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the liver x receptor agonist lxr 623 restricts flavivirus replication.the vector-borne flaviviruses (vbfvs) are well known for causing great misery and death in humans worldwide. the vbfvs include those transmitted by mosquitos, such as zika virus (zikv), dengue virus; and those transmitted by ticks including the tick-borne flavivirus serocomplex and powassan virus (powv). two of our recent reports showed that intracranial powv infection in the reservoir host, peromyscus leucopus, was restricted and caused no overt clinical disease. several modes of analyses sugge ...202134162308
retrotransposon-based bloodmeal analysis of nymphal deer ticks demonstrates spatiotemporal diversity of borrelia burgdorferi and babesia microti reservoirs.deer tick transmitted borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (lyme disease) and babesia microti (babesiosis) increasingly burden public health across eastern north america. the white-footed mouse is considered to be the primary host for subadult deer ticks and the most important reservoir host for these and other disease agents. local transmission is thought to be modulated by less reservoir competent hosts such as deer diverting ticks from feeding on mice. we measured the proportion of mouse fed or ...202033158895
practical guide to trapping peromyscus leucopus (rodentia: cricetidae) and peromyscus maniculatus for vector and vector-borne pathogen surveillance and ecology.arthropods pests are most frequently associated with both plants and vertebrate animals. ticks, in particular the blacklegged ticks ixodes scapularis say and ixodes pacificus cooley & kohls (acari: ixodidae), are associated with wildlife hosts and are the primary vectors of lyme disease, the most frequently reported vector-borne disease in the united states. immature blacklegged ticks in the eastern united states frequently use small mammals from the genus peromyscus as hosts. these mice are com ...202033135755
vertical transmission: a vector-independent transmission pathway of babesia microti in the natural reservoir host peromyscus leucopus.babesia microti, a malaria-like pathogen, is increasing in mammal and human populations in endemic areas and is unlikely to be the sole result of horizontal pathogen transmission.202032959880
lactobacilli and other gastrointestinal microbiota of peromyscus leucopus, reservoir host for agents of lyme disease and other zoonoses in north america.the cricetine rodent peromyscus leucopus is an important reservoir for several human zoonoses, including lyme disease, in north america. akin to hamsters, the white-footed deermouse has been unevenly characterized in comparison to the murid mus musculus. to further understanding of p. leucopus' total genomic content, we investigated gut microbiomes of an outbred colony of p. leucopus, inbred m. musculus, and a natural population of p. leucopus. metagenome and whole genome sequencing were combine ...202032817657
efficacy of a low dose fipronil bait against blacklegged tick (ixodes scapularis) larvae feeding on white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus) under laboratory conditions.lyme disease is the most prevalent vector-borne disease in the usa with cases continuing to increase. current control measures have not been shown to be impactful, and therefore alternatives are needed. treating pathogen reservoirs with low dose systemic acaricides in endemic areas may provide a useful tool for disrupting the cycle of the vector and pathogen. the purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a 0.005% fipronil bait, presented orally to white-footed mice, in controlling b ...202032736585
presence of segmented flavivirus infections in north americaidentifying viruses in synanthropic animals is necessary for understanding the origin of many viruses that can infect humans and developing strategies to prevent new zoonotic infections. the white-footed mouse, peromyscus leucopus, is one of the most abundant rodent species in the northeastern united states. we characterized the serum virome of 978 free-ranging p. leucopus mice caught in pennsylvania. we identified many new viruses belonging to 26 different virus families. among these viruses wa ...202032687041
molecular detection of leptospira interrogans and borrelia burgdorferi in wild rodents from mexico.leptospirosis and lyme borreliosis are zoonotic emerging diseases of global importance and wide distribution. the aim of this study was to detect by molecular testing to leptospira interrogans and borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in wild rodents from nuevo leon, quintana roo, and campeche, mexico. this study is the first in report to chaetodipus nelsoni, dipodomys merriami, and peromyscus eremicus infected with l. interrogans in mexico. besides, chaetodipus hispidus, heteromys gaumeri, heteromys ...202032639187
effects of captivity, diet, and relocation on the gut bacterial communities of white-footed mice.microbes can have important impacts on their host's survival. captive breeding programs for endangered species include periods of captivity that can ultimately have an impact on reintroduction success. no study to date has investigated the impacts of captive diet on the gut microbiota during the relocation process of generalist species. this study simulated a captive breeding program with white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus) to describe the variability in gut microbial community structure and ...202032551052
small-mammal characteristics affect tick communities in southwestern tennessee (usa).life histories can influence the degree of parasite infestations on a host. pressures exerted on hosts based on age and sex convey varying degrees of parasite prevalence due to differences in host lifestyles, but it is not known how interactions between different host traits affect tick numbers. the objective of this study was to determine if host characteristics (e.g., age, sex, weight, and their interactions) affect the mean number of ticks found on small mammals regardless of host species or ...202032547921
host distribution and pathogen infection of fleas (siphonaptera) recovered from small mammals in pennsylvania.the number of recognized flea-borne pathogens has increased over the past decade. however, the true number of infections related to all flea-borne pathogens remains unknown. to better understand the enzootic cycle of flea-borne pathogens, fleas were sampled from small mammals trapped in central pennsylvania. a total of 541 small mammals were trapped, with white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus) and southern red-backed voles (myodes gapperi) accounting for over 94% of the captures. only p. leucop ...202032492279
humane use of cardiac puncture for non-terminal phlebotomy of wild-caught and released peromyscus spp.the cardiac puncture technique for obtaining relatively large volume (50-150 µl) blood samples from sedated rodents has been used in research for nearly a century. historically, its use to phlebotomize and then release live rodents was more common. however, recently its use in a non-terminal capacity frequently imparts negative connotations in part because exsanguination of sedated animals via cardiac puncture is now an american veterinary medical association-approved euthanasia technique. this ...202032397470
aversion of the invasive asian longhorned tick to the white-footed mouse, the dominant reservoir of tick-borne pathogens in the u.s.a.the asian longhorned tick (haemaphysalis longicornis) was reported for the first time in the u.s.a. in 2017 and has now spread across 12 states. the potential of this invasive tick vector to transmit pathogens will be determined through its association to hosts, such as the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus), which is the primary reservoir for the causative agent of lyme disease (borrelia burgdorferi) and other zoonotic pathogens. larval h. longicornis were placed on p. leucopus; 65% of th ...202032249973
