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islet autoantibodies present in association with ljungan virus infection in bank voles (myodes glareolus) in northern sweden.bank voles are known reservoirs for puumala hantavirus and probably also for ljungan virus (lv), a suggested candidate parechovirus in type 1 diabetes etiology and pathogenesis. the aim of this study was to determine whether wild bank voles had been exposed to lv and if exposure associated to autoantibodies against insulin (iaa), glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (gada), or islet autoantigen-2 (ia-2a). serum samples from bank voles (myodes glareolus) captured in early summer or early winter of 1997 ...201727283793
leptospira spp. in small mammals from areas with low and high human hantavirus incidences in south-west germany.leptospirosis is caused by leptospira spp. and is considered the most widespread zoonotic disease worldwide. it mimics nephropathia epidemica in humans, a disease mainly caused by puumala hantavirus (puuv). small mammals are reservoirs for leptospira spp. and puuv. seewis virus (swsv) is a shrew-borne hantavirus with unknown pathogenicity. the objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence for leptospira spp. and the frequency of leptospira-hantavirus co-infections in small mammals colle ...201728332927
expansion of spatial and host range of puumala virus in sweden: an increasing threat for humans?hantaviruses are globally distributed and cause severe human disease. puumala hantavirus (puuv) is the most common species in northern europe, and the only hantavirus confirmed to circulate in sweden, restricted to the northern regions of the country. in this study, we aimed to further add to the natural ecology of puuv in sweden by investigating prevalence, and spatial and host species infection patterns. specifically, we wanted to ascertain whether puuv was present in the natural reservoir, th ...201728249631
puumala hantavirus infections in bank vole populations: host and virus dynamics in central europe.in europe, bank voles (myodes glareolus) are widely distributed and can transmit puumala virus (puuv) to humans, which causes a mild to moderate form of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, called nephropathia epidemica. uncovering the link between host and virus dynamics can help to prevent human puuv infections in the future. bank voles were live trapped three times a year in 2010-2013 in three woodland plots in each of four regions in germany. bank vole population density was estimated and ...201728245831
a highly divergent puumala virus lineage in southern poland.puumala virus (puuv) represents one of the most important hantaviruses in central europe. phylogenetic analyses of puuv strains indicate a strong genetic structuring of this hantavirus. recently, puuv sequences were identified in the natural reservoir, the bank vole (myodes glareolus), collected in the northern part of poland. the objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of puuv in bank voles from southern poland. a total of 72 bank voles were trapped in 2009 at six sites in this par ...201728093611
puumala virus in bank voles, lithuania.little is known about the presence of human pathogenic puumala virus (puuv) in lithuania. we detected this virus in bank voles (myodes glareolus) in a region of this country in which previously puuv-seropositive humans were identified. our results are consistent with heterogeneous distributions of puuv in other countries in europe.201727983939
host-associated absence of human puumala virus infections in northern and eastern germany.human hantavirus disease cases, caused by puumala virus (puuv), are mainly recorded in western and southern areas of germany. this bank vole reservoir survey confirmed puuv presence in these regions but its absence in northern and eastern regions. puuv occurrence is associated with the presence of the western bank vole phylogroup.201727983499
microevolution of bank voles (myodes glareolus) at neutral and immune-related genes during multiannual dynamic cycles: consequences for puumala hantavirus epidemiology.understanding how host dynamics, including variations of population size and dispersal, may affect the epidemiology of infectious diseases through ecological and evolutionary processes is an active research area. here we focus on a bank vole (myodes glareolus) metapopulation surveyed in finland between 2005 and 2009. bank vole is the reservoir of puumala hantavirus (puuv), the agent of nephropathia epidemica (ne, a mild form of hemorrhagic fever with renal symptom) in humans. m. glareolus popula ...201727956196
validation of the puumala virus rapid field test for bank voles in germany.puumala virus (puuv) causes many human infections in large parts of europe and can lead to mild to moderate disease. the bank vole (myodes glareolus) is the only reservoir of puuv in central europe. a commercial puuv rapid field test for rodents was validated for bank-vole blood samples collected in two puuv-endemic regions in germany (north rhine-westphalia and baden-württemberg). a comparison of the results of the rapid field test and standard elisas indicated a test efficacy of 93-95%, largel ...201727806736
isolation and complete genome characterization of novel reassortant orthoreovirus from common vole (microtus arvalis).a novel mammalian orthoreovirus (mrv) strain was isolated from the lung tissue of a common vole (microtus arvalis) with tula hantavirus infection. seven segments (l1-l3, m2-m3, s2, and s4) of the hungarian mrv isolate morv/47ma/06 revealed a high similarity with an mrv strain detected in bank vole (myodes glareolus) in germany. the m1 and s3 segment of the hungarian isolate showed the closest relationship with the sequence of a slovenian human and a french murine isolate, respectively. the highe ...201727858312
strong "bottom-up" influences on small mammal populations: state-space model analyses from long-term studies."bottom-up" influences, that is, masting, plus population density and climate, commonly influence woodland rodent demography. however, "top-down" influences (predation) also intervene. here, we assess the impacts of masting, climate, and density on rodent populations placed in the context of what is known about "top-down" influences. to explain between-year variations in bank vole myodes glareolus and wood mouse apodemus sylvaticus population demography, we applied a state-space model to 33 year ...201728331581
use of bovine recombinant prion protein and real-time quaking-induced conversion to detect cattle transmissible mink encephalopathy prions and discriminate classical and atypical l- and h-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy.prions are amyloid-forming proteins that cause transmissible spongiform encephalopathies through a process involving conversion from the normal cellular prion protein to the pathogenic misfolded conformation (prpsc). this conversion has been used for in vitro assays including serial protein misfolding amplification and real-time quaking induced conversion (rt-quic). rt-quic can be used for the detection of prions in a variety of biological tissues from humans and animals. extensive work has been ...201728225797
