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intersecting paths of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases.severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sars-cov-2) shares common clinicopathologic features with other severe pulmonary illnesses. hantavirus pulmonary syndrome was diagnosed in 2 patients in arizona, usa, suspected of dying from infection with sars-cov-2. differential diagnoses and possible co-infections should be considered for cases of respiratory distress during the sars-cov-2 pandemic.202133704045
sars-cov-2 infection, neuropathogenesis and transmission among deer mice: implications for spillback to new world rodents.coronavirus disease-19 (covid-19) emerged in late 2019 in china and rapidly became pandemic. as with other coronaviruses, a preponderance of evidence suggests the virus originated in horseshoe bats (rhinolophus spp.) and may have infected an intermediate host prior to spillover into humans. a significant concern is that sars-cov-2 could become established in secondary reservoir hosts outside of asia. to assess this potential, we challenged deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) with sars-cov-2 and f ...202134010360
continuing orthohantavirus circulation in deer mice in western montana.hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (hps) is an often-fatal disease caused by new world hantaviruses, such as sin nombre orthohantavirus (snv). in the us, >800 cases of hps have been confirmed since it was first discovered in 1993, of which 43 were reported from the state of montana. the primary cause of hps in the us is snv, which is primarily found in the reservoir host peromyscus maniculatus (deer mouse). the reservoir host covers most of the us, including montana, where multiple studies found snv ...202134072112
long-term and interactive effects of different mammalian consumers on growth, survival, and recruitment of dominant tree species.throughout the world, numerous tree species are reported to be in decline, either due to increased mortality of established trees or reduced recruitment. the situation appears especially acute for oaks, which are dominant features of many landscapes in the northern hemisphere. although numerous factors have been hypothesized to explain reductions in tree performance, vertebrate herbivores and granivores may serve as important drivers of these changes. here, using data from 8- and 14-year-old exc ...202032884658
practical guide to trapping peromyscus leucopus (rodentia: cricetidae) and peromyscus maniculatus for vector and vector-borne pathogen surveillance and ecology.arthropods pests are most frequently associated with both plants and vertebrate animals. ticks, in particular the blacklegged ticks ixodes scapularis say and ixodes pacificus cooley & kohls (acari: ixodidae), are associated with wildlife hosts and are the primary vectors of lyme disease, the most frequently reported vector-borne disease in the united states. immature blacklegged ticks in the eastern united states frequently use small mammals from the genus peromyscus as hosts. these mice are com ...202033135755
molecular detection of leptospira interrogans and borrelia burgdorferi in wild rodents from mexico.leptospirosis and lyme borreliosis are zoonotic emerging diseases of global importance and wide distribution. the aim of this study was to detect by molecular testing to leptospira interrogans and borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in wild rodents from nuevo leon, quintana roo, and campeche, mexico. this study is the first in report to chaetodipus nelsoni, dipodomys merriami, and peromyscus eremicus infected with l. interrogans in mexico. besides, chaetodipus hispidus, heteromys gaumeri, heteromys ...202032639187
humane use of cardiac puncture for non-terminal phlebotomy of wild-caught and released peromyscus spp.the cardiac puncture technique for obtaining relatively large volume (50-150 µl) blood samples from sedated rodents has been used in research for nearly a century. historically, its use to phlebotomize and then release live rodents was more common. however, recently its use in a non-terminal capacity frequently imparts negative connotations in part because exsanguination of sedated animals via cardiac puncture is now an american veterinary medical association-approved euthanasia technique. this ...202032397470
immature ixodes scapularis (acari: ixodidae) collected from peromyscus leucopus (rodentia: cricetidae) and peromyscus maniculatus (rodentia: cricetidae) nests in northern wisconsin.the blacklegged tick, ixodes scapularis say, is the primary lyme disease vector in the eastern united states. both immature stages of i. scapularis take blood meals from mice belonging to the genus peromyscus. mice are active during the night and spend the majority of diel periods in nests. thus, immature i. scapularis have a greater opportunity to drop from peromyscus hosts while in nests compared with the forest floor. here, we collected 11 peromyscus nests during a 3-mo period during which th ...202031411327
detection of 'candidatus ehrlichia khabarensis' in rodents and ticks removed from rodents in british columbia, canada.'candidatus ehrlichia khabarensis' was first described from rodents and insectivores in the far east territory of khabarovsk on the russian pacific coast. here we report the detection of dna from this microorganism in rodents and fed ticks collected from rodents in british columbia, canada in 2013-2014. 'candidatus ehrlichia khabarensis' was detected in (i) a female ixodes angustus tick collected from a peromyscus maniculatus; (ii) a female dermacentor andersoni tick collected from a perognathus ...202031501035
