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the very long telomeres in sorex granarius (soricidae, eulipothyphla) contain ribosomal dna.two closely related shrew species, sorex granarius and sorex araneus, in which robertsonian rearrangements have played a primary role in karyotype evolution, present very distinct telomere length patterns. s. granarius displays hyperlong telomeres specifically associated with the short arms of acrocentrics, whereas telomere lengths in s. araneus are rather short and homogenous. using a combined approach of chromosome and fibre fish, modified q-fish, 3d-fish, ag-nor staining and trf analysis, we ...200717899406
[cytogenetic control of a hybrid zone of between two sorex araneus chromosome races before breeding season].two chromosome races of common shrew, moscow and seliger, differ in the arm combination in 11 diagnostic chromosomes (robertsonian metacentrics/acrocentrics). homozygotes of both pure races, simple robertsonian heterozygotes of seliger race, and complex heterozygotes (fi hybrids) were detected in the found earlier between hybrid zone of these races, in the spring before the breeding seasonbreeding season. the g/oheterozygote was first discovered in race seliger, whose chromosome formula typicall ...200718592688
cases of coat colour anomalies in the common shrew, sorex araneus l.coat colour anomalies in the common shrew, sorex araneus l., in the geographical range of this species, including poland, are extremely rare. this study describes atypically coloured common shrews. light colouration of the coat is a result of lack ofpigment in the entire hair or hair fragments. it appears that atypically coloured shrews occur more often in isolated populations whose gene transfer with neighboring populations is limited.200717687937
using a bayesian method to assign individuals to karyotypic taxa in shrew hybrid zones.individuals sampled in hybrid zones are usually analysed according to their sampling locality, morphology, behaviour or karyotype. but the increasing availability of genetic information more and more favours its use for individual sorting purposes and numerous assignment methods based on the genetic composition of individuals have been developed. the shrews of the sorex araneus group offer good opportunities to test the genetic assignment on individuals identified by their karyotype. here we exp ...200717431326
genetic diversity and population size: island populations of the common shrew, sorex araneus.populations of many species are currently being fragmented and reduced by human interactions. these processes will tend to reduce genetic diversity within populations and reduce individual heterozygosities because of genetic drift, inbreeding and reduced migration. conservation biologists need to know the effect of population size on genetic diversity, as this is likely to influence a population's ability to persist. island populations represent an ideal natural experiment with which to study th ...200717498228
chromosomal "system mutations" in the common shrew (sorex araneus l., insectivora) populations from the upper volga basin. 200717929669
seewis virus, a genetically distinct hantavirus in the eurasian common shrew (sorex araneus).more than 20 years ago, hantaviral antigens were reported in tissues of the eurasian common shrew (sorex araneus), eurasian water shrew (neomys fodiens) and common mole (talpa europea), suggesting that insectivores, or soricomorphs, might serve as reservoirs of unique hantaviruses. using rt-pcr, sequences of a genetically distinct hantavirus, designated seewis virus (swsv), were amplified from lung tissue of a eurasian common shrew, captured in october 2006 in graubünden, switzerland. pair-wise ...200717967200
[structure of populations and ecological nishes of ectoparasites in the parasite communities of small forest mammals].the paper reports the results of eight-year investigations on the ectoparasites of rodents and insectivores carried out in southern taiga of the ilmen-volkhov lowland (novgorod region) and kurgolovsky reserve (leningrad region). twelve species of small mammals were captured including three dominate species--bank vole clethrionomys glareolus (2722 specimens), common shrew sorex araneus (1658 specimens), and wood mouse apodemus uralensis (367 specimens). parasite community of the bank vole compris ...200718052001
new data on soricimyxum fegati (myxozoa) including analysis of its phylogenetic position inferred from the ssu rrna gene sequence.a myxosporean species found to develop in the liver of 10 out of 24 common shrews, sorex araneus l., caught in south bohemia, czech republic, was identified as soricimyxum fegati prunescu, prunescu, pucek et lom, 2007, the unique representative of the genus and the first myxosporean species known to develop from plasmodia to spores in a terrestrial mammal. the original description of this species, based on fixed material, is supplemented with new data based on fresh material and with partial seq ...200718303768
the first finding of myxosporean development from plasmodia to spores in terrestrial mammals: soricimyxum fegati gen. et sp. n. (myxozoa) from sorex araneus (soricomorpha).soricimyxum fegati gen. et sp. n. is a new myxosporean (myxozoa) species discovered in the liver of shrews, sorex araneus l., collected in the bialowieza primeval forest (poland). both developmental stages and mature spores were found during a histological study. the infection had about 40% prevalence at the investigated locality. plasmodia were polysporic. elongated plasmodia with an average size of 30 by 8 microm occupied bile ducts and larger rounded plasmodia up to 80 microm in diameter were ...200719245186
haemoparasites of common shrews (sorex araneus) in northwest england.the presence of haemoparasites belonging to the taxa anaplasma, bartonella and trypanosoma was determined among 76 common shrews (sorex araneus) from northwest england. anaplasma phagocytophilum dna was recovered from the blood of 1 shrew (1.3%), with the amplified 16s rrna sequence identical to one previously reported from a bank vole (clethrionomys glareolus). trypanosoma spp. dna was detected in 9 shrews (11.8%), the amplified 18s rdna fragments being indistinguishable from one another, and d ...200717288633
heavy-metal concentrations in small mammals from a diffusely polluted floodplain: importance of species- and location-specific characteristics.the soil of several floodplain areas along large european rivers shows increased levels of heavy metals as a relict from past sedimentation of contaminants. these levels may pose risks of accumulation in food webs and toxicologic effects on flora and fauna. however, for floodplains, data on heavy-metal concentrations in vertebrates are scarce. moreover, these environments are characterised by periodical flooding cycles influencing ecologic processes and patterns. to investigate whether the sugge ...200717387425
preferential segregation of metacentric chromosomes in simple robertsonian heterozygotes of sorex araneus.one of the hypotheses explaining preferential transmission of metacentrics among simple robertsonian (rb) heterozygotes of the common shrew (sorex araneus l.) invokes the existence of meiotic drive. thus far, evidence that metacentrics are favoured at meiosis has been obtained indirectly, on the basis of crosses made under controlled conditions. the aim of the present work was to test the hypothesis in a direct study. we analysed products of chromosome segregation among 12 simple heterozygote ma ...200717700635