molecular survey on brucellosis in rodents and shrews - natural reservoirs of novel brucella species in germany?brucellosis is a widespread zoonotic disease introduced from animal reservoirs to humans. in germany, bovine and ovine/caprine brucellosis were eradicated more than a decade ago and mandatory measures in livestock have been implemented to keep the officially brucellosis-free status. in contrast, surveillance of wildlife is still challenging, and reliable data on the prevalence of brucellae in small mammal populations do not exist. to assess the epidemiology of brucella spp. in rodents and shrews ...201726398680
ecological factors influencing small mammal infection by anaplasma phagocytophilum and borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in agricultural and forest landscapes.small mammals are key components of numerous tick-borne disease systems, as hosts for immature ticks and pathogen reservoirs. to study the factors influencing tick-borne infection in small mammals, we trapped small mammals and collected questing ticks in spring and autumn in 2012 and 2013 at 24 sites in a 10x15 km rural landscapes (brittany, france). tissue samples were screened by real-time pcr for anaplasma phagocytophilum and borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. of the two dominant small mammal s ...201728799685
prevalence and genetic variability of anaplasma phagocytophilum in wild rodents from the italian alps.human granulocytic anaplasmosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease with increasing relevance for public health in europe. the understanding of its sylvatic cycle and identification of competent reservoir hosts are essential for improving disease risk models and planning preventative measures.201728615038
low prevalence of zoonotic babesia in small mammals and ixodes ricinus in brittany, france.in order to evaluate the zoonotic risk due to babesia spp., especially b. microti, we investigated their presence in 597 individuals of five small mammal species and in 2620 questing nymphs of ixodes ricinus in rural landscapes of western france (brittany). small mammals (rodents and shrews) are indeed suspected to be reservoir hosts for b. microti, and the tick i. ricinus is the vector of the three main zoonotic species in europe, i.e. b. divergens, b. venatorum and b. microti. only one bank vo ...201728392045
rodents as a reservoir of infection caused by multiple zoonotic species/genotypes of c. parvum, c. hominis, c. suis, c. scrofarum, and the first evidence of c. muskrat genotypes i and ii of rodents in europe.cryptosporidium spp. is an important causative agent of intestinal parasitoses-induced diarrhoea in humans and animals worldwide. rodents (small mammals), the main reservoir of infections, are globally expanded and overpopulated, which increases the risk of transfer of human and zoonotic pathogens from the genus cryptosporidium. in this study, cryptosporidium was detected in wild immunocompetent asymptomatic small mammals. altogether 262 fecal samples were collected from five areas in eastern sl ...201728433573
dampening of population cycles in voles affects small mammal community structure, decreases diversity, and increases prevalence of a zoonotic disease.long-term decline and depression of density in cyclic small rodents is a recent widespread phenomenon. these observed changes at the population level might have cascading effects at the ecosystem level. here, we assessed relationships between changing boreal landscapes and biodiversity changes of small mammal communities. we also inferred potential effects of observed community changes for increased transmission risk of puumala virus (puuv) spread, causing the zoonotic disease nephropatica epide ...201728770071
spatial prediction and validation of zoonotic hazard through micro-habitat properties: where does puumala hantavirus hole - up?to predict the risk of infectious diseases originating in wildlife, it is important to identify habitats that allow the co-occurrence of pathogens and their hosts. puumala hantavirus (puuv) is a directly-transmitted rna virus that causes hemorrhagic fever in humans, and is carried and transmitted by the bank vole (myodes glareolus). in northern sweden, bank voles undergo 3-4 year population cycles, during which their spatial distribution varies greatly.201728747170
phylogenetic analysis of puumala virus strains from central europe highlights the need for a full-genome perspective on hantavirus evolution.puumala virus (puuv), carried by bank voles (myodes glareolus), is the medically most important hantavirus in central and western europe. in this study, a total of 523 bank voles (408 from germany, 72 from slovakia, and 43 from czech republic) collected between the years 2007-2012 were analyzed for the presence of hantavirus rna. partial puuv genome segment sequences were obtained from 51 voles. phylogenetic analyses of all three genome segments showed that the newfound strains cluster with othe ...201728664467
circulation and diagnostics of puumala virus in norway: nephropatia epidemica incidence and rodent population dynamics.hantaviruses pose a public health concern worldwide causing haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (hfrs) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (hps). puumala virus (puuv) is the most prevalent hantavirus in central and northern europe, and causes a mild form of hfrs, also known as nephropathia epidemica (ne). in nature, the main host of puuv is the bank vole (myodes glareolus), and transmission to humans occurs through inhalation of aerosols from rodent excreta. nephropathia epidemica is particular ...201728585306
modelling human puumala hantavirus infection in relation to bank vole abundance and masting intensity in the netherlands.this paper deals with modelling the relationship between human puumala hantavirus (puuv) infection, the abundance and prevalence of infection of the host (the bank vole), mast, and temperature. these data were used to build and parametrise generalised regression models, and parametrise them using datasets on these factors pertaining to the netherlands. the performance of the models was assessed by considering their predictive power. models including mast and monthly temperature performed well, a ...201728567209
increased autumn rainfall disrupts predator-prey interactions in fragmented boreal forests.there is a pressing need to understand how changing climate interacts with land-use change to affect predator-prey interactions in fragmented landscapes. this is particularly true in boreal ecosystems facing fast climate change and intensification in forestry practices. here, we investigated the relative influence of autumn climate and habitat quality on the food-storing behaviour of a generalist predator, the pygmy owl, using a unique data set of 15 850 prey items recorded in western finland ov ...201727371812
a shift in the thermoregulatory curve as a result of selection for high activity-related aerobic metabolism.according to the "aerobic capacity model," endothermy in birds and mammals evolved as a result of natural selection favoring increased persistent locomotor activity, fuelled by aerobic metabolism. however, this also increased energy expenditure even during rest, with the lowest metabolic rates occurring in the thermoneutral zone (tnz) and increasing at ambient temperatures (ta) below and above this range, depicted by the thermoregulatory curve. in our experimental evolution system, four lines of ...201729326604
