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Article History

Received: 8 December 2025

Accepted: 8 June 2026

First Online: 17 June 2026

Declarations

:

: Tissue samples were collected post-mortem from adult European roe deer obtained through regular, legally regulated hunting; no animals were captured, handled, anesthetized, or euthanized specifically for this research. The sampling procedures were reviewed by the Committee for Equality, Equal Opportunities and Bioethics, Faculty of Environmental Protection, Velenje, Slovenia, which approved an exemption from an ethical opinion/approval (Ref. CEEOB FVO, 3/2022; 2 December 2022), noting that the work does not fall under legislation on animals used for scientific purposes because procedures were conducted post mortem and animal-welfare standards were respected. Hunting was carried out in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009 and relevant national hunting regulations and ethical standards.

: Not applicable: this manuscript has no personal data from the authors.

: The authors declare no competing interests.