administration of an orally delivered substrate targeting a mammalian zoonotic pathogen reservoir population: novel application and biomarker analysis.reservoir-targeted vaccines (rtvs) have the potential to be effective at breaking the transmission cycle of many tick-borne pathogens including, but not limited to, borrelia burgdorferi, b. miyamotoi, b. mayonii, babesia microti, and anaplasma phagocytophilum. to determine what proportion of a wild reservoir species we could effectively target, we distributed an experimental non-rtv rhodamine b (rhb)-coated pellet formulation devoid of nutrient supplementation using bait boxes with ad libitum ac ...202032213011
cost analysis of vaccination in tick-mouse transmission of lyme disease.lyme disease is one of the most prevalent and fastest growing vector-borne bacterial illnesses in the united states, with over 25,000 new confirmed cases every year. humans contract the bacterium borrelia burgdorferi through the bite of the tick ixodes scapularis. the tick can receive the bacterium from a variety of small mammal and bird species, but the white-footed mouse peromyscus leucopus is the primary reservoir in the northeastern united states, especially near human settlement. the tick's ...202032169319
no island-effect on glucocorticoid levels for a rodent from a near-shore archipelago.island rodents are often larger and live at higher population densities than their mainland counterparts, characteristics that have been referred to as "island syndrome". island syndrome has been well studied, but few studies have tested for island-mainland differences in stress physiology. we evaluated island syndrome within the context of stress physiology of white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus) captured from 11 islands and five mainland sites in thousand islands national park, ontario, can ...202032110493
optimization of tissue sampling for borrelia burgdorferi in white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus).peromyscus leucopus (the white-footed mouse) is a known reservoir of the lyme disease spirochete borrelia burgdorferi. sampling of white-footed mice allows for year-round b. burgdorferi surveillance as well as opportunities to establish the diversity of the different variants in a geographic region. this study explores the prevalence of b. burgdorferi infections in the tissues of white-footed mice, investigates the correlations between b. burgdorferi infected tissues, and determines the optimum ...202031978068
field evaluation of a novel oral reservoir-targeted vaccine against borrelia burgdorferi utilizing an inactivated whole-cell bacterial antigen expression vehicle.blacklegged ticks (ixodes scapularis) are the principal vector for borrelia burgdorferi, among other infectious agents, in the northeastern, mid-atlantic, and upper midwestern usa. white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus) are the primary and most competent reservoir host of b. burgdorferi in the northeast. live reservoir-targeted vaccines (rtvs) to limit enzootic transmission of b. burgdorferi were previously developed and successfully evaluated in laboratory and controlled field trials. a novel, ...202031898760
evaluating the effectiveness of an integrated tick management approach on multiple pathogen infection in ixodes scapularis questing nymphs and larvae parasitizing white-footed mice.we investigated the effectiveness of integrated tick management (itm) approaches in reducing the burden of infection with borrelia burgdorferi, babesia microti, and anaplasma phagocytophilum in ixodes scapularis. we found a 52% reduction in encountering a questing nymph in the metarhizium anisopliae (met52) and fipronil rodent bait box treatment combination as well as a 51% reduction in the combined white-tailed deer (odocoileus virginianus) removal, met52, and fipronil rodent bait box treatment ...202031853763
experimental demonstration of reservoir competence of the white-footed mouse, peromyscus leucopus (rodentia: cricetidae), for the lyme disease spirochete, borrelia mayonii (spirochaetales: spirochaetaceae).the white-footed mouse, peromyscus leucopus (rafinesque), is a reservoir for the lyme disease spirochete borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto in the eastern half of the united states, where the blacklegged tick, ixodes scapularis say (acari: ixodidae), is the primary vector. in the midwest, an additional lyme disease spirochete, borrelia mayonii, was recorded from naturally infected i. scapularis and p. leucopus. however, an experimental demonstration of reservoir competence was lacking for a natu ...202031819966
genomes, expression profiles, and diversity of mitochondria of the white-footed deermouse peromyscus leucopus, reservoir of lyme disease and other zoonoses.the cricetine rodents peromyscus leucopus and p. maniculatus are key reservoirs for several zoonotic diseases in north america. we determined the complete circular mitochondrial genome sequences of representatives of 3 different stock colonies of p. leucopus, one stock colony of p. maniculatus and two wild populations of p. leucopus. the genomes were syntenic with that of the murids mus musculus and rattus norvegicus. phylogenetic analysis confirmed that these two peromyscus species are sister t ...201931772306
higher prevalence of babesia microti than borrelia burgdorferi in small mammal species in central pennsylvania, united states.babesia microti can lead to severe babesiosis in immunosuppressed populations, but due to high numbers of asymptomatic cases, clinical reporting is unable to define its geographic distribution. although lyme disease caused by borrelia burgdorferi is endemic throughout pennsylvania (pa), human babesiosis is under recognized, despite sharing the same vector and primary reservoir host. ixodes ticks are known to carry b. microti throughout pa, but information about pathogen prevalence in small mamma ...202031750805
pulsed resource availability changes dietary niche breadth and partitioning between generalist rodent consumers.identifying the mechanisms that structure niche breadth and overlap between species is important for determining how species interact and assessing their functional role in an ecosystem. without manipulative experiments, assessing the role of foraging ecology and interspecific competition in structuring diet is challenging. systems with regular pulses of resources act as a natural experiment to investigate the factors that influence the dietary niches of consumers. we used natural pulses of mast ...201931632649
genome sequences of three lactobacillus species strains of the stomach of the white-footed deermouse (peromyscus leucopus).three colony types of lactobacillus were isolated from the stomach of ll colony stock peromyscus leucopus deermice, a reservoir for several human zoonoses. genome sequences revealed two isolates to be new strains of lactobacillus animalis and lactobacillus reuteri the third was distinct from known species and was provisionally designated lactobacillus sp. strain ll6.201931582438
immature ixodes scapularis (acari: ixodidae) collected from peromyscus leucopus (rodentia: cricetidae) and peromyscus maniculatus (rodentia: cricetidae) nests in northern wisconsin.the blacklegged tick, ixodes scapularis say, is the primary lyme disease vector in the eastern united states. both immature stages of i. scapularis take blood meals from mice belonging to the genus peromyscus. mice are active during the night and spend the majority of diel periods in nests. thus, immature i. scapularis have a greater opportunity to drop from peromyscus hosts while in nests compared with the forest floor. here, we collected 11 peromyscus nests during a 3-mo period during which th ...202031411327