experimental cowpox virus (cpxv) infections of bank voles: exceptional clinical resistance and variable reservoir competence.cowpox virus (cpxv) is a zoonotic virus and endemic in wild rodent populations in eurasia. serological surveys in europe have reported high prevalence in different vole and mouse species. here, we report on experimental cpxv infections of bank voles (myodes glareolus) from different evolutionary lineages with a spectrum of cpxv strains. all bank voles, independently of lineage, sex and age, were resistant to clinical signs following cpxv inoculation, and no virus shedding was detected in nasal o ...201729257111
variation of metallothionein i and ii gene expression in the bank vole (clethrionomys glareolus) under environmental zinc and cadmium exposure.the main idea of the study was to assess how environmental metal pollution activates defence responses at transcription levels in the tissues of bank voles (clethrionomys glareolus). for this purpose, the metallothioneine (mt) genes expression (a well known biomarker of exposure and response to various metals) was measured. the real-time pcr method was used for relative quantification of metallothionein i and metallothionein ii expressions in the livers, kidneys and testes of bank voles from six ...201729248947
stabilizing selection on microsatellite allele length at arginine vasopressin 1a receptor and oxytocin receptor loci.the loci arginine vasopressin receptor 1a (avpr1a) and oxytocin receptor (oxtr) have evolutionarily conserved roles in vertebrate social and sexual behaviour. allelic variation at a microsatellite locus in the 5' regulatory region of these genes is associated with fitness in the bank vole myodes glareolus given the low frequency of long and short alleles at these microsatellite loci in wild bank voles, we used breeding trials to determine whether selection acts against long and short alleles. fe ...201729237850
atypical creutzfeldt-jakob disease with prp-amyloid plaques in white matter: molecular characterization and transmission to bank voles show the m1 strain signature.amyloid plaques formed by abnormal prion protein (prpsc) aggregates occur with low frequency in creutzfeldt-jakob disease, but represent a pathological hallmark of three relatively rare disease histotypes, namely variant cjd, sporadic cjdmv2k (methionine/valine at prnp codon 129, prpsc type 2 and kuru-type amyloid plaques) and iatrogenic cjdmmik (mm at codon 129, prpsc of intermediate type and kuru plaques). according to recent studies, however, prp-amyloid plaques involving the subcortical and ...201729169405
elevated mitochondrial genome variation after 50 generations of radiation exposure in a wild rodent.currently, the effects of chronic, continuous low dose environmental irradiation on the mitochondrial genome of resident small mammals are unknown. using the bank vole (myodes glareolus) as a model system, we tested the hypothesis that approximately 50 generations of exposure to the chernobyl environment has significantly altered genetic diversity of the mitochondrial genome. using deep sequencing, we compared mitochondrial genomes from 131 individuals from reference sites with radioactive conta ...201729151870
genetic characterization of bank vole virus (bavv), a new paramyxovirus isolated from kidneys of bank voles in russia.a genome of bank vole virus (bavv), isolated from kidney tissues of bank voles (myodes glareolus) in russia in 1973, was sequenced. the genomic organization of bavv (3'-n-p/v/c-m-f-g-l-5', 16,992 nt in length; genbank accession number mf943130) is most similar to that of mossman virus (mov) and nariva virus (narpv), two ungrouped paramyxoviruses isolated from rodents in australia and trinidad, respectively. the proteins of bavv have the highest level of sequence identity (ranging from 23-28% for ...201729129019
the molecular identification of calodium hepaticum in the wild brown rat (rattus norvegicus) in poland.calodium hepaticum is a parasitic nematode found primarily in rodents but known to infect numerous other mammal species, and causing in humans the hepatic calodiasis. herein, we present the first finding of c. hepaticum in rattus norvegicus in poland. in this study, we have used the combined pepsin-hcl digestion and molecular techniques to detect c. hepaticum infection in the liver. the results confirm the usefulness of molecular approaches for investigating the biology and epidemiology of c. he ...201729035861
soluble polymorphic bank vole prion proteins induced by co-expression of quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase in e. coli and their aggregation behaviors.the infectious prion protein (prpsc or prion) is derived from its cellular form (prpc) through a conformational transition in animal and human prion diseases. studies have shown that the interspecies conversion of prpc to prpsc is largely swayed by species barriers, which is mainly deciphered by the sequence and conformation of the proteins among species. however, the bank vole prpc (bvprp) is highly susceptible to prpsc from different species. transgenic mice expressing bvprp with the polymorph ...201728978309
asparagine and glutamine ladders promote cross-species prion conversion.prion transmission between species is governed in part by primary sequence similarity between the infectious prion aggregate, prpsc, and the cellular prion protein of the host, prpc a puzzling feature of prion formation is that certain prpc sequences, such as that of bank vole, can be converted by a remarkably broad array of different mammalian prions, whereas others, such as rabbit, show robust resistance to cross-species prion conversion. to examine the structural determinants that confer susc ...201728931606
glareosin: a novel sexually dimorphic urinary lipocalin in the bank vole, myodes glareolus.the urine of bank voles (myodes glareolus) contains substantial quantities of a small protein that is expressed at much higher levels in males than females, and at higher levels in males in the breeding season. this protein was purified and completely sequenced at the protein level by mass spectrometry. leucine/isoleucine ambiguity was completely resolved by metabolic labelling, monitoring the incorporation of dietary deuterated leucine into specific sites in the protein. the predicted mass of t ...201728878040
comparative stylostome ultrastructure of hirsutiella zachvatkini (trombiculidae) and trombidium holosericeum (trombidiidae) larvae.stylostomes (feeding tubes) of hirsutiella zachvatkini (schluger) (trombiculidae), feeding on bank voles [myodes glareolus (schreber)], and of trombidium holosericeum (l.) (trombidiidae), feeding on larvae of stenodemini sp. (heteroptera, miridae), were studied by tem methods and on semi-thin sections. the stylostome of h. zachvatkini is a homogeneous structure of low electron density and without strict margins. it extends within the concave host epidermis, undergoing hyperplasia and hyperkerato ...201728852943
does signaling of estrogen-related receptors affect structure and function of bank vole leydig cells?to get a deeper insight into the function of estrogen-related receptors (errs) and dissect underlying mechanism in leydig cells, errs (type α, β and γ) were blocked or activated in testes of adult bank voles (myodes glareolus) which show seasonal changes in the intratesticular sex hormones level. both actively reproducing animals (long day conditions; ld) and those with regression of the reproductive system (short day conditions; sd) received intraperitoneal injections of selective errα antagoni ...201728820402
