Med. Weter. 80 (10), 527-531, 2024
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| JACEK PIÓRKOWSKI, PIOTR CZYŻOWSKI, MARIAN FLIS |
| Analysis of the individual condition of hares (Lepus europaeus Pall.) based on the body weight, KFI index, and pathological changes in selected internal organs |
| The study aimed to demonstrate the relationship between the presence of pathomorphological changes in the liver, heart, and kidneys of hares Lepus europaeus, and their individual condition expressed by body weight and the KFI index. The material for the study consisted of 70 hares harvested during two consecutive hunting seasons, 2021/2022 and 2022/2023, in two hunting districts in the western part of the Lublin Upland. Forty hares were examined in 2021/2022, and 30 were examined in 2022/2023. Pathomorphological changes were detected in 89% of the hares, and 14% of the hares with pathomorphological changes suffered from a parasitic invasion of the liver. In the group of hares with pathomorphological lesions, the poorest individual condition expressed by the body weight and kidney fat index (KFI) was found in individuals with a parasitic infection of the liver. This may indicate that parasites play a crucial role in the deterioration of the individual condition of hares and may have a negative impact on the survival and reproduction of the entire population. |
| Keywords: Lepus europaeus, health status, histopathological examination, individual quality |