testosterone does not mediate variation in basal metabolic rate and activity in relation to reproductive condition and photoperiod in white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus).the photoperiodic response of many temperate zone rodents, including white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus), is a heritable life-history trait with underlying physiological variation. previous studies of intact male p. leucopus utilized two wild-derived bidirectional selection lines, a short photoperiod responsive (r) line selected for reproductive suppression in short-day conditions (sd) and a nonresponsive (nr) line selected for reproductive maturity in sd. nr mice in sd had greater food inta ...201931380609
conservation of the genome-wide recombination rate in white-footed mice.despite being linked to the fundamental processes of chromosome segregation and offspring diversification, meiotic recombination rates vary within and between species. recent years have seen progress in quantifying recombination rate evolution across multiple temporal and genomic scales. nevertheless, the level of variation in recombination rate within wild populations-a key determinant of evolution in this trait-remains poorly documented on the genomic scale. to address this notable gap, we use ...201931366913
the genome of peromyscus leucopus, natural host for lyme disease and other emerging infections.the rodent peromyscus leucopus is the natural reservoir of several tick-borne infections, including lyme disease. to expand the knowledge base for this key species in life cycles of several pathogens, we assembled and scaffolded the p. leucopus genome. the resulting assembly was 2.45 gb in total length, with 24 chromosome-length scaffolds harboring 97% of predicted genes. rna sequencing following infection of p. leucopus with borreliella burgdorferi, a lyme disease agent, shows that, unlike bloo ...201931355335
development of homeothermic endothermy is delayed in high-altitude native deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus).altricial mammals begin to independently thermoregulate during the first few weeks of postnatal development. in wild rodent populations, this is also a time of high mortality (50-95%), making the physiological systems that mature during this period potential targets for selection. high altitude (ha) is a particularly challenging environment for small endotherms owing to unremitting low o2 and ambient temperatures. while superior thermogenic capacities have been demonstrated in adults of some ha ...201931337307
genomic signatures of selection along a climatic gradient in the northern range margin of the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus).identifying genetic variation involved in thermal adaptation is likely to yield insights into how species adapt to different climates. physiological and behavioral responses associated with overwintering (e.g., torpor) are thought to serve important functions in climate adaptation. in this study, we use 2 isolated peromyscus leucopus lineages on the northern margin of the species range to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) showing a strong environmental association and test for evid ...201931300816
performance trade-offs in wild mice.various aspects of performance (e.g., speed, strength, endurance) are thought to be important determinants of the success of animals in natural activities such as foraging, mating, and escaping from predators. however, it is generally known that morphological properties enhancing one type of performance (e.g., strength) can lead to a reduction in another (e.g., speed). such performance trade-offs have been quantified at the inter-specific level, but evidence at the individual level remains equiv ...201931267235
rodent species as possible reservoirs of borrelia burgdorferi in a prairie ecosystem.lyme borreliosis is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the united states and europe. it is caused by a group of spirochete bacteria belonging to the borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. these pathogens are transmitted among vertebrate reservoir hosts through the bite of hard-bodied ticks. while the enzootic cycle of borrelia transmission is well understood in its primary reservoir, the white-footed mouse, peromyscus leucopus, far less is known about other reservoir hosts, par ...201931248821
prevalence and genetic characterization of deer tick virus (powassan virus, lineage ii) in ixodes scapularis ticks collected in maine.deer tick virus (dtv) is a genetic variant of powassan virus (powv) that circulates in north america in an enzootic cycle involving the blacklegged or "deer tick," ixodes scapularis, and small rodents such as the white-footed mouse. the number of reported human cases with neuroinvasive disease has increased substantially over the past few years, indicating that powv may be of increasing public health importance. to this end, we sought to estimate powv infection rates in questing i. scapularis co ...201931218999
assessing effectiveness of recommended residential yard management measures against ticks.public health authorities recommend a range of nonchemical measures to control blacklegged ticks ixodes scapularis say, 1821 (ixodida: ixodidae) in residential yards. here we enumerate these recommendations and assess their relationship to larval tick abundance in 143 yards in dutchess county, new york, an area with high lyme disease incidence. we examined the relationship between larval tick abundance and eight property features related to recommendations from public health agencies: presence o ...201931120510
modeling transmission dynamics of lyme disease: multiple vectors, seasonality, and vector mobility.lyme disease is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in the united states, which humans acquire from an infected tick of the genus ixodes (primarily ixodes scapularis). while previous studies have provided useful insights into various aspects of lyme disease, the tick's host preference in the presence of multiple hosts has not been considered in the existing models. in this study, we develop a transmission dynamics model that includes the interactions between the primary vectors involved: black ...201930997436
mice against ticks: an experimental community-guided effort to prevent tick-borne disease by altering the shared environment.mice against ticks is a community-guided ecological engineering project that aims to prevent tick-borne disease by using crispr-based genome editing to heritably immunize the white-footed mice ( peromyscus leucopus) responsible for infecting many ticks in eastern north america. introducing antibody-encoding resistance alleles into the local mouse population is anticipated to disrupt the disease transmission cycle for decades. technology development is shaped by engagement with community members ...201930905296
identification of a novel variant of golli myelin basic protein bg21 in the uniquely neuroprotective white-footed mouse.the myelin basic protein (mbp) gene is a complex gene which codes for several distinct forms of mbp. the various forms of mbp are functionally involved in the development of the nervous system, t-cell regulation, and myelination. several neurological disorders have been linked to mbp abnormality, further demonstrating its functional significance in the nervous system. the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus) exhibits profound neuroprotective characteristics, is asymptomatic to various diseas ...201930742937