mechanical constraint from growing jaw facilitates mammalian dental diversity.much of the basic information about individual organ development comes from studies using model species. whereas conservation of gene regulatory networks across higher taxa supports generalizations made from a limited number of species, generality of mechanistic inferences remains to be tested in tissue culture systems. here, using mammalian tooth explants cultured in isolation, we investigate self-regulation of patterning by comparing developing molars of the mouse, the model species of mammali ...201728808032
age-related changes of physiological performance and survivorship of bank voles selected for high aerobic capacity.variation in lifespans is an intriguing phenomenon, but how metabolic rate influence this variation remains unclear. high aerobic capacity can result in health benefits, but also in increased oxidative damage and accelerated ageing. we tested these contradictory predictions using bank voles (myodes=clethrionomys glareolus) from lines selected for high swim-induced aerobic metabolism (a), which had about 50% higher maximum metabolic rate and a higher basal and routine metabolic rates, than those ...201728803134
the bruce effect revisited: is pregnancy termination in female rodents an adaptation to ensure breeding success after male turnover in low densities?pregnancy termination after encountering a strange male, the bruce effect, is regarded as a counterstrategy of female mammals towards anticipated infanticide. while confirmed in caged rodent pairs, no verification for the bruce effect existed from experimental field populations of small rodents. we suggest that the effect may be adaptive for breeding rodent females only under specific conditions related to populations with cyclically fluctuating densities. we investigated the occurrence of delay ...201728791488
temporal dynamics of the tick ixodes ricinus in northern europe: epidemiological implications.tick-borne pathogens pose an increasing threat to human and veterinary health across the northern hemisphere. while the seasonal activity of ticks is largely determined by climatic conditions, host-population dynamics are also likely to affect tick abundance. consequently, abundance fluctuations of rodents in northern europe are expected to be translated into tick dynamics, and can hence potentially affect the circulation of tick-borne pathogens. we quantified and explained the temporal dynamics ...201728359294
balancing selection maintains polymorphisms at neurogenetic loci in field experiments.most variation in behavior has a genetic basis, but the processes determining the level of diversity at behavioral loci are largely unknown for natural populations. expression of arginine vasopressin receptor 1a (avpr1a) and oxytocin receptor (oxtr) in specific regions of the brain regulates diverse social and reproductive behaviors in mammals, including humans. that these genes have important fitness consequences and that natural populations contain extensive diversity at these loci implies the ...201728325880
mercury in soil, earthworms and organs of voles myodes glareolus and shrew sorex araneus in the vicinity of an industrial complex in northwest russia (cherepovets).the characteristic properties of uptake and distribution of mercury in terrestrial ecosystems have received much lesser attention compared to aquatic particularly in russia. terrestrial ecosystems adjacent to large industrial manufactures-potential sources of mercury inflow into the environment frequently remain unstudied. this is the first report on mercury (hg) levels in the basic elements of terrestrial ecosystems situated close to a large metallurgical complex.mean values of mercury concentr ...201728197948
surviving winter: food, but not habitat structure, prevents crashes in cyclic vole populations.vole population cycles are a major force driving boreal ecosystem dynamics in northwestern eurasia. however, our understanding of the impact of winter on these cycles is increasingly uncertain, especially because climate change is affecting snow predictability, quality, and abundance. we examined the role of winter weather and snow conditions, the lack of suitable habitat structure during freeze-thaw periods, and the lack of sufficient food as potential causes for winter population crashes. we l ...201728070280
behavioural responses of ixodes ricinus nymphs to carbon dioxide and rodent odour.many haematophagous ectoparasites use carbon dioxide (co2 ) and host odour to detect and locate their hosts. the tick ixodes ricinus (linnaeus) (ixodida: ixodidae) walks only small distances and quests in vegetation until it encounters a host. the differential effects of co2 and host odour on the host-finding behaviour of i. ricinus have, however, never been clarified and hence represent the subject of this study. the effects of co2 and odour from bank voles on the activation and attraction of i ...201727966215
cryptosporidium infecting wild cricetid rodents from the subfamilies arvicolinae and neotominae.we undertook a study on cryptosporidium spp. in wild cricetid rodents. fecal samples were collected from meadow voles (microtus pennsylvanicus), southern red-backed voles (myodes gapperi), woodland voles (microtus pinetorum), muskrats (ondatra zibethicus) and peromyscus spp. mice in north america, and from bank voles (myodes glareolus) and common voles (microtus arvalis) in europe. isolates were characterized by sequence and phylogenetic analyses of the small subunit ribosomal rna (ssu) and acti ...201728870264
difference in susceptibility of small rodent host species to infestation by ixodes ricinus larvae.in a laboratory experiment (repeated eight times) individuals of six small rodent species were mixed with 500 ixodes ricinus larvae for 24 h, than over a 3-day-long observation period engorged ticks fallen from individually kept rodents were counted. forty engorged larvae fell from the hosts, 25% from striped field mice, 32.5% from house mice, 22.5% from common voles, 10% from bank voles, while wood mouse and steppe mouse proved to be almost free of successfully infesting ticks (both 5%). statis ...201728593480
spotted fever rickettsiae in wild-living rodents from south-western poland.rickettsiae are obligate intracellular alpha-proteobacteria. they are transmitted via arthropod vectors, which transmit the bacteria between animals and occasionally to humans. so far, much research has been conducted to indicate reservoir hosts for these microorganisms, but our knowledge is still non-exhaustive. therefore, this survey was undertaken to investigate the presence of rickettsia spp. in wild-living small rodents from south-western poland.201728874204
[biological activity of soils in the settlements of southern (microtus rossiaemeridionalis) and bank (clethrionomys glareolus) voles].the effect of southern (microtus rossiaemeridionalis) and bank (clethrionomys glareolus) voles on the biological activity of soddy-podzolic soil and culturozem has been studied. to estimate this effect, the activity of nitrogen and carbon transformation in the soil taken from the paths and different chambers of the holes of these rodents, as well as from the control plots where there were no voles, has been determined. the contents of organic carbon and nitrogen in the soil have been found. the ...201724459855
