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The aim of study was to evaluate the epizootic situation of rabies in Poland in 2011-2015 in relation to the free-living population of foxes, which are the main vectors of the rabies virus. The number of rabies cases increased in the first two years of this period, but subsequently diminished. The primary reservoir of the virus are still free-living foxes and, among domestic animals, dogs and cats. In terms of the frequency of virus occurrence in Poland, a shift has been noted in recent years from Podkarpackie Voivodeship to Lesser Poland Voivodeship. In 2015, over 80% of all rabies cases were diagnosed in Lesser Poland, and in domestic animals the virus was diagnosed solely in this voivodeship. During the study period, the population of free-living foxes was stable, but there was a slight increase in the number of foxes hunted. Nevertheless, the hunting index for the fox population, which does not exceed 72%, suggests that hunting is currently not the only mortality factor among foxes. The analysis of the size and density of the fox population in particular voivodeships revealed that density is not the main determinant of the occurrence and spread of the virus. The results of the study confirm that the immunization of free-living foxes, although costly, is still necessary to improve the situation, especially in regions with a high prevalence of the virus.

This study compared pheasant roosters living in a natural habitat (n = 10), where farm-bred birds had not been released for 7 years (hence the wild-living birds were assumed to have been determined exclusively by environmental conditions),. The other group (n = 10) comprised farmed pheasant roosters. In December 2010, the pheasants were hunted, and biometric measurements of some traits were performed. After dissection, the muscles, bones, organs, and gastrointestinal tract were weighed, and the length of the intestines was measured. It was shown that the farmed pheasants had a significantly higher body weight (1583 g and 1407 g), which was mainly related to the higher fat content (144 g and 30 g). The farmed roosters had shorter rectrices. The heart-to-body weight and liver-to-body weight ratios, i.e. 0.6 % and 1.9 % respectively, were the same in both groups. No differences were found between the groups in terms of the weight of the pectoral, limb, and wing muscles, but the farmed roosters had heavier leg and wing bones. The length of the intestines per 100 g body weight was 10.5 cm in the farmed roosters and 13.3 cm in the free-living birds. Statistical analysis of variance was performed, and the differences between the groups were verified with the Mann-Whitney test. The farmed pheasants were shown to differ only slightly from the free-living birds from the natural habitat; hence, they are suitable for reintroduction.

This study determined the effect of supplementation of the pheasant diet with mineral components (Ca, Fe, Zn and Cu) from organic sources with or without the addition of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) on productivity, hatchability parameters, nutrients and mineral content in pheasant eggs. Studies were performed on three groups of laying pheasants, which were kept in aviaries and received a standard mixture (Group I, the control group), a mixture with Ca, Fe, Zn, and Cu glycinates which replaced 50% of the mineral components in inorganic form (Group II), or a mixture with chelates and a 200 mg alpha-ketoglutarate supplement (Group III). Supplementation of the diet with chelates raised the content level of the mineral components in the whole egg and yolk, mainly the contents of calcium, zinc and iron. The addition of 200 mg of alpha-ketoglutarate to the diet with calcium, zinc, iron and copper chelates of glycine (50% of the supplemented elements) resulted in improved laying capacity and rates of reproduction and rearing of chicks, with a slight decrease in the size and weight of eggs. The eggshell was thinner, and the albumen and the Haugh Unit score were higher. Inorganic mineral components can be replaced by glycine chelates at up to 50%, especially with the addition of 200 mg of AKG, in the pheasant diet in commercial breeding.

The paper presents the principles of assessing fatal shootings of dogs during collective hunting due to ricocheting bullets from firearms with threaded barrels for purposes of judicial review. Such assessments usually have two purposes. The first is to determine the cause of death, and the assessment is based on veterinary anatomopathological examination of the gunshot wound and the examination of the bullet or its fragments found in the carcass of the animal. If a direct examination is impossible, X-ray images are often used. The second aspect of the assessment is the analysis of evidence aimed at reconstructing the course of the event and determining whether the shot was due to a ricocheting projectile or to non-compliance with safety rules when using the firearm. Such analyses require knowledge of issues related to the construction and use of weapons and ammunition, as well as external ballistics of missiles. The assessment is based mainly on the analysis of tissue fragments and projectiles or their fragments recovered from the carcass of the animal. In addition, it is also important to reconstruct the course of the event on the basis of the documentation collected and sometimes an inspection of the area where the incident occurred.

The paper presents a post-traumatic anomaly of the metacarpal joint of a front limb of a female red deer, which was the cause of joint dislocation. This anomaly arose due to an incorrect positioning of the limb during movement, especially during fast running, most probably when the frightened animal was escaping from danger. Other mechanical causes cannot be excluded, such as entrapment of the limb in a net fence for crops and forest youngsters, which is commonly used to protect the forest from wild animals. The study showed that the resulting injury had led to secondary degenerative changes and deformities of the lopsided axis of the limb. The result was an incorrect directional orientation of the metacarpal bone and toes, and consequently of the hooves of the third and fourth fingertips. At the same time, the second and fifth toes, residual in this species, became retarded. The joint dislocation led to an incorrect positioning of the hooves during the animal’s movement and, consequently, to their excessive growth. These changes, however, despite their long-standing character, did not affect the animal’s condition, as evidenced by its carcass weight, which was above average for a female deer of this age and in this region of Poland.

The paper presents the epidemiological situation of rabies in Poland in the period 2011-2015 in the con-text of the ongoing since 2002, a national campaign of oral immunization of free-living foxes and its efficiency and costs. Additionally, the impact of preventive measures on the dynamics of the number of foxes, was evalu-ated. During the study period, a decrease in the amount of ascertained rabies cases in wild and domestic animals was recorded, but still the primary reservoir of the virus were free-living foxes. The high effectiveness of vaccina-tion, evaluated applying detailed laboratory tests, contributed significantly to the level of foxes immunization, which was also confirmed by the ecological assessment. However, in some provinces and years of the research, the level of immunization should be considered as average, which was confirmed by the results of 2015, when only every second fox examined in the framework of monitoring acquired the resistance as a result of preven-tive vaccination. Despite the relatively high cost of the described preventive measures, which include the costs of purchasing the vaccine and its distribution in the field, it seems necessary to continue the oral immunization of foxes initiated in 1993 and expanded in 2002 throughout the country. The dramatic drop in the incidence of rabies in animals affects directly the reduction in the epidemiological risks. Undoubtedly, the negative aspect of the aforementioned actions is growth and persistent large population of foxes and their adverse impact on the functioning of the main small animals species, as well as the possibility of increased epizootic risk in respect of other diseases affecting the species. In this situation, it seems necessary, already begun intensifying acquisition of foxes by culling..

Two cases of albinism in roe deer were reported in the Lublin region in the spring of 2017. Both animals were females. One of them was a mature female roe deer with partial albinism. The other was a young roe deer (kid) born in the previous hunting season, which was a true albino, most probably descended from a female roe deer with pseudo-leukoderma. Since the eyes of these animals could not be examined, it was impossible to conclude about their leucism. No male roe deer in a group of 14 animals showed phenotypic features of albinism. This confirms that albinism in roe deer occurs very rarely, because it is conditioned by recessive alleles, and its phenotypic manifestations can take many forms..