[note on some acarians found on sorex araneus (mamm., insectivora)]. 200714326420
relationships of basal metabolic rate, relative testis size and cycle length of spermatogenesis in shrews (mammalia, soricidae).the aim of the present study was to determinate the cycle length of spermatogenesis in three species of shrew, suncus murinus, sorex coronatus and sorex minutus, and to assess the relative influence of variation in basal metabolic rate (bmr) and mating system (level of sperm competition) on the observed rate of spermatogenesis, including data of shrew species studied before (sorex araneus, crocidura russula and neomys fodiens). the dynamics of sperm production were determined by tracing 5-bromod ...200818402763
the influence of climatic conditions on long-term changes in the helminth fauna of terrestrial molluscs and the implications for parasite transmission in southern england.the influence of climatic conditions on the prevalence and transmission of helminth parasites in a terrestrial mollusc population was studied in a grassland site in southern england between 1974 and 1983. molluscs were sampled in each september of 5 years over this period (1974, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1983). climatic conditions had a variable effect on parasite prevalence. trematode sporocyst infections increased after wet summer and warm winter conditions and declined in hot, dry periods. cestode in ...200818598579
echinococcus multilocularis in belgium: prevalence in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) and in different species of potential intermediate hosts.echinococcus multilocularis causes a rare but potentially lethal zoonotic infection in humans. this tapeworm is known to be endemic in foxes in several countries of western and central europe. in western europe, the common vole (microtus arvalis) and the water vole (arvicola terrestris) are considered to be the most important intermediate host species of this cestode whereas the red fox is by far the most important final host. the purpose of this study was to provide data on the prevalences in w ...200818164551
recombination map of the common shrew, sorex araneus (eulipotyphla, mammalia).the eurasian common shrew (sorex araneus l.) is characterized by spectacular chromosomal variation, both autosomal variation of the robertsonian type and an xx/xy(1)y(2) system of sex determination. it is an important mammalian model of chromosomal and genome evolution as it is one of the few species with a complete genome sequence. here we generate a high-precision cytological recombination map for the species, the third such map produced in mammals, following those for humans and house mice. w ...200818245365
mammalian genome projects reveal new growth hormone (gh) sequences. characterization of the gh-encoding genes of armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus), hedgehog (erinaceus europaeus), bat (myotis lucifugus), hyrax (procavia capensis), shrew (sorex araneus), ground squirrel (spermophilus tridecemlineatus), elephant (loxodonta africana), cat (felis catus) and opossum (monodelphis domestica).mammalian growth hormone (gh) sequences have been shown previously to display episodic evolution: the sequence is generally strongly conserved but on at least two occasions during mammalian evolution (on lineages leading to higher primates and ruminants) bursts of rapid evolution occurred. however, the number of mammalian orders studied previously has been relatively limited, and the availability of sequence data via mammalian genome projects provides the potential for extending the range of gh ...200817574247
the taming of the shrew milk teeth.a characteristic feature of mammalian dentition is the evolutionary reduction of tooth number and replacement. because mice do not replace teeth, here we used sorex araneus, the common shrew, as a model to investigate the loss of tooth replacement. historically, shrews have been reported to initiate the development of several, milk or deciduous teeth but these soon become rudimentary and only the replacement teeth erupt. shrews thus offer a living example of a derived mammalian pattern where the ...200818638324
toxicological risks for small mammals in a diffusely and moderately polluted floodplain.the ecotoxicological risk of heavy metal pollution in diffusely polluted floodplains is largely unclear, as field-based data are scarce. this study investigated cadmium (cd) and lead (pb) accumulation in the liver and kidneys of small mammal species (voles, mice and shrews) from a moderately polluted dutch floodplain. the cd and pb concentrations were compared with effect concentrations (ecs). reported ecs in literature varied considerably, with the lowest values frequently exceeded by our value ...200818789815
composition and function of haemolymphatic tissues in the european common shrew.studies of wild animals responding to their native parasites are essential if we are to understand how the immune system functions in the natural environment. while immune defence may bring increased survival, this may come at a resource cost to other physiological traits, including reproduction. here, we tested the hypothesis that wild common shrews (sorex araneus), which produce large numbers of offspring during the one breeding season of their short life span, forgo investment in immunity and ...200818923707
[distribution of two chromosome races of the common shrew (sorex araneus l.) in the hybrid zone: may a change of the dispersal mode maintain independent gene frequencies?].combination of different dispersal modes may itself, without external obstacles, lead to the appearance of subdivided populations and maintain the existence of independent population systems. the common shrew, a mammal convenient for studying different levels of intraspecific differentiation, was the object of the study. empirical data have been used for simulation taking into account the change of dispersal modes in the population area. the obtained results agree with empirical data on the dist ...200818727383
[3d organization of interphase fibroblast nuclei in two closely related shrew species, sorex granarius and s. araneus, differed by the structure of chromosome termini].to study 3d organization of fibroblast interphase nuclei in two sibling shrew species, sorex araneus from cordon race and s. granarius, fish with probe to telomeric and rdna repeats, and immunofluorescence with ana crest and antibodies to nucleolus protein b23 were used. karyotypes of studied species are composed of near identical chromosomal arms and differ by the number of metacentrics and the structure of terminal chromosome regions. the large telomeres containing on the average 218 kbp of te ...200818683589
[fixation of metacentric chromosomes in populations of the common shrew sorex araneus l. from populations of eastern europe].in this review, we discuss the processes of fixation of robertsonian chromosome fusions in populations of the common shrew sorex araneus l. various robertsonian fusions, accumulating in populations, create an illusion of large chromosomal rearrangements, reciprocal translocations of complete chromosome arms. the use of these rearrangements for phylogenetic reconstructions results in false conclusions. robertsonian fusions accumulate in populations at such stages of the species evolution, when la ...200818672791