diversity and prevalence of bartonella species in small mammals from slovakia, central europe.wild-living rodents are important hosts for zoonotic pathogens. bartonella infections are widespread in rodents; however, in slovakia, knowledge on the prevalence of these bacteria in small mammals is limited. we investigated the prevalence and diversity of bartonella species in the spleens of 640 rodents of six species (apodemus flavicollis, apodemus sylvaticus, myodes glareolus, microtus arvalis, microtus subterraneus, and micromys minutus) and in the european mole (talpa europaea) from three ...201728975409
effects of strain and species on the septo-temporal distribution of adult neurogenesis in rodents.the functional septo-temporal (dorso-ventral) differentiation of the hippocampus is accompanied by gradients of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (ahn) in laboratory rodents. an extensive septal ahn in laboratory mice suggests an emphasis on a relation of ahn to tasks that also depend on the septal hippocampus. domestication experiments indicate that ahn dynamics along the longitudinal axis are subject to selective pressure, questioning if the septal emphasis of ahn in laboratory mice is a rule app ...201729311796
microtus arvalis and arvicola scherman: key players in the echinococcus multilocularis life cycle.a broad range of rodent species are described as potential intermediate hosts for echinococcus multilocularis, a wide-spread zoonotic cestode causing alveolar echinococcosis. however, little is known about the relative contribution of these species for parasite reproduction and the maintenance of its life cycle. in a comparative study in a high endemic region in zurich, switzerland, we investigated prevalence rates and fertility of e. multilocularis in the most abundant vole species as well as t ...201729326950
bank vole immunoheterogeneity may limit nephropatia epidemica emergence in a french non-endemic region.ecoevolutionary processes affecting hosts, vectors and pathogens are important drivers of zoonotic disease emergence. in this study, we focused on nephropathia epidemica (ne), which is caused by puumala hantavirus (puuv) whose natural reservoir is the bank vole, myodes glareolus. we questioned the possibility of ne emergence in a french region that is considered to be ne-free but that is adjacent to a ne-endemic region. we first confirmed the epidemiology of these two regions and we demonstrated ...201728931451
experimental infections of wild bank voles (myodes glareolus) from nephropatia epidemica endemic and non-endemic regions revealed slight differences in puumala virological course and immunological responses.in europe, the occurrence of nephropathia epidemica (ne), a human disease caused by puumala virus (puuv), exhibits considerable geographical heterogeneity despite the continuous distribution of its reservoir, the bank vole myodes glareolus. to better understand the causes of this heterogeneity, wild voles sampled in two adjacent ne endemic and non-endemic regions of france were infected experimentally with puuv. the responses of bank voles to puuv infection, based on the levels of anti-puuv igg ...201728396283
parasite dynamics in an invaded ecosystem: helminth communities of native wood mice are impacted by the invasive bank vole.it is becoming increasingly evident that biological invasions result in altered disease dynamics in invaded ecosystems, with knock-on effects for native host communities. we investigated disease dynamics in an invaded ecosystem, using the helminth communities of the native wood mouse (apodemus sylvaticus) in the presence and absence of the invasive bank vole (myodes glareolus) in ireland. native wood mice were collected over 2 years from four sites to assess the impact of the presence of the ban ...201728653589
tick infestation of small mammals in an english woodland.tick infestations on small mammals were studied from april to november, 2010, in deciduous woodland in southern england in order to determine whether co-infestations with tick stages occurred on small mammals, a key requirement for endemic transmission of tick-borne encephalitis virus (tbev). a total of 217 small mammals was trapped over 1,760 trap nights. yellow-necked mice (apodemus flavicollis) made up the majority (52.5%) of animals, followed by wood mice (a. sylvaticus) 35.5% and bank voles ...201728504447
seasonal shift of diet in bank voles explains trophic fate of anthropogenic osmium?diet shifts are common in mammals and birds, but little is known about how such shifts along the food web affect contaminant exposure. voles are staple food for many mammalian and avian predators. there is therefore a risk of transfer of contaminants accumulated in voles within the food chain. osmium is one of the rarest earth elements with osmium tetroxide (oso4) as the most toxic vapor-phase airborne contaminant. anthropogenic oso4 accumulates in fruticose lichens that are important winter foo ...201729079088
long-term population patterns of rodents and associated damage in german forestry.several rodent species can damage forest trees, especially at young tree age in afforestation. population outbreaks of field voles (microtus agrestis l.) and bank voles (myodes glareolus schreber) in particular can cause losses.201727233231
excretion and measurement of corticosterone and testosterone metabolites in bank voles (myodes glareolus).the bank vole is a commonly used model species in behavioral and ecophysiological studies. thus, presenting a validated method for noninvasive monitoring of corticosterone and testosterone secretion is of high relevance. here, we evaluated the effect of time of day and an acth challenge test on measured fecal corticosterone (fcm) and testosterone (ftm) metabolites in both sexes. furthermore, we performed radiometabolism experiments for both steroids and sexes to study metabolism and excretion of ...201727815157
de novo transcriptome assembly facilitates characterisation of fast-evolving gene families, mhc class i in the bank vole (myodes glareolus).the major histocompatibility complex (mhc) plays a central role in the adaptive immune response and is the most polymorphic gene family in vertebrates. although high-throughput sequencing has increasingly been used for genotyping families of co-amplifying mhc genes, its potential to facilitate early steps in the characterisation of mhc variation in nonmodel organism has not been fully explored. in this study we evaluated the usefulness of de novo transcriptome assembly in characterisation of mhc ...201727782121
the effect of aluminum exposure on reproductive ability in the bank vole (myodes glareolus).human impact on the environment is steadily increasing the amounts of aluminum in the ecosystems. this element accumulates in plants and water, potentially exposing herbivores to its harmful effect. in heavily polluted sites, a decrease in the density of small rodent populations has been observed. this decline may be caused by many factors, including decreased fertility. the aim of the presented research was to determine how aluminum, administered at concentrations similar to those recorded in i ...201727687699