host-specific expression of ixodes scapularis salivary genes.ixodes scapularis vectors several pathogens including borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of lyme disease. nymphal and larval stages, and the pathogens transmitted by i. scapularis are maintained in a zoonotic cycle involving rodent reservoir hosts, predominantly peromyscus leucopus. humans are not reservoir hosts, however, accidental encounters of infected ticks with humans, results in pathogen transmission to the human host. laboratory models of non-reservoir hosts such as guinea pigs develop a st ...201930545615
evidence of degradation of hair corticosterone in museum specimens.researchers increasingly rely on non-invasive physiological indices, such as glucocorticoid (gc) levels, to interpret how vertebrates respond to changes in their environment. recently, hair gcs have been of particular interest, because they are presumed stable over long periods of storage, which may facilitate the study of large-scale spatial and temporal patterns of stress in mammals. in the current study, we evaluated the stability of hair corticosterone levels in museum specimens, and the pot ...201830099031
detection and evaluation of antibody response to a baylisascaris-specific antigen in rodent hosts with the use of western blotting and elisa.diagnosis of parasitic diseases that involve tissue-stage larvae is challenging, and serology remains the most effective antemortem test for detecting these infections. baylisascaris procyonis, the raccoon roundworm, is a zoonotic ascarid. raccoons are the usual definitive host, and humans may be infected as accidental hosts. more than 150 species of birds and mammals may act as paratenic hosts, and rodents play an important role in the transmission and maintenance of this parasite in nature. mi ...201830074878
integrated control of juvenile ixodes scapularis parasitizing peromyscus leucopus in residential settings in connecticut, united states.lyme disease continues to be the most common vector-borne disease in the united states with an estimated 330,000 human cases annually. in the eastern united states, the blacklegged tick, ixodes scapularis, is the primary vector of the lyme disease spirochete, borrelia burgdorferi, and the white-footed mouse, peromyscus leucopus, is a primary reservoir host. in four residential neighborhoods in connecticut over three years, we tested the effectiveness of different low-toxicity integrated tick man ...201829859885
indirect effects of japanese barberry infestations on white-footed mice exposure to borrelia burgdorferi.japanese barberry (berberis thunbergii de candolle; ranunculales: berberidaceae) is an exotic shrub that has invaded woodland understories in the northeastern united states. it forms dense thickets providing ideal structure and microclimate for questing blacklegged ticks (ixodes scapularis say; acari: ixodidae). while there have been studies on the favorable habitat barberry provides blacklegged ticks, little has been studied on the relationship between barberry, vectors (ticks), and reservoirs ...201829850912
tick-borne disease risk in a forest food web.changes to the community ecology of hosts for zoonotic pathogens, particularly rodents, are likely to influence the emergence and prevalence of zoonotic diseases worldwide. however, the complex interactions between abiotic factors, pathogens, vectors, hosts, and both food resources and predators of hosts are difficult to disentangle. here we (1) use 19 yr of data from six large field plots in southeastern new york to compare the effects of hypothesized drivers of interannual variation in lyme di ...201829738078
transplacental transmission of tick-borne babesia microti in its natural host peromyscus leucopus.babesia microti is an emerging tick-borne pathogen and the causative agent of human babesiosis. mathematical modeling of the reproductive rate of b. microti indicates that it cannot persist in nature by horizontal tick-host transmission alone. we hypothesized that transplacental transmission in the reservoir population contributes to b. microti persistence and emergence in north american rodent populations.201829728129
effects of a zoonotic pathogen, borrelia burgdorferi, on the behavior of a key reservoir host.most emerging infectious diseases of humans are transmitted to humans from other animals. the transmission of these "zoonotic" pathogens is affected by the abundance and behavior of their wildlife hosts. however, the effects of infection with zoonotic pathogens on behavior of wildlife hosts, particularly those that might propagate through ecological communities, are not well understood. borrelia burgdorferi is a bacterium that causes lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in the usa ...201829721281
the role of ixodes scapularis, borrelia burgdorferi and wildlife hosts in lyme disease prevalence: a quantitative review.due to the ongoing expansion of ixodes scapularis (blacklegged tick) throughout the northeastern and midwestern united states, there is need to identify the role wildlife hosts play in the establishment and maintenance of tick populations. to quantify and synthesize the patterns of i. scapularis and borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and sensu lato prevalence relative to wildlife hosts, we reviewed the findings of independent studies conducted throughout the united states. we performed a compreh ...201829680260
prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in two species of peromyscus mice common in northern wisconsin.two species of mice, the white-footed mouse, peromyscus leucopus (rafinesque; rodentia: cricetidae) and the woodland deer mouse, peromyscus maniculatus (wagner; rodentia: cricetidae), serve as reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens in many parts of north america. however, the role p. maniculatus plays in the amplification and maintenance of anaplasma phagocytophilum (rickettsiales: ehrlichiaceae) and borrelia burgdorferi (spirochaetales: spirochaetaceae) is not well understood. in northern wisconsin ...201829506103
tick borne illness-lyme disease.lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borneillness in the united states. thecausative spirochete, borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted by 4 species of ixodes tick species. over 90% of us cases occur in northeasternstates from maine to virginia, and in wisconsin, minnesota, and michigan. infection also takes place in northern california and oregon. lyme borreliosis is also diagnosed in parts of europe, china, and japan. the white-footed mouse is the primary animal reservoir for b. burgdo ...201829402399
biomarker responses of peromyscus leucopus exposed to lead and cadmium in the southeast missouri lead mining district.biomarker responses and histopathological lesions have been documented in laboratory mammals exposed to elevated concentrations of lead and cadmium. the exposure of white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus) to these metals and the potential associated toxic effects were examined at three contaminated sites in the southeast missouri lead mining district and at a reference site in mo, usa. mice from the contaminated sites showed evidence of oxidative stress and reduced activity of red blood cell δ-a ...201829380143