generation recruitment and death of brain cells throughout the life cycle of sorex shrews (lipotyphla).young shrews of the genus sorex that are born in early summer reduce their body size before wintering, including a reduction of brain weight of 10-30%. in the spring they mature sexually, double their body weight and regain about half of the loss in brain weight. to investigate the mechanisms of brain weight oscillations we studied the rate of cell death and generation in the brain during the whole life cycle of the common shrew (sorex araneus) and pygmy shrew (s. minutus). after weaning, shrews ...200818380668
a new perspective on the evolutionary history of western european sorex araneus group revealed by paternal and maternal molecular markers.the species of the common shrew (sorex araneus) group are morphologically very similar, but have undergone a spectacular chromosomal evolution. we investigate here the evolutionary history of the sorex araneus group distributed in western europe. in particular, we clarify the position of a difficult species, s. granarius, using sex-specific (mtdna and y-chromosome) markers. the karyotype of s. granarius is generally considered similar to the common ancestor of the restricted group considered her ...200818325791
chromosomal rearrangements and genetic structure at different evolutionary levels of the sorex araneus group.robertsonian (rb) fusions received large theoretical support for their role in speciation, but empirical evidence is often lacking. here, we address the role of rb rearrangements on the genetic differentiation of the karyotypically diversified group of shrews, sorex araneus. we compared genetic structure between 'rearranged' and 'common' chromosomes in pairwise comparisons of five karyotypic taxa of the group. considering all possible comparisons, we found a significantly greater differentiation ...200818266682
mandible asymmetry and genetic diversity in island populations of the common shrew, sorex araneus.mandibles from 13 island and six mainland populations of common shrews from the west coast of scotland were subjected to geometric morphometric analysis in order to investigate the relationship between genetic diversity and fluctuating asymmetry. although population mean shape fluctuating asymmetry (fa) and size fa were significantly inversely correlated with population genetic diversity this result was substantially due to one island. sanda, the smallest island with by far the lowest genetic di ...200818194233
histological description of seminiferous epithelium and cycle length of spermatogenesis in the water shrew neomys fodiens (mammalia: soricidae).recently, we examined the spermatogenesis cycle length in two shrews species, sorex araneus characterized by a very high metabolic rate and a polyandric mating system (sperm competition) resulting in a short cycle and crocidura russula characterized by a much lower metabolic rate and a monogamous mating system showing a longer cycle. in this study, we investigated the spermatogenesis cycle in neomys fodiens showing an intermediate metabolic rate. we described the stages of seminiferous epitheliu ...200817629637
a hybrid zone with coincident clines for autosomal and sex-specific markers in the sorex araneus group.in hybrid zones, endogenous counter-selection of hybrids is usually first expressed as reduced fertility or viability in hybrids of the heterogametic sex, a mechanism known as haldane's rule. this phenomenon often leads to a differential of gene flow between sex-linked markers. here, we address the possibility of a differential gene flow for y chromosome, mtdna and autosomal markers across the hybrid zone between the genetically and chromosomally well-differentiated species sorex antinorii and s ...200818355184
photoreceptor types and distributions in the retinae of insectivores.the retinae of insectivores have been rarely studied, and their photoreceptor arrangements and expression patterns of visual pigments are largely unknown. we have determined the presence and distribution of cones in three species of shrews (common shrew sorex araneus, greater white-toothed shrew crocidura russula, dark forest shrew crocidura poensis; soricidae) and in the lesser hedgehog tenrec echinops telfairi (tenrecidae). special cone types were identified and quantified in flattened whole r ...200811193110
neoskrjabinolepis merkushevae sp. n. (cyclophyllidea: hymenolepididae), a new cestode from shrews from the palaearctic region.neoskrjabinolepis (neoskrjabinolepidoides) merkushevae sp. n. is described from the shrew sorex minutus l. (type host) from belarus. the new species is characterised by rostellar hooks 35-37 microm long, provided with small epiphyseal thickening of the handle; short (35-40 microm) cirrus consisting of a basal part with claw-shaped spines, a parabasal part with thin needle-shaped spines and an unarmed distal part; cirrus-sac slightly passing into median field; and 12-16 eggs per gravid uterus. in ...200818666417
chromosomal races of the common shrew (sorex araneus l.) inhabiting northeastern european russia: do physical obstacles restrict their distribution? 200819024692
no impact of pupal predation on the altitudinal distribution of autumnal moth and winter moth (lepidoptera: geometridae) in sub-arctic birch forest.we tested the hypothesis that pupal predation by shrews underlies the altitudinal distribution pattern of the geometrid moth species operophtera brumata l. (winter moth) and epirrita autumnata bkh (autumnal moth) in a sub-arctic birch forest in northern fennoscandia. in particular, we predicted more intense pupal predation at low altitudes where the two moth species normally do not reach outbreak densities. predation of pupae of both moth species was estimated along 10 parallel altitudinal trans ...200919508770
ecomorphometric variation and sexual dimorphism in the common shrew (sorex araneus).we investigated the evolution of the biomechanics of the mandible in island and mainland populations of the common shrew on the west coast of scotland. we predicted that climatic differences between populations should cause differences in prey composition leading to changes in the mechanical potential (mp) of the mandible. in females, mp was correlated with climate, with greater mp in warmer and drier habitats. in males, mp was significantly greater than in females but there was no relationship ...200919389155
livestock grazing intensity affects abundance of common shrews (sorex araneus) in two meadows in denmark.current nature conservation in semi-natural grasslands often includes grazing and hay cutting, as well as the abandonment of draining. semi-natural grassland and in particular meadows constitute important habitat type for a large number of animal species in today's fragmented and intensively cultivated landscape of europe. here we focus on the population characteristics of common shrews sorex araneus in relation to livestock grazing intensity in two wet meadows in western denmark.200919152713
[telomeric dna allocation in chromosomes of common shrew sorex araneus, eulipotyphla].recently we have displayed shrew species, iberian shrew s. granarius, with telomeres of unusual for mammals structure, including long telomeres on the short acrocentrics arms containing 213 kb on average and short telomeres (3.8 kb) on the other chromosomal ends (zhdanova et al., 2005, 2007). however, it is not clear if such telomeres are characteristic of all shrew species or only of s. granarius. s. granarius and common shrew sorex araneus are the sibling species. in this investigation by usin ...200919764649