state-dependent foraging: lactating voles adjust their foraging behavior according to the presence of a potential nest predator and season.parental care often produces a trade-off between meeting nutritional demands of offspring and the duties of offspring protection, especially in altricial species. parents have to leave their young unattended for foraging trips, during which nestlings are exposed to predators. we investigated how rodent mothers of altricial young respond to risk of nest predation in their foraging decisions. we studied foraging behavior of lactating bank voles (myodes glareolus) exposed to a nest predator, the co ...201725926712
transfer of mitochondrial genome of the northern redbacked vole (clethrionomys rutilus) to the bank vole (c. glareolus) in northwestern europe. 201718274484
intraspecies interactions in the bank vole: field observation data. 201712004887
[intestinal microflora of sorex araneus araneus l. and clethrionomys glareolus glareolus schreb. in nature conditions. iii. seasonal variations]. 201714460562
[intestinal microflora of sorex araneus araneus l. and clethrionomys glareolus glareolus schreb. in natural conditions. ii. general characteristics of separate strains]. 201714460561
[intestinal microflora of sorex araneus araneus l. and clethrionomys glareolus glareolus schreb. in natural conditions. i. quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the intestinal microflora]. 201714460560
parasite community dynamics in an invasive vole - from focal introduction to wave front.multiple parasite species simultaneously infecting a host can interact with one another, which has the potential to influence host-parasite interactions. invasive species typically lose members of their parasite community during the invasion process. not only do the founding population escape their parasites, but the rapid range expansion of invaders once in the invaded range can lead to additional stochastic loss of parasites. as such, parasite community dynamics may change along an invasion gr ...201730951575
generalist predator, cyclic voles and cavity nests: testing the alternative prey hypothesis.the alternative prey hypothesis (aph) states that when the density of the main prey declines, generalist predators switch to alternative prey and vice versa, meaning that predation pressure on the alternative prey should be negatively correlated with the density of the main prey. we tested the aph in a system comprising one generalist predator (pine marten, martes martes), cyclic main prey (microtine voles, microtus agrestis and myodes glareolus) and alternative prey (cavity nests of common gold ...201627665542
multihost bartonella parasites display covert host specificity even when transmitted by generalist vectors.many parasites infect multiple sympatric host species, and there is a general assumption that parasite transmission between co-occurring host species is commonplace. such between-species transmission could be key to parasite persistence within a disease reservoir and is consequently an emerging focus for disease control. however, while a growing body of theory indicates the potential importance of between-species transmission for parasite persistence, conclusive empirical evidence from natural c ...201627380876
the impact of great cormorants on biogenic pollution of land ecosystems: stable isotope signatures in small mammals.studying the isotopic composition of the hair of two rodent species trapped in the territories of great cormorant colonies, we aimed to show that great cormorants transfer biogens from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial ecosystems, and that these substances reach small mammals through the trophic cascade, thus influencing the nutrient balance in the terrestrial ecosystem. analysis of δ(13)c and δ(15)n was performed on two dominant species of small mammals, apodemus flavicollis and myodes glareolu ...201627179319
identification of hepatozoon erhardovae krampitz, 1964 from bank voles (myodes glareolus) and fleas in southern hungary.in order to investigate the prevalence and life cycle of apicomplexan parasites, small mammals were live-trapped with modified sherman traps in southern hungary between 2010 and 2012. altogether, 528 rodents (apodemus flavicollis melchior, 1834, apodemus agrarius pallas, 1771, myodes glareolus schreber, 1780, microtus agrestis linnaeus, 1761, mus musculus linnaeus, 1758 and micromys minutus pallas, 1771) were collected and four shrews (sorex spp.) were by-catched. captured animals belonging to n ...201627003406
host-parasite association in trombiculid mites (actinotrichida: trombiculidae) of temperate zone - the case of hirsutiella zachvatkini (schluger, 1948); are we dealing with prolonged contact with the host?the time-extended contact of trombiculid larvae with hosts poses a question of its ecological determinants. the phenomenon, which may facilitate the overwintering of larvae in the temperate zone, was previously observed in few parasitengone taxa, but not confirmed for mammal-associated trombiculids. the study aims at tracing the phenology of larvae of hirsutiella zachvatkini and at verifying the hypothesis of contact with the host, extending beyond the parasitic phase.201626830356
[cytogenetic indices for somatic mutagenesis in mammals exposed to chronic low-dose irradiation].we used cytogenetic analysis in the studies of the biological effects of a radiation factor of natural and artificial origin (under conditions ofthe 30-km exclusion zone ofthe chernobyl experimental landfills in ukraine, belarus and russia). the studies have been performed on various types of mammals: domestic animals--cows, pigs, horses and rodents--root voles, the af mouse line, and yellow necked field mouse, bank voles. we found significant changes in the level of mn and chromosomal aberratio ...201625962274
[variants of the immunoreactivity and infectious process in bank vole (myodes glareolus) experimentally infected with the hantavirus puumala (puuv)].as a result of a longitudinal study of the puumala hantavirus (puuv) in the experimentally infected bank voles (myodes glareolus), we revealed three groups of the voles differing in the immunoreactivity and viral antigen concentration in the organs. the close correlation between these parameters suggested the existence of various mechanisms of the hantavirus persistence in the host.201625549467
prevalence of infection with rickettsia helvetica in ixodes ricinus ticks feeding on non-rickettsiemic rodent hosts in sylvatic habitats of west-central poland.ixodes ricinus is the most prevalent and widely distributed tick species in european countries and plays a principal role in transmission of a wide range of microbial pathogens. it is also a main vector and reservoir of rickettsia spp. of the spotted fever group with the infection level ranging in poland from 1.3% to 11.4%. nevertheless, little research has been conducted so far to identify reservoir hosts for these pathogens. a survey was undertaken to investigate the presence of rickettsia spp ...201626515058
a look into the melting pot: the mecc-harboring region is a recombination hot spot in staphylococcus stepanovicii.horizontal gene transfer (hgt) is an important driver for resistance- and virulence factor accumulation in pathogenic bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus.201626799070
