematode Cucullanus micropapillatus as the most abundant species (mean abundance 13.96) and Anisakis spp. larvae as the most prevalent taxa (47.9%). In contrast, only 21.7% of S. acanthias specimens were infected, showing Anisakis spp. larvae as the most prevalent (17.8%) and abundant taxa (mean abundance 0.39). Significant variations among size classes were recorded for M. punctulatus, mainly as a consequence of higher C. micropapillatus loads in larger sharks. Sex contributed little to the observed parasite abundances, although female spiny dogfish were more prone to infections than males, and higher helminth diversity was recorded in females in both shark species. The differences in infection parameters between the two shark species likely reflect the variations in foraging strategies and availability of intermediate hosts. Our findings suggest that crustacean feeder M. punctulatus is more susceptible to helminth infections in the Adriatic Sea, which may affect the health status of local shark populations.
COBISS.SI-ID: 17940057
This is the first study to characterize the genetic variation in chamois populations in the area. We used microsatellite and mitochondrial markers to analyze the genetic variation and structure of chamois populations from different geographical areas. Specifically, we explored the influence of recent human translocations and geographical isolation on the genetic architecture of chamois populations in the assumed contact zone. These results confirm the impact of recent human management into the Velebit Mountains, which established a new contact (hybridization) zone between the subspecies R.r. rupicapra in R.r.balcanica. Therefore, future translocations must be planned carefully to avoid compromising local genetic integrity of populations.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1538361540
To support studies of the genetic diversity and population structure of Ficus carica L. 16 additional microsatellite markers were developed from enriched genomic libraries. All markers were successfully analyzed on 68 wild figs samples and cross-amplified in five closely related species belonging to the Moraceae family, namely Ficus (F. barteri Sprague, F. rubiginosa Desf. ex Vent., F. benjamina L.) and Morus (M. alba L. and M. nigra L.).
COBISS.SI-ID: 8442489
Adiponectin has anti-inflammatory, antiatherosclerotic properties and it is involved in metabolic regulation, especially by sensitizing tissues for insulin. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been shown to have a positive effect on adiponectin levels. Therefore, our aim was to assess asymptomatic general population of the Mediterranean part of Slovenia and to evaluate the correlations between serum adiponectin levels (SAL’s) and diet components, dietary habits, lifestyle parameters, metabolic syndrome (MetS) components and inflammatory markers. Healthy adults aged 25-49 participated in the cross-sectional study. Linear correlation analyses were used to examine SAL’s on diet components, dietary habits, lifestyle parameters and all risk factors. A positive correlation between the ratio of leucine:lysine intake and adiponectin and a negative correlation between adiponectin and presence of already two components of MetS were found. Moreover, we confirmed the negative correlations between adiponectin and C-reactive protein (CRP), but found a negative correlation between adiponectin and visfatin. Furthermore, hierarchical multiple regression analyses confirmed that besides lower homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), CRP, homocysteine and BMI, but also higher ratio of leucine:lysine contribute to the prediction of higher level of adiponectin. Our results indicate that high leucine:lysine intake ratio may promote the increase in SAL’s in clinically asymptomatic adults. On the other hand, lower SAL s are due to obesity, inflammation and presence of already 2 components of metabolic syndrome.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1538697412
The work describe the molecular and morphological evaluation of Montenegro olive genotypes. The comparison of SSR profiles of Montenegro samples with those obtained from 39 other Mediterranean varieties showed a clear separation between the two groups. These results imply that Montenegro may represent a site of local hybridization and selection of very old olive varieties and that these trees deserve urgent initiatives for their preservation, evaluation and exploitation.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1538481604