demography of a habitat generalist, the white-footed mouse, in a heterogeneous environment.a population of white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus) in southeastern massachusetts was lived-trapped monthly in five habitat types for 5 yr in order to study the demography of a habitat generalist. we identified three demographic groups (two of low density and one of high density), which differed primarily in density, adult survival, proportion of males breeding, and variability in the proportion of males. the low-density segments of this population were at times able to achieve demographic p ...198729357183
ixodes scapularis (acari: ixodidae) reservoir host diversity and abundance impacts on dilution of borrelia burgdorferi (spirochaetales: spirochaetaceae) in residential and woodland habitats in connecticut, united states.the dilution effect in the zoonotic disease transmission cycle theorizes that an increased diversity of host species will alter transmission dynamics, result in a decrease in pathogen prevalence, and potentially lower human disease incidence. the interrelationship of borrelia burgdorferi (johnson, schmid, hyde, steigerwalt, and brenner) (spirochaetales: spirochaetaceae), the etiological agent of lyme disease (ld), and its primary vector, blacklegged ticks (ixodes scapularis say) (acari: ixodidae ...201829340657
ticks, ixodes scapularis, feed repeatedly on white-footed mice despite strong inflammatory response: an expanding paradigm for understanding tick-host interactions.ticks transmit infectious agents including bacteria, viruses and protozoa. however, their transmission may be compromised by host resistance to repeated tick feeding. increasing host resistance to repeated tick bites is well known in laboratory animals, including intense inflammation at the bite sites. however, it is not known whether this also occurs in wild rodents such as white-footed mice, peromyscus leucopus, and other wildlife, or if it occurs at all. according to the "host immune incompet ...201729326693
sexual imprinting and speciation between two peromyscus species.sexual isolation, a reproductive barrier, can prevent interbreeding between diverging populations or species. sexual isolation can have a clear genetic basis; however, it may also result from learned mate preferences that form via sexual imprinting. here, we demonstrate that two sympatric species of mice-the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus) and its sister species, the cotton mouse (p. gossypinus)-hybridize only rarely in the wild despite co-occurrence in the same habitat and lack of any ...201729231989
peromyscus leucopus mouse brain transcriptome response to powassan virus infection.powassan virus (powv) is a tick-borne flavivirus responsible for life-threatening encephalitis in north america and some regions of russia. the ticks that have been reported to transmit the virus belong to the ixodes species, and they feed on small-to-medium-sized mammals, such as peromyscus leucopus mice, skunks, and woodchucks. we previously developed a p. leucopus mouse model of powv infection, and the model is characterized by a lack of clinical signs of disease following intraperitoneal or ...201729147886
parallelisms and contrasts in the diverse ecologies of the anaplasma phagocytophilum and borrelia burgdorferi complexes of bacteria in the far western united states.anaplasma phagocytophilum and borrelia burgdorferi are two tick-borne bacteria that cause disease in people and animals. for each of these bacteria, there is a complex of closely related genospecies and/or strains that are genetically distinct and have been shown through both observational and experimental studies to have different host tropisms. in this review we compare the known ecologies of these two bacterial complexes in the far western usa and find remarkable similarities, which will help ...201629056734
signatures of positive selection and local adaptation to urbanization in white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus).urbanization significantly alters natural ecosystems and has accelerated globally. urban wildlife populations are often highly fragmented by human infrastructure, and isolated populations may adapt in response to local urban pressures. however, relatively few studies have identified genomic signatures of adaptation in urban animals. we used a landscape genomic approach to examine signatures of selection in urban populations of white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus) in new york city. we analysed ...201728980357
interspecific comparison of hantavirus prevalence in peromyscus populations from a fragmented agro-ecosystem in indiana, usa.comparatively little is known about hantavirus prevalence within rodent populations from the midwestern us, where two species of native mice, the prairie deer mouse ( peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) and the white-footed mouse ( peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis), are dominant members of rodent communities. we sampled both species in central indiana and tested individuals for presence of hantavirus antibodies to determine whether seroprevalence (percent of individuals with antibodies reactive to ...201828977768
signatures of selection in mammalian clock genes with coding trinucleotide repeats: implications for studying the genomics of high-pace adaptation.climate change is predicted to affect the reproductive ecology of wildlife; however, we have yet to understand if and how species can adapt to the rapid pace of change. clock genes are functional genes likely critical for adaptation to shifting seasonal conditions through shifts in timing cues. many of these genes contain coding trinucleotide repeats, which offer the potential for higher rates of change than single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) at coding sites, and, thus, may translate to fast ...201728944015
dose and dose rate extrapolation factors for malignant and non-malignant health endpoints after exposure to gamma and neutron radiation.murine experiments were conducted at the janus reactor in argonne national laboratory from 1970 to 1992 to study the effect of acute and protracted radiation dose from gamma rays and fission neutron whole body exposure. the present study reports the reanalysis of the janus data on 36,718 mice, of which 16,973 mice were irradiated with neutrons, 13,638 were irradiated with gamma rays, and 6107 were controls. mice were mostly mus musculus, but one experiment used peromyscus leucopus. for both type ...201728939964
exploration of stable isotope analysis for tick host identification.due to the problem of tick-borne diseases, there is a need to better understand the importance of different host species in maintaining enzootic disease cycles. we explored the utility of stable isotope analysis to identify the larval hosts of questing ixodid ticks. in laboratory experiments, we used ixodes scapularis and two host species that are important in the lyme disease system in eastern north america. first, we tested how effectively a short-term dietary tracer (13c in corn) was reflecte ...201728919405
admixture on the northern front: population genomics of range expansion in the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus) and secondary contact with the deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus).range expansion has genetic consequences expected to result in differentiated wave-front populations with low genetic variation and potentially introgression from a local species. the northern expansion of peromyscus leucopus in southern quebec provides an opportunity to test these predictions using population genomic tools. our results show evidence of recent and post-glacial expansion. genome-wide variation in p. leucopus indicates two post-glacial lineages are separated by the st. lawrence ri ...201728902189