robertsonian polymorphism in the common shrew (sorex araneus l.) and selective advantage of heterozygotes indicated by their higher maximum metabolic rates.some cases of robertsonian (rb) polymorphism in the common shrew (sorex araneus l.) are believed not to be associated with hybrid zones. one of the hypotheses explaining the persistence of such rb polymorphism is that they are maintained by some form of selection for rb heterozygotes. to test this hypothesis, we compared several parameters between homozygotes and rb heterozygotes for the mp chromosome pair. we used shrews from jurowce population in poland, situated within the range of the białow ...200918827836
chromosomal rearrangements and gene flow over time in an inter-specific hybrid zone of the sorex araneus group.most hybrid zones have existed for hundreds or thousands of years but have generally been observed for only a short time period. studies extending over periods long enough to track evolutionary changes in the zones or assess the ultimate outcome of hybridization are scarce. here, we describe the evolution over time of the level of genetic isolation between two karyotypically different species of shrews (sorex araneus and sorex antinorii) at a hybrid zone located in the swiss alps. we first evalu ...200919240751
whole-arm reciprocal translocation in a hybrid population of sorex araneus.a whole-arm reciprocal translocation (wart) between the metacentric chromosomes af and hk is described for a single hybrid between chromosome races drnholec and łegucki młyn. this translocation resulted in the metacentric chromosomes ah and fk, previously unknown in sorex araneus. this study provides a description of an unambiguous case of a wart in s. araneus, a phenomenon that has recently been suggested to play a significant role in generating of chromosome races in this species.200919333767
cornea, retina, and lens morphology in five soricidae species (soricomorpha: mammalia).we analyzed the cornea, retina, and lens of five species of soricidae (pygmy shrew, sorex minutus; common shrew, sorex araneus; millet's shrew, sorex coronatus; water shrew, neomys fodiens; greater white-toothed shrew, crocidura russula) by light and electron microscopy. in all of these species, the corneal epithelium showed a dead cell layer, which may increase the refractive power of the cornea, thereby reducing the hypermetropy that would be expected in a small eye. moreover, the anterior sur ...200919367448
[dynamics of the helminth fauna in the common shrew (sorex araneus l.) from cut-over lands of different age in karelia].species diversity of helminths in the common shrew from three cut-over lands of different age in karelia was studied. it was shown, that change of the plant cover in cut-over lands have no a significant effect on the species diversity of helminth communities in sorex araneus, but the abundance of individual parasite species changes considerably. changes of the s. araneus infestation with helminths were the greatest in a new cut-over land. structure of the helminth community comprises four catego ...200919370983
effect of soil pollution with metallic lead pellets on lead bioaccumulation and organ/body weight alterations in small mammals.using small mammals as bioindicators, the bioavailable status and ecotoxicity of lead was investigated in an acidic sandy soil environment polluted with metallic lead pellets from shotgun ammunition. average concentrations of lead in kidney, liver and bone tissue of wood mice (apodemus sylvaticus), bank voles (clethrionomys glareolus), and shrews (sorex araneus) were strongly elevated, compared to tissue levels of conspecifics collected from an adjacent unpolluted area. all shrews and some bank ...20092673067
the celtic fringe of britain: insights from small mammal phylogeography.recent genetic studies have challenged the traditional view that the ancestors of british celtic people spread from central europe during the iron age and have suggested a much earlier origin for them as part of the human recolonization of britain at the end of the last glaciation. here we propose that small mammals provide an analogue to help resolve this controversy. previous studies have shown that common shrews (sorex araneus) with particular chromosomal characteristics and water voles (arvi ...200919793757
genetic diversity and phylogeography of seewis virus in the eurasian common shrew in finland and hungary.recent identification of a newfound hantavirus, designated seewis virus (swsv), in the eurasian common shrew (sorex araneus), captured in switzerland, corroborates decades-old reports of hantaviral antigens in this shrew species from russia. to ascertain the spatial or geographic variation of swsv, archival liver tissues from 88 eurasian common shrews, trapped in finland in 1982 and in hungary during 1997, 1999 and 2000, were analyzed for hantavirus rnas by reverse transcription-polymerase chain ...200919930716
zones of contact and joint occurrence of three chromosomal races of the common shrew sorex araneus l. (mammalia) in the southern valdai hills. 200919994784
seasonality of leptin levels in the bat of the common shrew (sorex araneus).leptin concentrations in the interscapular brown adipose tissue (ibat) of the common shrew (sorex araneus) were measured in different seasons. the leptin concentrations in ibat were much higher than in the liver, where leptin is supposed to be of blood origin. in the heart muscle no detectable amount of leptin was found. there were clear seasonal variations in the leptin concentrations in ibat. leptin levels in ibat were the lowest in november at the beginning of the winter. the concentrations i ...200910928559
tula virus in populations of small terrestrial mammals in a rural landscape.over 5 years (2000-2004), populations of small mammals from a rural landscape in southern moravia (czech republic) were investigated for the presence of tula virus (tulv) antigen using the elisa set hantagnost. in total, 1566 individuals from 10 species were examined. the prevalence in the common vole (microtus arvalis pallas 1778), the main reservoir of tulv, was 10% (n = 871). the prevalence of tulv antigen increases with its population numbers. the highest number of tulv antigen-positive comm ...201020420534
seewis virus: phylogeography of a shrew-borne hantavirus in siberia, russia.hantaviral antigens were originally reported more than 20 years ago in tissues of the eurasian common shrew (sorex araneus), captured in european and siberian russia. the recent discovery of seewis virus (swsv) in this soricid species in switzerland provided an opportunity to investigate its genetic diversity and geographic distribution in russia.201020426688
investigation of the ecology of francisella tularensis during an inter-epizootic period.abstract a 1-year study of the ecological cycle of francisella tularensis was performed in an enzootic area during an inter-epizootic period. the study was based on multiple sampling of all major constituents of the disease cycle. seroprevalence of tularemia in the european brown hare (lepus europaeus) population was 5.1% (10/197) with low antibody titers (1/10 and 1/20), and f. tularensis ssp. holarctica was isolated from four hares. f. tularensis was not detected in the 38 common voles (microt ...201021142970