corticosterone response by peromyscus mice to parasites, reproductive season, and age.a common response to parasite infestations is increased production of glucocorticoid hormones that regulate immune function. we examined relationships between ectoparasite infestations and fecal corticosterone metabolites (fcm) in deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus). furthermore, we experimentally removed fleas to determine if reductions in ectoparasites affected fcm production. individuals were assigned to control (no flea removal) or treatment (anti-flea application, physical combing) groups an ...202033017585
chronic cold exposure induces mitochondrial plasticity in deer mice native to high altitudes.small mammals native to high altitude must sustain high rates of thermogenesis to cope with cold. skeletal muscle is a key site of shivering and non-shivering thermogenesis, but the importance of mitochondrial plasticity in cold hypoxic environments remains unresolved. we examined high-altitude deer mice, which have evolved a high capacity for aerobic thermogenesis, to determine the mechanisms of mitochondrial plasticity during chronic exposure to cold and hypoxia, alone and in combination. cold ...202032886797
variation in space and time: a long-term examination of density-dependent dispersal in a woodland rodent.dispersal is a fundamental ecological process that can be affected by population density, yet studies report contrasting effects of density on propensity to disperse. in addition, the relationship between dispersal and density is seldom examined using densities measured at different spatial scales or over extensive time series. we used 51 years of trapping data to examine how dispersal by wild deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) was affected by changes in both local and regional population densit ...202032809054
sars-cov-2 infection, neuropathogenesis and transmission among deer mice: implications for reverse zoonosis to new world rodents.coronavirus disease-19 (covid-19) emerged in november, 2019 in china and rapidly became pandemic. as with other coronaviruses, a preponderance of evidence suggests the virus originated in horseshoe bats (rhinolophus spp.) and likely underwent a recombination event in an intermediate host prior to entry into human populations. a significant concern is that sars-cov-2 could become established in secondary reservoir hosts outside of asia. to assess this potential, we challenged deer mice (peromyscu ...202032793912
oral vaccination with recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus expressing sin nombre virus glycoprotein prevents sin nombre virus transmission in deer mice.sin nombre virus (snv) is the major cause of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (hcps) in north america, a severe respiratory disease with a high fatality rate. snv is carried by peromyscus maniculatus, or deer mice, and human infection occurs following inhalation of aerosolized virus in mouse excreta or secreta, often in peri-domestic settings. currently there are no fda approved vaccines or therapeutics for snv or any other hantaviruses, therefore prevention of infection is an important means ...202032733817
parasite species co-occurrence patterns on peromyscus: joint species distribution modelling.hosts are often infested by multiple parasite species, but it is often unclear whether patterns of parasite co-occurrence are driven by parasite habitat requirements or parasite species interactions. using data on infestation patterns of ectoparasitic arthropods (fleas, trombiculid mites, cuterebrid botflies) from deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus), we analyzed species associations using joint species distribution modelling. we also experimentally removed a flea (orchopeas leucopus) from a subse ...202032637312
assessment of the stress response in north american deermice: laboratory and field validation of two enzyme immunoassays for fecal corticosterone metabolites.stress physiology is commonly employed in studies of wildlife ecology and conservation. accordingly, we need robust and suitable methods to measure stress physiology in the field. fecal cortisol/corticosterone metabolites (fcms) are now increasingly being used to non-invasively evaluate adrenocortical activity; a measure of stress physiology. however, immunoassays that measure fcms must be appropriately validated prior to their use and factors that can influence fcms, such as trap-induced stress ...202032630075
large nest building and high marble-burying: two compulsive-like phenotypes expressed by deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) and their unique response to serotoninergic and dopamine modulating intervention.this study aimed to further dissect the deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) model of compulsive-like behavior with respect to two persistent-like behavioral phenotypes viz. large nest building (lnb) and high marble-burying (hmb), which may be relevant to understanding the neurobiology of different symptom dimensions in obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. since lnb is sensitive to chronic, high dose escitalopram intervention but hmb is not, we assessed whether the two behaviors co ...202032619566
body size trends in response to climate and urbanization in the widespread north american deer mouse, peromyscus maniculatus.body size decline is hypothesized to be a key response to climate warming, including warming driven by urban heat islands. however, urbanization may also generate selective gradients for body size increases in smaller endotherms via habitat fragmentation. here we utilize a densely sampled, multi-source dataset to examine how climate and urbanization affect body size of peromyscus maniculatus (pema), an abundant rodent found across north america. we predicted pema would conform to bergmann's rule ...202032483167