reduced helminth parasitism in the introduced bank vole (myodes glareolus): more parasites lost than gained.introduced species are often less parasitised compared to their native counterparts and to ecologically similar hosts in the new environment. reduced parasitism may come about due to both the loss of original parasites and low acquisition of novel parasites. in this study we investigated the intestinal helminth parasites of the introduced bank vole (myodes glareolus) in ireland. results were compared to data from other european studies and to the intestinal helminth fauna of an ecologically simi ...201627408800
declining ecosystem health and the dilution effect.the "dilution effect" implies that where species vary in susceptibility to infection by a pathogen, higher diversity often leads to lower infection prevalence in hosts. for directly transmitted pathogens, non-host species may "dilute" infection directly (1) and indirectly (2). competitors and predators may (1) alter host behavior to reduce pathogen transmission or (2) reduce host density. in a well-studied system, we tested the dilution of the zoonotic puumala hantavirus (puuv) in bank voles (my ...201627499001
regional differences in long-term cycles and seasonality of puumala virus infections, finland, 1995-2014.puumala hantavirus (puuv) causes haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in humans, an endemic disease in finland. we aimed to study recent trends in puuv infections in finland, to evaluate whether there are regional differences in seasonality and long-term cycles and whether the patterns have changed over time. we analysed serologically confirmed acute puuv infections reported to the national infectious disease register from 1 april 1995 to 31 march 2014. a total of 30 942 cases of puuv infectio ...201627113030
characterization of puumala hantavirus in bank voles from two regions in the netherlands where human cases occurred.puumala hantavirus (puuv) is the most common and widespread hantavirus in europe and is associated with a mild form of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in humans, called nephropathia epidemica. this study presents the molecular characterization of puuv circulating in bank voles in two regions of the netherlands. most human cases of hantavirus infection are from these two regions. phylogenetic analysis of the (partial) s, m and l-segments indicated that the dutch strains belong to the ce li ...201627075118
erratum: temporal dynamics of puumala hantavirus infection in cyclic populations of bank voles. 201627072747
spatial and temporal epidemiology of nephropathia epidemica incidence and hantavirus seroprevalence in rodent hosts: identification of the main environmental factors in europe.in europe, the increasing number of nephropathia epidemica (ne) infections in humans, caused by puumala virus carried by bank voles (myodes glareolus), has triggered studies of environmental factors driving these infections. ne infections have been shown to occur in specific geographical areas characterized by environmental factors that influence the distribution and dynamics of host populations and virus persistence in the soil. here, we review the influence of environmental conditions (includi ...201626996739
temporal dynamics of puumala hantavirus infection in cyclic populations of bank voles.understanding the dynamics of zoonotic pathogens in their reservoir host populations is a prerequisite for predicting and preventing human disease epidemics. the human infection risk of puumala hantavirus (puuv) is highest in northern europe, where populations of the rodent host (bank vole, myodes glareolus) undergo cyclic fluctuations. we conducted a 7-year capture-mark-recapture study to monitor seasonal and multiannual patterns of the puuv infection rate in bank vole populations exhibiting a ...201626887639
selective predation on hantavirus-infected voles by owls and confounding effects from landscape properties.it has been suggested that predators may protect human health through reducing disease-host densities or selectively preying on infected individuals from the population. however, this has not been tested empirically. we hypothesized that tengmalm's owl (aegolius funereus) selectively preys on hantavirus-infected individuals of its staple prey, the bank vole (myodes glareolus). bank voles are hosts of puumala hantavirus, which causes a form of hemorrhagic fever in humans. selective predation by o ...201626873607
detection of puumala virus in the tissue of infected naturally rodent hosts in the area of central dinarides.hantaviruses are the causative agents of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (hfrs) in euroasia and of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (hcps) in the north, central and south america. hfrs is endemic in the balkan peninsula, where sporadic cases or outbreaks have been reported. puumala virus (puuv) is the causative agent of nephropathia epidemica (ne), a mild form of hfrs. puuv is carried by the bank voles (myodes glareolus). in this study, we investigated viral rna from 76 tissues samples ...201626800777
environmental conditions in favour of a hantavirus outbreak in 2015 in germany?bank voles can harbour puumala virus (puuv) and vole populations usually peak in years after beech mast. a beech mast occurred in 2014 and a predictive model indicates high vole abundance in 2015. this pattern is similar to the years 2009/2011 when beech mast occurred, bank voles multiplied and human puuv infections increased a year later. given similar environmental conditions in 2014/2015, increased risk of human puuv infections in 2015 is likely. risk management measures are recommended.201626177110
reservoir-driven heterogeneous distribution of recorded human puumala virus cases in south-west germany.endemic regions for puumala virus (puuv) are located in the most affected federal state baden-wuerttemberg, south-west germany, where high numbers of notified human hantavirus disease cases have been occurring for a long time. the distribution of human cases in baden-wuerttemberg is, however, heterogeneous, with a high number of cases recorded during 2012 in four districts (h districts) but a low number or even no cases recorded in four other districts (l districts). bank vole monitoring during ...201627918151
serological survey in the finnish human population implies human-to-human transmission of ljungan virus or antigenically related viruses.ljungan virus (lv) is a picornavirus related to human parechoviruses (hpev). the virus has been found in bank voles (myodes glareolus) and several other rodent species, and suggested to have zoonotic potential. thus far, seroepidemiological data on lv infections in humans are scarce. in this study, we aimed to characterize the demographic and geographical distribution of lv-reactive antibodies in finland, and to investigate its occurrence in patients suspected of having a rodent-borne disease, n ...201626489898