genetic diversity of anaplasma and ehrlichia in the asian part of russia.totally, 2590 questing adult ixodes persulcatus ticks and 1458 small mammals from ural, siberia, and the far east as well as 53 haemaphysalis concinna, 136 haem. japonica, and 43 dermacentor silvarum ticks--exclusively adults--from the far east were examined for the presence of ehrlichia and anaplasma by nested pcr based on the 16s rrna gene. both anaplasma phagocytophilum and ehrlichia muris were found in i. persulcatus and small mammals from all the studied regions. myodes spp., microtus spp., ...201021771512
[helminth fauna in insectivores (mammalia: insectivora) of canal banks in meliorated territories].helminth fauna of insectivora was investigated in canal banks situated in meliorated territories of belorussian polesie during 1996-1999. thirty-three helminth species were found in the animals examined. most of the parasites are usual in common shrew sorex araneus l., which is a predominate insectivore species in canal banks.201017722640
[identification of a novel wart-like chromosome rearrangement in complex heterozygotes in an interracial hybrid zone of the common shrew sorex araneus l].karyotypes uncharacteristic of pure races or hybrids were identified in the interracial hybrid zones of the common shrew sorex araneus l. that were recently discovered in the european part of russia. this suggests the actual existence in natural populations of wart-like rearrangements (whole-arm reciprocal translocations) along with robertsonian fusions of acrocentrics. demonstration of new and still rare chromosome variants is the aim of this communication.201021061632
additional data for nuclear dna give new insights into the phylogenetic position of sorex granarius within the sorex araneus group.many species contain genetic lineages that are phylogenetically intermixed with those of other species. in the sorex araneus group, previous results based on mtdna and y chromosome sequence data showed an incongruent position of sorex granarius within this group. in this study, we explored the relationship between species within the s. araneus group, aiming to resolve the particular position of s. granarius. in this context, we sequenced a total of 2447 base pairs (bp) of x-linked and nuclear ge ...201020883802
population models in pesticide risk assessment: lessons for assessing population-level effects, recovery, and alternative exposure scenarios from modeling a small mammal.in the last few years, the interest in using ecological population models as a tool for pesticide risk assessment has increased rapidly. practical guidance, however, on how to perform a risk assessment with a population model is still lacking. it is still unclear which endpoint (population density, population growth, etc.) is the most sensitive indicator of population-level effects and how risk can be evaluated at the population level. moreover, a main added value of model-based risk assessments ...201020821572
stopping the clock: neobiosis as a predecessor of mammalian hibernation and possible key to the abolition of aging.a number of mammals undergo hibernation during their lifespan. the euthermal condition that occurs prior to hibernation is characterized by inhibition of cellular proliferation, reduction of stress reactivity, a decrease in metabolism, and changes in the immune system (seasonal thymus involution). analysis of data of young red voles (clethrionomys glareolus), common shrews (sorex araneus), and fat dormice (glis glis) while entering into the euthermal condition shows characteristic biphasic growt ...201020370485
novel hantavirus in the flat-skulled shrew (sorex roboratus).genetically distinct hantaviruses have been identified recently in multiple species of shrews (order soricomorpha, family soricidae) in eurasia and north america. to corroborate decades-old reports of hantaviral antigens in shrews from russia, archival liver and lung tissues from 4 siberian large-toothed shrews (sorex daphaenodon), 5 eurasian least shrews (sorex minutissimus), 12 flat-skulled shrews (sorex roboratus), and 18 tundra shrews (sorex tundrensis), captured in the sakha republic in nor ...201020426682
a network approach to study karyotypic evolution: the chromosomal races of the common shrew (sorex araneus) and house mouse (mus musculus) as model systems.the development of methods to reconstruct phylogenies from karyotypic data has lagged behind what has been achieved with molecular and morphological characters. this hampers our understanding of the role of chromosomal rearrangements in speciation, which depends on knowledge of the karyotypic relationships both among forms that have recently speciated and among forms within species that may speciate in the future. here, we present a new approach to reconstruct chromosomal phylogenies. our approa ...201020525634
[the structure of long telomeres in chromosomes of the iberian shrew].it is shown that the size, localization, and structure of telomeres in the iberian shrew (sorex granarius) are not characteristic of mammals. in this species, long telomeres of an average size of 213 kb are localized on the short arms of all 32 acrocentrics; ribosomal blocks and active nucleolus-organizing regions (nors) were also discovered there. at the remaining chromosome ends the average size of telomeres is 3.8 kb. however, in a closely related species, sorex araneus, all telomeres have si ...201021061623
natural hybridization between extremely divergent chromosomal races of the common shrew (sorex araneus, soricidae, soricomorpha): hybrid zone in european russia.the moscow and seliger chromosomal races of the common shrew differ by robertsonian fusions and possibly whole-arm reciprocal translocations (warts) such that their f₁ hybrids produce a chain-of-eleven configuration at meiosis i and are expected to suffer substantial infertility. of numerous hybrid zones that have been described in the common shrew, those between the moscow and seliger races involve the greatest chromosomal difference. we collected 211 individuals from this zone to generate a to ...201021159004
spermatological characters of the digenean rubenstrema exasperatum (rudolphi, 1819) (plagiorchioidea, omphalometridae).we present the first ultrastructural description of spermiogenesis and of the spermatozoon of rubenstrema exasperatum (omphalometridae), an intestinal parasite of sorex araneus (soricidae). spermiogenesis begins with the formation of the differentiation zone delimited at the base by the ring of the arched membranes and bordered by cortical microtubules. this area contains two centrioles associated with striated rootlets and with an intercentriolar body. it also contains the nucleus and numerous ...201121127907
[racial and population variability of phenotypic (cranial) characters in the common shrew sorex araneus l., 1758].variability of the cranial properties of chromosomal races serov, manturovo and pechora of the common shrew were studied. a consistent increase of scull size in the serov race with moving from the plain to highlands and a skull size decrease from low to high latitudes was detected. interpopulation variability among different races was shown to be comparable with interracial variability or to exceed it. this suggests microevolution at the level of local populations.201121446185