penicillium diversity in canadian bat caves, including a new species, p. speluncae.penicillium species were commonly isolated during a fungal survey of bat hibernacula in new brunswick and quebec, canada. strains were isolated from arthropods, bats, rodents (i.e. the deer mouse peromyscus maniculatus), their dung, and cave walls. hundreds of fungal strains were recovered, of which penicillium represented a major component of the community. penicillium strains were grouped by colony characters on blakeslee's malt extract agar. dna sequencing of the secondary identification mark ...202032467912
coordinated changes across the o2 transport pathway underlie adaptive increases in thermogenic capacity in high-altitude deer mice.animals native to the hypoxic and cold environment at high altitude provide an excellent opportunity to elucidate the integrative mechanisms underlying the adaptive evolution and plasticity of complex traits. the capacity for aerobic thermogenesis can be a critical determinant of survival for small mammals at high altitude, but the physiological mechanisms underlying the evolution of this performance trait remain unresolved. we examined this issue by comparing high-altitude deer mice (peromyscus ...202032429808
adaptive shifts in gene regulation underlie a developmental delay in thermogenesis in high-altitude deer mice.aerobic performance is tied to fitness as it influences an animal's ability to find food, escape predators, or survive extreme conditions. at high altitude, where low o2 availability and persistent cold prevail, maximum metabolic heat production (thermogenesis) is an aerobic performance trait that is closely linked to survival. understanding how thermogenesis evolves to enhance survival at high altitude will yield insight into the links between physiology, performance, and fitness. recent work i ...202032243546
long-term rodent surveillance after outbreak of hantavirus infection, yosemite national park, california, usa, 2012.in 2012, a total of 9 cases of hantavirus infection occurred in overnight visitors to yosemite valley, yosemite national park, california, usa. in the 6 years after the initial outbreak investigation, the california department of public health conducted 11 rodent trapping events in developed areas of yosemite valley and 6 in tuolumne meadows to monitor the relative abundance of deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) and seroprevalence of sin nombre orthohantavirus, the causative agent of hantavirus ...202032091360
ontogenesis of evolved changes in respiratory physiology in deer mice native to high altitude.high-altitude environments are cold and hypoxic, and many high-altitude natives have evolved changes in respiratory physiology that improve o2 uptake in hypoxia as adults. altricial mammals undergo a dramatic metabolic transition from ectothermy to endothermy in early post-natal life, which may influence the ontogenetic development of respiratory traits at high altitude. we examined the developmental changes in respiratory and haematological traits in deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) native to ...202032054682
evaluation of fluralaner as an oral acaricide to reduce tick infestation in a wild rodent reservoir of lyme disease.lyme disease (ld) is an increasing public health threat in temperate zones of the northern hemisphere, yet relatively few methods exist for reducing ld risk in endemic areas. disrupting the ld transmission cycle in nature is a promising avenue for risk reduction. this experimental study evaluated the efficacy of fluralaner, a recent oral acaricide with a long duration of effect in dogs, for killing ixodes scapularis ticks in peromyscus maniculatus mice, a known wildlife reservoir for borrelia bu ...202032054498
leukocyte evaluation of the free-ranging deermouse (peromyscus maniculatus) from montana, usa.we generated reference ranges for seasonal leukocyte differential counts of the free-ranging deermouse (peromyscus maniculatus) from montana, us. blood was collected from the retro-orbital capillary sinus of deermice after topical anesthesia with proparacaine. although season influenced lymphocyte, neutrophil, and monocyte absolute counts, sex and reproductive status did not.202032053415
effects of trap confinement on personality measurements in two terrestrial rodents.in recent years, consistent individual differences in behavior, or personalities, have been a topic of increasing interest as researchers strive to understand and predict the responses of individuals and populations to anthropogenic changes. behavioral studies in wild populations often require that animals are live trapped before behavioral observation can occur, and this is especially true in studies investigating animal personalities. however, it is unknown whether the amount of time confined ...202031986141
the underappreciated role of rodent generalists in fungal spore dispersal networks.animals are often the primary dispersers of seeds and fungal spores. specialist species that consume fruits or fungal fruiting bodies (sporocarps) as their main food source are thought to play a more important role in dispersal networks compared to generalist species. however, dispersal networks are often based on occurrence data, overlooking the influence of animal abundance and dispersal effectiveness on network interactions. using rodent-mycorrhizal fungi networks, we determined how diet spec ...202031943145