towards authentic transgenic mouse models of heritable prp prion diseases.attempts to model inherited human prion disorders such as familial creutzfeldt-jakob disease (cjd), gerstmann-sträussler-scheinker (gss) disease, and fatal familial insomnia (ffi) using genetically modified mice have produced disappointing results. we recently demonstrated that transgenic (tg) mice expressing wild-type bank vole prion protein (bvprp) containing isoleucine at polymorphic codon 109 develop a spontaneous neurodegenerative disorder that exhibits many of the hallmarks of prion diseas ...201627350609
molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of hepatozoon spp. in questing ixodes ricinus ticks and rodents from slovakia and czech republic.by amplification and sequencing of 18s rrna gene fragments, hepatozoon spp. dna was detected in 0.08 % (4/5057) and 0.04 % (1/2473) of questing ixodes ricinus ticks from slovakia and czech republic, respectively. hepatozoon spp. dna was also detected in spleen and/or lungs of 4.45 % (27/606) of rodents from slovakia. prevalence of infection was significantly higher in myodes glareolus (11.45 %) than in apodemus spp. (0.28 %) (p < 0.001). sequencing of 18s rrna hepatozoon spp. gene amplicons from ...201627245074
peroral echinococcus multilocularis egg inoculation in myodes glareolus, mesocricetus auratus and mus musculus (cd-1 igs and c57bl/6j).echinococcus multilocularis transmission predominantly occurs in europe between the red fox (vulpes vulpes) and various species of rodent intermediate hosts. we infected 3 species of rodent, myodes glareolus (n = 47), mesocricetus auratus (n = 11) and outbred mus musculus (cd-1 igs) (n = 9) with an e. multilocularis egg suspension that contained 100 eggs with viable oncospheres and performed post mortem examination 6, 8 (m. glareolus) and 10 weeks post inoculation (wpi). c57bl/6j mice (n = 4) we ...201627330986
first identification of echinococcus multilocularis in rodent intermediate hosts in sweden.echinococcus multilocularis is a zoonotic tapeworm with a sylvatic lifecycle and an expanding range in europe. monitoring efforts following its first identification in 2011 in sweden have focused on the parasite's definitive host, the red fox (vulpes vulpes). however, identifying rodent intermediate hosts is important to recognize opportunities for parasite transmission. during 2013-2015, livers from a total of 1566 rodents from four regions in sweden were examined for e. multilocularis metacest ...201627054089
assessment of the prpc amino-terminal domain in prion species barriers.chronic wasting disease (cwd) in cervids and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (bse) in cattle are prion diseases that are caused by the same protein-misfolding mechanism, but they appear to pose different risks to humans. we are interested in understanding the differences between the species barriers of cwd and bse. we used real-time, quaking-induced conversion (rt-quic) to model the central molecular event in prion disease, the templated misfolding of the normal prion protein, prp(c), to a path ...201627654299
a borrelia afzelii infection increases larval tick burden on myodes glareolus (rodentia: cricetidae) and nymphal body weight of ixodes ricinus (acari: ixodidae).several microorganisms have been shown to manipulate their host or vector to enhance their own transmission. here we examined whether an infection with borrelia afzelii affects its transmission between its bank vole (myodes glareolus, schreber, 1780) host and tick vector. captive-bred bank voles were inoculated with b. afzelii or control medium, after which host preference of ixodes ricinus l. nymphs was determined in a y-tube olfactometer. thereafter, infected and uninfected bank voles were pla ...201627694145
molecular survey of zoonotic agents in rodents and other small mammals in croatia.croatia is a focus for many rodent-borne zoonosis. here, we report a survey of 242 rodents and small mammals, including 43 myodes glareolus, 131 apodemus flavicollis, 53 apodemus agrarius, three apodemus sylvaticus, six sorex araneus, four microtus arvalis, one microtus agrestis, and one muscardinus avellanarius, collected at eight sites in croatia over an 8-year period. multiplex masstag polymerase chain reaction (pcr) was used for detection of borrelia, rickettsia, bartonella, babesia, ehrlich ...201626711522
presence of candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis and babesia microti in rodents and two tick species (ixodes ricinus and ixodes trianguliceps) in slovakia.rodents are important reservoir hosts of many tick-borne pathogens. their importance in the circulation of the emerging bacterial agent, candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis and the intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite, babesia microti has been recently proposed. the aim of the present study was to identify the presence and genetic diversity of candidatus n. mikurensis and b. microti circulating in the natural foci among rodents and two species of ixodid ticks (ixodes ricinus and ixodes triangulic ...201626700195
bartonella, rodents, fleas and ticks: a molecular field study on host-vector-pathogen associations in saxony, eastern germany.bartonellae cause zoonotic diseases and are transmitted by arthropods. rodents are reservoirs for most bartonella spp. as the knowledge about bartonella in rodents and their parasitizing ectoparasites is scarce in germany, this study's objectives were to investigate bartonella spp. in small mammals and in their ectoparasites. a total of 79 small mammals (seven species) were captured and their ectoparasites collected at seven sites around leipzig, saxony, germany, in 2010 and 2011. altogether, 79 ...201627220973
multiple independent transmission cycles of a tick-borne pathogen within a local host community.many pathogens are maintained by multiple host species and involve multiple strains with potentially different phenotypic characteristics. disentangling transmission patterns in such systems is often challenging, yet investigating how different host species contribute to transmission is crucial to properly assess and manage disease risk. we aim to reveal transmission cycles of bacteria within the borrelia burgdorferi species complex, which include lyme disease agents. we characterized borrelia g ...201627498685
effect of landscape features on the relationship between ixodes ricinus ticks and their small mammal hosts.the consequences of land use changes are among the most cited causes of emerging infectious diseases because they can modify the ecology and transmission of pathogens. this is particularly true for vector-borne diseases which depend on abiotic (e.g. climate) and biotic conditions (i.e. hosts and vectors). in this study, we investigated how landscape features affect the abundances of small mammals and ixodes ricinus ticks, and how they influence their relationship.201626767788
prevalence and genotype allocation of pathogenic leptospira species in small mammals from various habitat types in germany.small mammals serve as most important reservoirs for leptospira spp., the causative agents of leptospirosis, which is one of the most neglected and widespread zoonotic diseases worldwide. the knowledge about leptospira spp. occurring in small mammals from germany is scarce. thus, this study's objectives were to investigate the occurrence of leptospira spp. and the inherent sequence types in small mammals from three different study sites: a forest in southern germany (site b1); a national park in ...201627015596
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