natural hybridization between extremely divergent chromosomal races of the common shrew (sorex araneus, soricidae, soricomorpha): hybrid zone in siberia.chromosomal races of the common shrew differ in sets of metacentric chromosomes and on contact may produce hybrids with extraordinarily complex configurations at meiosis i that are associated with reduced fertility. there is an expectation that these may be some of the most extreme tension zones available for study and therefore are of interest as potential sites for reproductive isolation. here, we analyse one of these zones, between the novosibirsk race (characterized by metacentrics go, hn, i ...201121507114
a microsatellite study in the łęgucki młyn/popielno hybrid zone reveals no genetic differentiation between two chromosome races of the common shrew (sorex araneus).this study investigated a chromosome hybrid zone between two chromosomal races of the common shrew (sorex araneus). gene flow and genetic structure of the hybrid zone, located in the northeast of poland, were studied using seven polymorphic autosomal microsatellite loci (l9, l14, l33, l45, l67, l68, l97) and a y-linked microsatellite locus (l8y). seventy-five animals (46 of the łęgucki młyn race and 29 of the popielno race) from nine different localities were examined and the data were analyzed ...201121475705
[phylogenetic relationships of caucasian shrew sorex satunini ogn. (mammalia) in the superspecies sorex araneus inferred from the data of karyological analysis and the mtdna cyt b gene sequencing].using the data of karyological analysis, the phylogenetic relationships of caucasian shrew sorex satunini and the cryptic species of superspecies sorer araneus were examined. in the population of sorex satunini from the plain of north ciscaucasia two deeply radiated cytochrome b genes (a and b) were identified. genetic distance between haplotype a and b groups constituted 0.0675 +/- 0.008, which is higher than any distance in superspecies s. araneus. possible introgression of type b haplotypes f ...201121866861
[variability of a cytochrome b region in different chromosome races and populations of the common shrew sorex araneus l., 1758].the nucleotide sequence (572 bp) of the cytochrome b gene of the common shrew sorex araneus was analyzed. in total, 92 animals of five chromosome races from 12 localities were studied. the median haplotype network has a pronounced star-like structure. the central haplotype common for all samples, except for the southern island sample of the race sok, accounts for about 36%. the main characteristics of molecular variation in our work correspond to those obtained in other studies. we revealed the ...201121675242
do aquatic barriers reduce male-mediated gene flow in a hybrid zone of the common shrew (sorex araneus)? 201122150822
xenoma-like formations induced by soricimyxum fegati (myxosporea) in three species of shrews (soricomorpha: soricidae), including records of new hosts.in south bohemia, czech republic, 178 shrews, including 98 common shrews, sorex araneus l., 70 pygmy shrews, sorex minutus l., and 10 lesser white-toothed shrews, crocidura suaveolens (pallas), were examined for soricimyxum fegati prunescu, prunescu, pucek et lom, 2007 infections, using squash preparations of unfixed tissues, histological sections and molecular methods. the infection was found in 51 (52%) s. araneus, 14 (20%) s. minutus and 1 (10%) c. suaveolens. the records of the latter two sp ...201122263306
study of types of some species of "filaria" (nematoda) parasites of small mammals described by von linstow and molin.parasitic nematodes from the berlin (zmb) and vienna (nmw) museum collections referred to the genus filaria mueller, 1787 by von linstow or molin were studied. three samples were in good condition and the specimens redescribed. litomosa hepatica (von linstow, 1897) n. comb., sample zmb vermes entozoa 3368, from the megachiropteran pteropus neohibernicus, bismarck archipelago, resembles l. maki tibayrenc, bain & ramanchandran, 1979, from pteropus vampyrus, in malaysia, but the buccal capsule diff ...201121678791
the common shrew (sorex araneus): a neglected host of tick-borne infections?although the importance of rodents as reservoirs for a number of tick-borne infections is well established, comparatively little is known about the potential role of shrews, despite them occupying similar habitats. to address this, blood and tick samples were collected from common shrews (sorex araneus) and field voles (microtus agrestis), a known reservoir of various tick-borne infections, from sites located within a plantation forest in northern england over a 2-year period. of 647 blood sampl ...201121453011
genetic variability of anaplasma phagocytophilum in ixodes persulcatus ticks and small mammals in the asian part of russia.abstract the specimens of 3552 questing adult ixodes persulcatus and 1698 blood/tissue samples of small mammals collected in ural, siberia, and far east of russia were assayed for the presence of anaplasma phagocytophilum by nested pcr based on the 16s rrna gene. totally, a. phagocytophilum was detected in 112 tick and 88 mammalian samples. the nucleotide sequences of the 16s rrna gene and groesl operon (1244-1295 bp) were determined for a. phagocytophilum samples from 65 ticks and 25 small mamm ...201121612528
[pcr identification of dna of hosts of the taiga tick nymphs (ixodes persulcatus: ixodinae) in st. petersburg and its suburbs].pcr identification of host dna in unfed females and males of taiga tick ixodes persulcatus was performed. amplification of each sample was done using primers species-specific by 12s rdna mitochondrial gene. four species of small mammals (apodemus uralensis, clethrionomys glareolus, microtus arvalis, and sorex araneus) and two passeriform bird species (fringilla coelebs and parus major) were analysed. for one third of tick samples, hosts of previous stages were established using this method. in f ...201222384683
estimating population-level coancestry coefficients by an admixture f model.in this article, we develop an admixture f model (afm) for the estimation of population-level coancestry coefficients from neutral molecular markers. in contrast to the previously published f model, the afm enables disentangling small population size and lack of migration as causes of genetic differentiation behind a given level of f(st). we develop a bayesian estimation scheme for fitting the afm to multiallelic data acquired from a number of local populations. we demonstrate the performance of ...201222798486
chromosomal rearrangements do not seem to affect the gene flow in hybrid zones between karyotypic races of the common shrew (sorex araneus).chromosomal rearrangements are proposed to promote genetic differentiation between chromosomally differentiated taxa and therefore promote speciation. due to their remarkable karyotypic polymorphism, the shrews of the sorex araneus group were used to investigate the impact of chromosomal rearrangements on gene flow. five intraspecific chromosomal hybrid zones characterized by different levels of karyotypic complexity were studied using 16 microsatellites markers. we observed low levels of geneti ...201222380446
associative memory or algorithmic search: a comparative study on learning strategies of bats and shrews.two common strategies for successful foraging are learning to associate specific sensory cues with patches of prey ("associative learning") and using set decision-making rules to systematically scan for prey ("algorithmic search"). we investigated whether an animal's life history affects which of these two foraging strategies it is likely to use. natterer's bats (myotis nattereri) have slow life-history traits and we predicted they would be more likely to use associative learning. common shrews ...201222391618
