White and other fur colourations and hybridization in golden jackals (Canis aureus) in the Carpathian basin.

The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is a reoccurring species in the centre of the Carpathian basin, in Hungary. In total, 31 golden jackal tissue samples were collected, from 8 white-coated, 2 black-coated and one mottled animal across Hungary. Sequences and fragment length polymorphisms were studied for white colour (MC1R), and for black coat colouration (CBD103). In each white animal, the most widespread mutation causing white fur colour in dogs in homozygous form was detected. Three animals were found to carry the mutation in heterozygous form. The two black golden jackals were heterozygous for the 3 bp deletion in CBD103 that mutation for black coat colouration in dogs, and one of them also carried the mutation causing white fur. None of the white animals showed signs of hybridization, but both the black and the mottled coloured individuals were found to be hybrids based on genetic testing. Kinship was found three times, twice between white animals, and once between a white animal and an agouti animal carrying the mutation of white coat. Our results confirm the findings that golden jackal-dog hybrids may occur without human intervention, and the detected mutation causing white fur colour in golden jackals could possibly be due to an early hybridization event.

"Move or Not to Move"-Red Deer Stags Movement Activity during the Rut.

Detailed animal movement analysis can help understand spatial population processes as the ultimate consequences of individual behaviour and ecological impacts. The mating strategy of mammalian herbivores is adapted to the distribution of females; thus, it is important to observe the activity of animals during a rut. In this paper, we used a new approach to examine the relationship between red deer stags' movement activity and the fertile period of hinds. We presumed a relationship between stags' daily activity changes and the period when hinds are in heat. We determined temporal conception trends, including the first and last conception dates in the examined population and the conception peak. In the same period, i.e., in the interval of major ecological significance when mating takes place, the activity of stags was analysed by GPS telemetry. The data collected in the examined period indicate that 60% of the hinds were conceived between 31 August and 19 September. We demonstrated that conception rates differed significantly between the first and second half of the rutting period. At the beginning of the reproductive cycle, the high number of hinds on heat (oestrus synchrony) increased the activity of stags (harem herding) compared to the pre-rutting period. As the mating season progressed, the movement activity of stags increased more (searching behaviour), induced by the decreasing number of fertile hinds. Therefore, we found that the oestrus of hinds significantly influenced the movement activity of stags in red deer.

The occurrence of Echinococcus spp. in golden jackal (Canis aureus) in southwestern Hungary: Should we need to rethink its expansion?

Alveolar echinococcosis and cystic echinococcosis are severe zoonotic diseases caused by Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus s.l. in Europe. To present knowledge, in the European continent, the most important definitive hosts of these parasites belong to the Canidae family. The golden jackal as an opportunistic mesopredator frequently preys on rodents including arvicolids and other easily available food resources, such as viscera and other carrion. By these reasons, the golden jackal can promote the maintenance of both Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus s.l. Our investigation was conducted in the southwestern part of Hungary where one of the densest golden jackal populations exists. We examined altogether 173 golden jackal small intestines to determine the presence of Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus s.l. After the molecular diagnostic procedure, we found 27 Echinococcus multilocularis-positive (prevalence: 15.6%; mean intensity: 664 worms) and three Echinococcus granulosus s.l. infected hosts (prevalence: 1.7%; mean intensity: 554.3 worms). We suggest the invasion of the golden jackal in Europe can enhance the spread of both Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus s.l. This novel epidemiological situation can influence the geographical distribution of these helminths and the characteristics of their endemic in different host species, as well as in humans.