a father effect explains sex-ratio bias.sex ratio allocation has important fitness consequences, and theory predicts that parents should adjust offspring sex ratio in cases where the fitness returns of producing male and female offspring vary. the ability of fathers to bias offspring sex ratios has traditionally been dismissed given the expectation of an equal proportion of x- and y-chromosome-bearing sperm (cbs) in ejaculates due to segregation of sex chromosomes at meiosis. this expectation has been recently refuted. here we used pe ...201728855362
proposal to reclassify ehrlichia muris as ehrlichia muris subsp. muris subsp. nov. and description of ehrlichia muris subsp. eauclairensis subsp. nov., a newly recognized tick-borne pathogen of humans.we have previously described a novel taxon of the genus ehrlichia (type strain wisconsint), closely related to ehrlichia muris, that causes human ehrlichiosis among patients with exposures to ticks in the upper midwestern usa. dna from this bacterium was also detected in ixodes scapularis and peromyscus leucopus collected in minnesota and wisconsin. to determine the relationship between the e. muris-like agent (emla) and other species of the genus ehrlichia phenotypic, genotypic and epidemiologi ...201728699575
interferon signaling in peromyscus leucopus confers a potent and specific restriction to vector-borne flaviviruses.tick-borne flaviviruses (tbfvs), including powassan virus and tick-borne encephalitis virus cause encephalitis or hemorrhagic fevers in humans with case-fatality rates ranging from 1-30%. despite severe disease in humans, tbfv infection of natural rodent hosts has little noticeable effect. currently, the basis for resistance to disease is not known. we hypothesize that the coevolution of flaviviruses with their respective hosts has shaped the evolution of potent antiviral factors that suppress v ...201728650973
control of breathing and ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia in deer mice native to high altitudes.we compared the control of breathing and heart rate by hypoxia between high- and low-altitude populations of peromyscus mice, to help elucidate the physiological specializations that help high-altitude natives cope with o2 limitation.201728640969
hematopoietic aging biomarkers in peromyscus leucopus mice.we analyzed hematopoietic phenotypes in peromyscus leucopus (pl) mice at young (2-9 months), middle (22-23 months) and old (33-46 months) ages aimed at characterizing age-associated changes in this unique rodent species. we found a significantly higher number of monocytes in old pl mice in peripheral blood, and higher proportions of cd44+ cells in blood, spleen and bone marrow in old pl mice than in middle and young counterparts. we conclude that elevated blood monocyte counts and up-regulated h ...201728620625
optimum brood size: tests of alternative hypotheses.the most productive litter size (five) was not as common as expected in a free-living population of white-footed mice. i evaluated four competing hypotheses that can explain this pattern. reproductive costs and annual variation in recruitment appear to be insufficient explanations for the empirical distribution of litter size. optimal investment of reproductive resources that vary among parents is supported by some tests, but not by all. the abundance of litters less than the apparent optimum is ...199228567753
retrotransposon mys is concentrated on the sex chromosomes: implications for copy number containment.chromosomal distribution of the mys retrotransposon was examined by in situ hybridization with a biotinylated probe. thirty-six mice from four species of the peromyscus leucopus/maniculatus complex were examined. mys hybridized to every chromosome in all individuals examined. however, the pattern of hybridization was nonrandom. mys elements were excluded from c-banding regions of the autosomes, and hybridized preferentially to g-bands. the most prominent feature of these hybridizations was the p ...199028564430
mitochondrial dna and protein differentiation between hybridizing cytotypes of the white-footed mouse, peromyscus leucopus.restriction-enzyme analysis of mitochondrial dna and protein electrophoresis were used to document patterns of gene flow across a hybrid zone between chromosomal races of peromyscus leucopus. chromosomal markers (three inversions) are such that individuals can be classified as potential f1 's, backcrosses, or parental types. allozymic characterization of the hybrid zone is congruent with the chromosomal data (stangl, 1986) and indicates an assymetrical distribution of markers, with the northeast ...198728564355
proximate and ultimate controls on life-history variation: the evolution of litter size in white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus).recruitment of litter-mates of nest-box-inhabiting white-footed mice was monitored to study the evolution of litter size. the frequency distribution of litter sizes was nonsymmetrical, and the most frequent litter size was less than the optimum. this was not the result of differential parental survival, which was independent of litter size produced. recruitment remained constant or increased slightly to a peak in litters of five young, and then dropped precipitously for larger litters. the singl ...198628564119
on the evolution of litter size in peromyscus leucopus. 197828564099
components of variance of odontometric traits in a wild-derived population of peromyscus leucopus. 196828562855
isolation of the lyme disease spirochete borrelia mayonii from naturally infected rodents in minnesota.borrelia mayonii is a newly described member of the borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex that is vectored by the black-legged tick (ixodes scapularis say) and a cause of lyme disease in minnesota and wisconsin. vertebrate reservoir hosts involved in the enzootic maintenance of b. mayonii have not yet been identified. here, we describe the first isolation of b. mayonii from naturally infected white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus rafinesque) and an american red squirrel (tamiasciurus hudsonic ...201728444198
inbreeding and selection shape genomic diversity in captive populations: implications for the conservation of endangered species.captive breeding programs are often initiated to prevent species extinction until reintroduction into the wild can occur. however, the evolution of captive populations via inbreeding, drift, and selection can impair fitness, compromising reintroduction programs. to better understand the evolutionary response of species bred in captivity, we used nearly 5500 single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) in populations of white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus) to measure the impact of breeding regimes o ...201728423000
liver microbiome of peromyscus leucopus, a key reservoir host species for emerging infectious diseases in north america.microbiome studies generally focus on the gut microbiome, which is composed of a large proportion of commensal bacteria. here we propose a first analysis of the liver microbiome using next generation sequencing as a tool to detect potentially pathogenic strains. we used peromyscus leucopus, the main reservoir host species of lyme disease in eastern north america, as a model and sequenced v5-v6 regions of the 16s gene from 18 populations in southern quebec (canada). the lactobacillus genus was fo ...201728412525
acquisition of borrelia burgdorferi infection by larval ixodes scapularis (acari: ixodidae) associated with engorgement measures.measuring rates of acquisition of the lyme disease pathogen, borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato johnson, schmid, hyde, steigerwalt & brenner, by the larval stage of ixodes scapularis say is a useful tool for xenodiagnoses of b. burgdorferi in vertebrate hosts. in the nymphal and adult stages of i. scapularis, the duration of attachment to hosts has been shown to predict both body engorgement during blood feeding and the timing of infection with b. burgdorferi. however, these relationships have not ...201728399208