naturalistic operant responses in deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) and its response to outcome manipulation and serotonergic intervention.investigating the motivational triggers underlying naturalistic compulsive-like behavior is generally regarded as challenging. to this extent, the current study aimed to establish a proof-of-concept for future investigation by probing unconditioned and naturalistic operant responses aimed at obtaining nesting material by normal (nnb) and large (lnb) nest building deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus bairdii). lnb mice and nnb controls were individually placed in cages equipped with a lever-operated ...202031895062
variation in the density of oxytocin receptors in the brain as mechanism of adaptation to specific social and reproductive strategies.most species have predominant forms of social and reproductive behavior driven by many years of selection pressures and evolution. for example, rodent species can live in small or large groups, behave more tolerant or aggressively toward conspecifics (including newborns), and form or not bonds with other members of the group (including sexual partners). any of those behavioral adaptations could result in good fitness for the species, but could also require compromises such as sharing resources, ...202031734142
natural compulsive-like behaviour in the deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) is associated with altered gut microbiota composition.obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd) is a psychiatric illness that significantly impacts affected patients and available treatments yield suboptimal therapeutic response. recently, the role of the gut-brain axis (gba) in psychiatric illness has emerged as a potential target for therapeutic exploration. however, studies concerning the role of the gba in ocd are limited. to investigate whether a naturally occurring obsessive-compulsive-like phenotype in a rodent model, that is large nest building i ...202031663195
the genetics of morphological and behavioural island traits in deer mice.animals on islands often exhibit dramatic differences in morphology and behaviour compared with mainland individuals, a phenomenon known as the 'island syndrome'. these differences are thought to be adaptations to island environments, but the extent to which they have a genetic basis or instead represent plastic responses to environmental extremes is often unknown. here, we revisit a classic case of island syndrome in deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) from british columbia. we first show that s ...201931662081
developmental delay in shivering limits thermogenic capacity in juvenile high-altitude deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus).many endotherms native to cold and hypoxic high-altitude (ha) environments have evolved a highly vascularized and aerobic skeletal muscle. this specialized muscle phenotype contributes via shivering to an enhanced capacity for aerobic thermogenesis (cold-induced v̇o2,max). however, it is unclear how selection at ha for shivering thermogenesis acts early in the development of small altricial mammals, which are born with immature skeletal muscles and without the capacity for homeothermic endotherm ...201931562187
new exposure location for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome case, california, usa, 2018.we describe a case of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in a patient exposed to sin nombre virus in a coastal county in california, usa, that had no previous record of human cases. environmental evaluation coupled with genotypic analysis of virus isolates from the case-patient and locally trapped rodents identified the likely exposure location.201931538924
regulation of catecholamine release from the adrenal medulla is altered in deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) native to high altitudes.high-altitude natives have evolved to overcome environmental hypoxia and provide a compelling system to understand physiological function during reductions in oxygen availability. the sympathoadrenal system plays a key role in responses to acute hypoxia, but prolonged activation of this system in chronic hypoxia may be maladaptive. here, we examined how chronic hypoxia exposure alters adrenal catecholamine secretion and how adrenal function is altered further in high-altitude natives. population ...201931242021
evolution of physiological performance capacities and environmental adaptation: insights from high-elevation deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus).analysis of variation in whole-animal performance can shed light on causal connections between specific traits, integrated physiological capacities, and darwinian fitness. here, we review and synthesize information on naturally occurring variation in physiological performance capacities and how it relates to environmental adaptation in deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus). we discuss how evolved changes in aerobic exercise capacity and thermogenic capacity have contributed to adaptation to high el ...201931138949
plague-positive mouse fleas on mice before plague induced die-offs in black-tailed and white-tailed prairie dogs.plague is a lethal zoonotic disease associated with rodents worldwide. in the western united states, plague outbreaks can decimate prairie dog (cynomys spp.) colonies. however, it is unclear where the causative agent, yersinia pestis, of this flea-borne disease is maintained between outbreaks, and what triggers plague-induced prairie dog die-offs. less susceptible rodent hosts, such as mice, could serve to maintain the bacterium, transport infectious fleas across a colony, or introduce the patho ...201930994405
