The University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca (USAMVCN) (Romanian: Universitatea de Științe Agricole și Medicină Veterinară Cluj-Napoca) is a university in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. With around 6,000 students, the university offers 21 undergraduate programs; all are available in Romanian, 2 in French and 1 in English. Additionally, the university offers 23 Master programs (20 in Romanian, 2 in English and 1 in French).
BACKGROUND:The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is an apex predator with significant ecological importance and serves as a valuable indicator species for monitoring parasitic burdens in forest ecosystems. Owing to its complex ecology and varied diet, this species may play a key role in the life cycle of numerous pathogens, including cestodes of the genus Taenia, such as the recently described Taenia arctos. Among the potential intermediate hosts for T. arctos is the moose (Alces alces), a species sporadically present in northern Romania, where its habitat may overlap with that of U. arctos. In this context, the present study aimed to identify and molecularly characterize cestodes isolated from the small intestines of U. arctos. METHODS:Between May 2022 and December 2024, small intestines from 91 U. arctos individuals were collected across 16 counties in Romania. Biological samples were preserved by freezing and analyzed using both classical methods (macroscopic and microscopic examination) and molecular biology techniques (through amplification and sequencing of mitochondrial gene fragments, cox1 and 12S rRNA). RESULTS:Out of the 91 samples analyzed, only 1 specimen tested positive for an adult cestode (prevalence 1.1%). Genetic analysis confirmed its identification as T. arctos, a species not previously reported in Romania. CONCLUSIONS:This study represents the first molecular identification of T. arctos in U. arctos in southeastern Europe, thereby extending the known geographic range of the parasite. The findings may indicate that trophic interactions compatible with the life cycle of T. arctos occur in this area, although the evidence is limited to a single detection.
Monitoring parasitic infections in wildlife is essential for assessing ecosystem health and pathogen dynamics, particularly in apex predators like the wolf (Canis lupus). As top-level carnivores with wide-ranging habitats and diverse interactions with prey, wolves can serve as effective sentinels for the circulation of parasitic agents within ecosystems. The present study aimed at monitoring parasitic infections, particularly those of zoonotic importance, in wolves from central Italy. The study was conducted on 169 wolf carcasses recovered between 2018 and 2024. Leishmania spp. and Trichinella spp. infections were evaluated using molecular techniques (on 169 spleen and 150 striated muscle samples, respectively), while intestinal and extra-intestinal parasites were investigated using flotation and Baermann tests (147 fecal samples). Of the 169 wolves included in the study, 89 (52.66
Phenolic compounds are key bioactive constituents with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties relevant to food applications. This study provides a multicriteria comparison of conventional solvent extraction and green-assisted technologies for the recovery of phenolics from Ficus carica L. agro-industrial residues. Conventional solid-liquid extraction using solvents of different polarity was compared with ultrasound-assisted extraction and homogenisation-ultrasound-assisted extraction. Extracts were characterised in terms of phenolic profile, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity, while process sustainability was evaluated through life cycle and life cycle cost analyses. The highest phenolic recovery was achieved using 40% ethanol-water under HUAE (36.5 mgGAE/gDW; 28.6 mgQE/gDW), with antioxidant activity strongly correlated to phenolic content (R2 > 0.85), while extracts exhibited the strongest antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes. Life cycle assessment revealed a reduction of up to 90% in environmental impact for ultrasound-assisted extraction, rendering an efficient and relatively low-cost alternative for food-grade phenolic recovery.
Despite recent biotechnological advancements in the brewing industry, the effective valorization of spent grains from craft beer production remains challenging due to the nutritional variability of cereal-based raw materials. This study analyzes the proteins, free amino acids, fatty acids, and mineral composition of spent grains obtained from two beer types brewed with different proportions of maize grits and malted wheat, in order to assess the influence of adjunct composition. Protein content ranged between 25.81% and 28.43%, with higher values observed in the wheat-based spent grain. Total free amino acids were also higher in the wheat-based sample (190.03 mg/100 g) compared to the maize-based variant (178.66 mg/100 g). Both samples showed a similar fatty acid profile dominated by linoleic acid (51.39–51.58%), while phosphorus was the predominant mineral (up to 2700.03 mg/kg). These results suggest that adjunct type influences the nutritional characteristics of spent grains and provide a basis for their differentiated valorization in sustainable agri-food systems.
Heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) are parasitic nematodes that cause significant cardiopulmonary-associated morbidity and mortality in canids worldwide. The global spread of heartworms is believed to have occurred alongside the dispersal of modern domesticated dogs over the past few hundred years. However, this conclusion has been based on limited sampling, both geographically and numerically. To test this theory more rigorously, we analyse the whole genomes of 127 adult heartworm specimens collected from mammalian carnivore hosts across Australia, the USA, Central America, Europe, and Asia. Here we show distinct genetic differences between heartworms from different continents, indicating a more ancient dispersal in canid hosts than previously recognised. Using genetic diversity and admixture analyses, we find an Asian origin for Australian heartworms, aligning with the arrival of dingoes into Australia via Asia thousands of years ago; however, we cannot exclude the alternate hypothesis that heartworms were also introduced from Asia in post-colonial times. Finally, the genetic relatedness between European and Central American heartworms suggests that modern dispersal, potentially associated with human colonisation of the Americas by Europeans, occurred with domesticated dogs. This work sheds light on the population dynamics and deep evolutionary history of a globally widespread parasite of veterinary significance.