broad geographical distribution and high genetic diversity of shrew-borne seewis hantavirus in central europe.for a long time hantaviruses were believed to be exclusively rodent-borne pathogens. recent findings of numerous shrew- and mole-borne hantaviruses raise important questions on their phylogenetic origin. the objective of our study was to prove the presence and distribution of shrew-associated seewis virus (swsv) in different sorex species in central europe. therefore, a total of 353 sorex araneus, 59 s. minutus, 27 s. coronatus, and one s. alpinus were collected in germany, the czech republic, a ...201222467179
[narrow hybrid zone between moscow and western dvina chromosomal races and specific features of population isolation in common shrew sorex araneus (mammalia)].the contact zone between moscow and western dvina chromosomal races of common shrew sorex araneus l. at the south of the valdai hights was traced over a distance of 20 km. within this, close to parapatric, contact zone of chromosomal races the width of sympatry zone was about 500 m (the narrowest among currently known hybrid zones), and the proportion of hybrids was 24.3%. it was shown that in bimodal hybrid zones between chromosomal races of common shrew the width of sympatry zones varied from ...201222567857
synaptonemal complex analysis of interracial hybrids between the moscow and neroosa chromosomal races of the common shrew sorex araneus showing regular formation of a complex meiotic configuration (ring-of-four).immunocytochemical and electron microscopic analysis of synaptonemal complexes (scs) was carried out for the first time in homozygotes and complex robertsonian heterozygotes (hybrids) of the common shrew, sorex araneus linnaeus, 1758, from a newly discovered hybrid zone between the moscow and the neroosa chromosomal races. these races differ in four monobrachial homologous metacentrics, and closed sc tetravalent is expected to be formed in meiosis of a hybrid. indeed, such a multivalent was foun ...201224260670
a comparison of the chromosome g-banding pattern in two sorex species, s. satunini and s. araneus (mammalia, insectivora).the g-banded karyotype of sorex satunini was compared with the karyotype of sorex araneus. extensive homology was revealed. the major chromosomal rearrangements involved in the evolutionary divergence of these species have been identified as centric fusions and centromeric shifts. from the known palaeontological age of sorex satunini it is obvious that the vast chromosomal polymorphism of the sorex araneus group originated during the middle pleistocene.201224260667
cyclic voles and shrews and non-cyclic mice in a marginal grassland within european temperate forest.cyclic population dynamics of small mammals are not restricted to the boreal and arctic zones of eurasia and north america, but long-term data series from lower latitudes are still less common. we demonstrated here the presence of periodic oscillations in small mammal populations in eastern poland using 22-year (1986-2007) trapping data from marginal meadow and river valley grasslands located in the extensive temperate woodland of białowieża primeval forest. the two most common species inhabitin ...201222707756
spatio-temporal patterns of habitat use in voles and shrews modified by density, season and predators.1. although the intrinsic habitat preferences of a species can be considered to be fixed, the realized habitat use depends on the prevailing abiotic and biotic conditions. often the core habitats are occupied by dense and stable populations, while marginal habitats become occupied only at times of high density. in a community of interacting species, habitat uses of different species become inter-related, for example an increased density of a strong competitor forcing a weaker competitor to use m ...201222325037
effects of ash application on cadmium concentration in small mammals.in order to assess the effects of wood ash application to forests on small mammals, we collected bank voles (clethrionomys glareolus) and common shrews (sorex araneus) from a forest area in southern finland. part of the sample population was from sites that had been treated with ash 1.5 years earlier, part from untreated control sites. the ash increased the soil ph and gave an average cadmium load in soil of 44 g ha(-1). when comparing treated and control areas, we found slightly but significant ...201311837422
detection of shrew-borne hantavirus in eurasian pygmy shrew (sorex minutus) in central europe.recently, it was found that not only rodents but also shrews are reservoir hosts of hantaviruses. in central europe, only seewis virus, associated with the eurasian common shrew (sorex araneus), has been recognized until now. in the present report, tissue samples from shrews belonging to crocidurinae and soricinae subfamilies, trapped in czech republic, germany, and slovakia, were screened for the presence of novel hantaviruses. three new hantavirus partial l-segment sequences were obtained from ...201323602837
[craniometric differences between karyotypic races of the common shrew sorex araneus (mammalia) as a result of limited hybridization].the contact points of four karyotypic races (st. petersburg, moscow, seliger and west dvina) of the common shrew sorex araneus l. were studied at the valdai hills (european russia) in an area unimpeded by geographic barriers. the populations of the races are separated by narrow hybrid zones that represent the most complex heterozygous hybrid karyotypes. at these points of contact, the morphometric differentiation of karyotype races was examined in 12 cranial measurements in 190 shrews of a known ...201323866625
effects of late quaternary climate change on palearctic shrews.the late quaternary was a time of rapid climatic oscillations and drastic environmental changes. in general, species can respond to such changes by behavioral accommodation, distributional shifts, ecophenotypic modifications (nongenetic), evolution (genetic) or ultimately face local extinction. how those responses manifested in the past is essential for properly predicting future ones especially as the current warm phase is further intensified by rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. here ...201323505017
winter reduction in body mass in a very small, nonhibernating mammal: consequences for heat loss and metabolic rates.low temperatures in northern winters are energetically challenging for mammals, and a special energetic burden is expected for diminutive species like shrews, which are among the smallest of mammals. surprisingly, shrews shrink their body size in winter and reduce body and brain mass, an effect known as dehnel's phenomenon, which is suggested to lower absolute energy intake requirements and thereby enhance survival when food availability is low. yet reduced body size coupled with higher body-sur ...201323303317
molecular evidence and high genetic diversity of shrew-borne seewis virus in slovenia.seewis virus, the shrew-borne hantavirus from sorex araneus, has been molecularly detected in reservoir hosts in many different central european countries and russia. slovenia is a known endemic country for rodent-borne hantaviruses, therefore the aim of the study was to investigate the presence of shrew-borne hantaviruses in insectivores. viral l, s and m segment have been recovered only from tissue samples of 7 s. araneus, despite several shrew species were tested. phylogenetic analysis showed ...201323892145