benign neonatal deep hypothermia in rodents and its relations to hibernation.the neonates of many rodent species survive deep hypothermia (t b = 0-8 °c). in key respects, this hypothermia is more akin to hibernation than was thought during much of the twentieth century, indicating that studies of neonatal hypothermia may usefully supplement studies of hibernation in understanding evolved tissue adaptations to near-freezing t b. to clarify evolutionary diversity in neonatal survival of deep hypothermia, neonates of six species or strains were subjected to a standardized p ...201728349198
predation hazard and seed removal by small mammals: microhabitat versus patch scale effects.predator avoidance may involve response strategies of prey species that are time and space specific. many studies have shown that foraging individuals avoid predators by altering microhabitat usage; alternatively, sites may be selected according to larger-scale features of the habitat mosaic. we measured seed removal by two small mammal species (peromyscus leucopus, and microtus pennsylvanicus) at 474 stations over an experimentally created landscape of 12 patches, and under conditions of relati ...199328314039
the scale of demographic heterogeneity in a population of peromyscus leucopus.the patterns of spatial heterogeneity in density and demography were studied in a population of peromyscus leucopus inhabiting a deciduous forest in west-central indiana. a series of 9 live-trapping grids sampled densities from 3 spatial scales: 3 ha, 80 ha and 350 km2. we found high levels of variation within all three spatial scales. there was as much variation within a single, large grid as within the entire sugar creek valley (350 km2). the patterns of density variation were not temporally s ...199028313143
radiotelemetric assessment of diel cycles in euthermic body temperature and torpor in a free-ranging small mammal inhabiting man-made nest sites.five free-ranging white-footed mice, peromyscus leucopus, known to inhabit man-made nest boxes were captured during winter, surgically-implanted with temperature-sensitive radiotelemeters, and released at the site of capture. the body temperatures of mice which voluntarily inhabited nest boxes were monitored from a remote location with an am receiver on 17 days.all five mice were able to maintain stable euthermic body temperatures (approximately 35-37°c during the day; 37-39°c at night) during e ...198328310688
optimal foraging: the responses of peromyscus leucopus to experimental changes in processing time and hunger.food density, degree of hunger prior to foraging, and food processing difficulty were varied in order to determine their effects on the diet diversity of captive peromyscus leucopus foraging for buried seeds. no relationship was found between diet diversity and food density. however, diet diversity exhibited a significantly positive relationship with hunger, and a significantly negative relationship with seed processing time. these results strongly support optimal foraging theory.198028310630
multiple responses to different photoperiods occur in the mouse, peromyscus leucopus.1. peromyscus leucopus exhibits multiple responses to different daylengths. the winter molt and gonadal regression are complete in populations chronically exposed to 12, 11, 10, or 9 h of light per day while hypertrophy of brown fat and occurrence of daily torpor were greater in mice on 9 or 10 h of light when compared to animals on 11 or 12 h photocycles. 2. a precise "critical" daylength is not observed in this species for gonadal regression, occurrence of daily torpor, or hypertrophy of brown ...198028309556
seasonal changes in thermogenesis, organ weights, and body composition in the white-footed mouse,peromyscus leucopus.1. seasonal adjustments in wild-caughtperomyscus leucopus include autumn increases in basal metabolic, nonshivering thermogenesis, and interscapular brown fat and decreases in weights of gonads, liver, adrenal glands, and total lipid. body weight and nonextractable dry weight do not change. 2. basal metabolic rate, nonshivering thermogenesis, and interscapular brown fat increase following initial cold exposure in mid-september and are maintained at similar levels through january. 3. there is a p ...197328308572
modeling biotic and abiotic influences on population size in small mammals.most previous work in population ecology has modeled density-dependent effects in isolation. in this paper, we concurrently modeled the effect of density-dependent and density-independent factors on the rate of population change (r t ) in peromyscus leucopus (white-footed mouse), using a ricker equation expanded to include weather and seasonality. from 1973 to 1996, we live-trapped p. leucopus monthly in a 2-ha ohio woodlot. population peaks (july to august) varied from 27 to 181 individuals, wh ...199828308199
coexistence of white-footed mice and deer mice may be mediated by fluctuating environmental conditions.white-footed mice, peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis, and deer mice, p. maniculatus nubiterrae, occur sympatically throughout much of the appalachian mountains of the eastern united states. previous studies have shown that these two species are behaviorally and ecologically similar and do not partition food or microhabitat. in this paper i use a 14-year data set to demonstrate that the two species have differential population growth and survival rates in response to food abundance and season, w ...199628307870
experimental tests of nest site competition in two peromyscus species.the importance of interspecific competition for nest sites between the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis) and the cloudland deermouse (p. maniculatus nubiterrae) were investigated in the montane forests of southwestern virginia over 3 years. trials were conducted for both species using large, outdoor enclosures in order to examine: (i) nest site preference in isolation and (ii) nest site selection made in the presence of potential competitors. both species demonstrated a str ...199628307125
response to cecropia cocoons of mus musculus and two species of peromyscus.in rural areas cocoons of overwintering hyalophora cecropia spum close to the ground are opened and the pupae eaten by small mammals, but in urban areas, where cecropia populations are much larger, the cocoons are almost never opened by mammals. peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis and p. maniculatus bairdii are abundant in rural areas, but are largely replaced by mus musculus in urban areas. in laboratory experiments p. l. noveboracensis invariably opened cecropia cocoons and ate the pupae. p. m. ...197228306859
microsatellite markers reveal low frequency of natural hybridization between the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus) and deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus) in southern quebec, canada.in some parts of southern quebec, two closely related rodent species - the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus) and the deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus) - have recently come in contact because of climate-driven changes in the distribution of the former. both species share similar morphology, ecology, and life history traits, which suggests that natural hybridization may be possible. hybridization among these two species can have important implications on the ecological roles these rodents ...201728177836
closely-related borrelia burgdorferi (sensu stricto) strains exhibit similar fitness in single infections and asymmetric competition in multiple infections.wild hosts are commonly co-infected with complex, genetically diverse, pathogen communities. competition is expected between genetically or ecologically similar pathogen strains which may influence patterns of coexistence. however, there is little data on how specific strains of these diverse pathogen species interact within the host and how this impacts pathogen persistence in nature. ticks are the most common disease vector in temperate regions with borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of ...201728166814
modeling powassan virus infection in peromyscus leucopus, a natural host.the tick-borne flavivirus, powassan virus (powv) causes life-threatening encephalitis in humans in north america and europe. powv is transmitted by ixodid tick vectors that feed on small to medium-sized mammals, such as peromyscus leucopus mice, which may serve as either reservoir, bridge or amplification hosts. intraperitoneal and intracranial inoculation of 4-week old peromyscus leucopus mice with 103 pfu of powv did not result in overt clinical signs of disease. however, following intracrania ...201728141800
experimental evaluation of peromyscus leucopus as a reservoir host of the ehrlichia muris-like agent.the ehrlichia muris-like agent (emla) is a newly recognized human pathogen in the north central united states. although blacklegged ticks (ixodes scapularis) have been identified as capable vectors, wild reservoirs have not yet been established for emla. as key hosts for i. scapularis, white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus) are important reservoirs for various tick-borne pathogens, and potentially, for emla. the objective of this study was to evaluate reservoir competence in p. leucopus using a ...201728129781
the prevalence of trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of chagas disease, in texas rodent populations.rodent species were assessed as potential hosts of trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of chagas disease, from five sites throughout texas in sylvan and disturbed habitats. a total of 592 rodents were captured, resulting in a wide taxonomic representation of 11 genera and 15 species. heart samples of 543 individuals were successfully analyzed by sybrgreen-based quantitative pcr (qpcr) targeting a 166 bp fragment of satellite dna of t. cruzi. eight rodents representing six species from six gen ...201728091763
co-feeding transmission facilitates strain coexistence in borrelia burgdorferi, the lyme disease agent.coexistence of multiple tick-borne pathogens or strains is common in natural hosts and can be facilitated by resource partitioning of the host species, within-host localization, or by different transmission pathways. most vector-borne pathogens are transmitted horizontally via systemic host infection, but transmission may occur in the absence of systemic infection between two vectors feeding in close proximity, enabling pathogens to minimize competition and escape the host immune response. in a ...201628089780
stable transmission of borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto on the outer banks of north carolina.the spirochaete (borrelia burgdorferi) associated with lyme disease was detected in questing ticks and rodents during a period of 18 years, 1991-2009, at five locations on the outer banks of north carolina. the black-legged tick (ixodes scapularis) was collected at varied intervals between 1991 and 2009 and examined for b. burgdorferi. the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus), house mouse (mus musculus) marsh rice rat (oryzomys palustris), marsh rabbit (sylvilagus palustris), eastern cottont ...201627966833
invasive exotic shrub modifies a classic animal-habitat relationship and alters patterns of vertebrate seed predation.recent evidence suggests that invasive exotic plants can provide novel habitats that alter animal behavior. however, it remains unclear whether classic animal-habitat associations that influence the spatial distribution of plant-animal interactions, such as small mammal use of downed woody debris, persist in invaded habitats. we removed an invasive exotic shrub (buckthorn, rhamnus cathartica) from 7 of 15 plots in wisconsin. in each plot, we deployed 200 tagged quercus rubra seeds in november 20 ...201727936498
female white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus) trade off offspring skeletal quality for self-maintenance when dietary calcium intake is low.during gestation and lactation in mammals, calcium and other minerals are transferred from female to offspring to support skeletal ossification. to meet mineral requirements, females commonly mobilize mineral from their own skeleton to augment dietary intake. because the fitness costs of bone loss are expected to limit the amount of endogenous mineral that females transfer to their young, the amount of mineral allocated to offspring is predicted to be influenced by the availability of mineral in ...201627901312
anatomical variation of the tarsus in common inbred mouse strains.rodent models are used for a variety of orthopedic research applications; however, anatomy references include mostly artistic representations. advanced imaging techniques, including micro-computed tomography (microct), can provide more accurate representations of subtle anatomical characteristics. a recent microct atlas of laboratory mouse (mus musculus) anatomy depicts the central and tarsal bone iii (t3) as a single bone, differing from previous references. fusion of tarsal bones is generally ...201727731937
evaluating the influence of life-history characteristics on genetic structure: a comparison of small mammals inhabiting complex agricultural landscapes.conversion of formerly continuous native habitats into highly fragmented landscapes can lead to numerous negative demographic and genetic impacts on native taxa that ultimately reduce population viability. in response to concerns over biodiversity loss, numerous investigators have proposed that traits such as body size and ecological specialization influence the sensitivity of species to habitat fragmentation. in this study, we examined how differences in body size and ecological specialization ...201627648250
insights on the host associations and geographic distribution of hymenolepis folkertsi (cestoda: hymenolepididae) among rodents across temperate latitudes of north america.synoptic data and an understanding of helminth parasite diversity among diverse rodent assemblages across temperate latitudes of north america remain remarkably incomplete. renewed attention to comprehensive survey and inventory to establish the structure of biodiverse faunas is essential in providing indicators and proxies for identifying the outcomes of accelerating change linked to climate warming and anthropogenic forcing. subsequent to the description of hymenolepis folkertsi in the oldfiel ...201627630100
complete genome characterisation and phylogenetic position of tigray hantavirus from the ethiopian white-footed mouse, stenocephalemys albipes.hantaviruses, well-known human pathogens, have only recently been identified on the african continent. tigray virus (tigv) was found in ethiopia in 2012 in a murinae species, stenocephalemys albipes, but the genetic data obtained at that time were too limited to correctly assess its phylogenetic position within the hantavirus tree. we used high throughput sequencing to determine the complete genome of tigv, which showed a typical hantavirus organisation. the large (l), medium (m), and small (s) ...201627619058
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