boginia virus, a newfound hantavirus harbored by the eurasian water shrew (neomys fodiens) in poland.guided by decades-old reports of hantaviral antigens in the eurasian common shrew (sorex araneus) and the eurasian water shrew (neomys fodiens) in european russia, we employed rt-pcr to analyze lung tissues of soricine shrews, captured in boginia, huta dłutowska and kurowice in central poland during september 2010, 2011 and 2012.201323693084
cytogenetic analysis of a hybrid zone between the moscow and neroosa races of the common shrew (sorex araneus) differing by a single wart-like chromosome rearrangement.three karyotypic variants were revealed in the moscow-neroosa chromosomal hybrid zone by comparative cytogenetic analysis: homozygotes of the pure parental races and complex heterozygotes (f1 hybrids). as expected, a ring-of-four configuration (riv) was observed in diakinesis spreads of hybrids. no disturbances in the structure of the riv were found. distribution of telomeric repeats and rdna on the chromosomes of an individual of the neroosa race were studied using dual-colour fish.201323875464
phenotypic variation across chromosomal hybrid zones of the common shrew (sorex araneus) indicates reduced gene flow.sorex araneus, the common shrew, is a species with more than 70 karyotypic races, many of which form parapatric hybrid zones, making it a model for studying chromosomal speciation. hybrids between races have reduced fitness, but microsatellite markers have demonstrated considerable gene flow between them, calling into question whether the chromosomal barriers actually do contribute to genetic divergence. we studied phenotypic clines across two hybrid zones with especially complex heterozygotes. ...201323874420
a small scale survey of leptospira in mammals from eastern poland.samples of 30 dead small mammals each were collected on area 'a' located in eastern poland and exposed to floods by the vistula river, and on area 'b', also located in eastern poland, but not exposed to floods. kidneys and livers of the mammals were examined by the pcr and nested pcr methods for the presence of leptospira dna. from 7 species of small mammals examined, the presence of leptospira dna was detected in 2 of them. the prevalence of positive results was greatest in apodemus agrarius wh ...201324364438
a small-scale survey of hantavirus in mammals from eastern poland.samples of 30 dead small mammals each were collected on area 'a' located in eastern poland which is exposed to flooding by the vistula river, and on the area 'b', also located in eastern poland but not exposed to flooding. kidneys and livers of the mammals were examined by the pcr and nested pcr methods for the presence of hantavirus rna. out of 7 species of small mammals examined, the presence of hantaviruses was detected in 4 of them. hantavirus prevalence was low in apodemus agrarius (2.6%), ...201323772576
hantaviruses in finnish soricomorphs: evidence for two distinct hantaviruses carried by sorex araneus suggesting ancient host-switch.hantaviruses are emerging viruses carried by rodents, soricomorphs (shrews and moles) and bats. in finland, puumala virus (puuv) was for years the only hantavirus detected. in 2009, however, seewis virus (swsv) was reported from archival common shrew (sorex araneus) samples collected in 1982 in finland. to elucidate the diversity of hantaviruses in soricomorphs in finland, 180 individuals were screened, representing seven species captured from 2001 to 2012: hantavirus rna was screened using rt-p ...201424997334
genetic variability of anaplasma phagocytophilum in ticks and voles from ixodes persulcatus/ixodes trianguliceps sympatric areas from western siberia, russia.anaplasma phagocytophilum is a causative agent of granulocytic anaplasmosis in different mammals. the presence of a. phagocytophilum was assayed in ixodes persulcatus, ixodes trianguliceps ticks and myodes spp. voles from two i. persulcatus/i. trianguliceps sympatric areas in the omsk region (western siberia, russia). in total, a. phagocytophilum was found in 42/108 (38.9%) of vole blood samples, 13/34 (38.2%) of i. trianguliceps ticks removed from voles, 1/12 (8.3%) of i. persulcatus removed fr ...201425113979
redescription and systematic position of soricinia tripartita zarnowski, 1955 (cestoda: cyclophyllidea), a cestode species parasitic in shrews of the genus sorex, including erection of gulyaevilepis gen. n.soricinia tripartita zarnowski, 1955 is redescribed on the basis of specimens from the type host sorex araneus linnaeus from lithuania, latvia and russia (republic of karelia and republic of komi - a new geographical record) as well as from sorex satunini ognev and sorex volnuchini ognev from russia (nalchik area in the caucasus mountains). the strobilar morphology of s. tripartita is compared with that of other hymenolepidid cestodes of shrews with an unarmed scolex and serial development of pr ...201424822320
co-circulation of soricid- and talpid-borne hantaviruses in poland.previously, we reported the discovery of a genetically distinct hantavirus, designated boginia virus (bogv), in the eurasian water shrew (neomys fodiens), as well as the detection of seewis virus (swsv) in the eurasian common shrew (sorex araneus), in central poland. in this expanded study of 133 shrews and 69 moles captured during 2010-2013 in central and southeastern poland, we demonstrate the co-circulation of bogv in the eurasian water shrew and swsv in the eurasian common shrew, eurasian py ...201425445646
a novel myxozoan parasite of terrestrial mammals: description of soricimyxum minuti sp. n. (myxosporea) in pygmy shrew sorex minutus from hungary.as part of a biodiversity study in northwestern hungary, we conducted a parasitological survey of small mammals. in both common shrews (sorex araneus linnaeus) and pygmy shrews (sorex minutus linnaeus), we found myxospores of a species of soricimyxum prunescu, prunescu, pucek et lom, 2007 (myxosporea) and plasmodia in the bile ducts within the liver. spores from both species of shrewswere morphologically and morphometrically indistinguishable, but differed in their ssu rrna gene sequences by 3.3 ...201526370293
molecular evidence of sarcocystis species in captive snakes in japan.sarcocystis nesbitti, using snakes as the definitive host, is a causative agent of acute human muscular sarcocystosis in malaysia. therefore, it is important to explore the distribution and prevalence of s. nesbitti in snakes. nevertheless, epizootiological information of s. nesbitti in snakes remains insufficient because few surveys have assessed sarcocystis infection in snakes in endemic countries. in japan, snakes are popular exotic pet animals that are imported from overseas, but the degree ...201526044884
vocal development during postnatal growth and ear morphology in a shrew that generates seismic vibrations, diplomesodon pulchellum.the ability of adult and subadult piebald shrews (diplomesodon pulchellum) to produce 160hz seismic waves is potentially reflected in their vocal ontogeny and ear morphology. in this study, the ontogeny of call variables and body traits was examined in 11 litters of piebald shrews, in two-day intervals from birth to 22 days (subadult), and ear structure was investigated in two specimens using micro-computed tomography (micro-ct). across ages, the call fundamental frequency (f0) was stable in squ ...201526112702
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