transmissible vaccines in heterogeneous populations: implications for vaccine design.transmissible vaccines may provide a promising solution for improving the control of infectious disease, particularly zoonotic pathogens with wildlife reservoirs. although it is well known that heterogeneity in pathogen transmission impacts the spread of infectious disease, the effects of heterogeneity on vaccine transmission are largely unknown. here we develop and analyze a mathematical model that quantifies the potential benefits of a transmissible vaccine in a population where transmission i ...201930859117
it's a trap: optimizing detection of rare small mammals.improving detection probabilities for rare species is critical when assessing presence or habitat associations. our goal was to create a new small mammal trapping protocol that improved detection of rare species, such as the olive-backed pocket mouse (perognathus fasciatus). we used three trap and bait types and trapped an area 4.4 times larger than the standard grid. we also assessed the effect of captures of non-target species on detection probability of pocket mice. regardless of species, tra ...201930835752
the ecological dynamics of hantavirus diseases: from environmental variability to disease prevention largely based on data from china.hantaviruses can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (hps) in the americas and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (hfrs) in eurasia. in recent decades, repeated outbreaks of hantavirus disease have led to public concern and have created a global public health burden. hantavirus spillover from natural hosts into human populations could be considered an ecological process, in which environmental forces, behavioral determinants of exposure, and dynamics at the human-animal interface affect human ...201930789905
predator-mediated effects of severe drought associated with poor reproductive success of a seabird in a cross-ecosystem cascade.despite the profound impacts of drought on terrestrial productivity in coastal arid ecosystems, only a few studies have addressed how drought can influence ecological cascades across ecosystem boundaries. in this study, we examine the consequences of rainfall pulses and drought that subsequently impact the breeding success of a threatened nocturnal seabird, the scripps's murrelet (synthliboramphus scrippsi). on an island off the coast of southern california, the main cause of reduced nest succes ...201930773758
differential regulation of the unfolded protein response in outbred deer mice and susceptibility to metabolic disease.endoplasmic reticulum (er) stress has been causatively linked to the onset of various pathologies. however, whether and how inherent variations in the resulting unfolded protein response (upr) affect predisposition to er-stress-associated metabolic conditions remains to be established. by using genetically diverse deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) as a model, we show that the profile of tunicamycin-induced upr in fibroblasts isolated at puberty varies between individuals and predicts deregulati ...201930733237
effects of the captive and wild environment on diversity of the gut microbiome of deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus).vertebrate gastrointestinal tracts have co-existed with microbes over millennia. these microbial communities provide their host with numerous benefits. however, the extent to which different environmental factors contribute to the assemblage of gut microbial communities is not fully understood. the purpose of this study was to determine how the external environment influences the development of gut microbiome communities (gmcs). faecal samples were collected from deer mice (peromyscus maniculatu ...201930664674
physiological and genomic evidence that selection on the transcription factor epas1 has altered cardiovascular function in high-altitude deer mice.evolutionary adaptation to extreme environments often requires coordinated changes in multiple intersecting physiological pathways, but how such multi-trait adaptation occurs remains unresolved. transcription factors, which regulate the expression of many genes and can simultaneously alter multiple phenotypes, may be common targets of selection if the benefits of induced changes outweigh the costs of negative pleiotropic effects. we combined complimentary population genetic analyses and physiolo ...201931697676
development and characterization of a sin nombre virus transmission model in peromyscus maniculatus.in north america, sin nombre virus (snv) is the main cause of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (hcps), a severe respiratory disease with a fatality rate of 35⁻40%. snv is a zoonotic pathogen carried by deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus), and few studies have been performed examining its transmission in deer mouse populations. studying snv and other hantaviruses can be difficult due to the need to propagate the virus in vivo for subsequent experiments. we show that when compared with standard ...201930795592
impact of climate change on the small mammal community of the yukon boreal forest.long-term monitoring is critical to determine the stability and sustainability of wildlife populations, and if change has occurred, why. we have followed population density changes in the small mammal community in the boreal forest of the southern yukon for 46 years with density estimates by live trapping on 3-5 unmanipulated grids in spring and autumn. this community consists of 10 species and was responsible for 9% of the energy flow in the herbivore component of this ecosystem from 1986 to 19 ...201930983064
assessment of chronic low-dose elemental and radiological exposures of biota at the kanab north uranium mine site in the grand canyon watershed.high-grade u ore deposits are in various stages of exploitation across the grand canyon watershed, yet the effects of u mining on ecological and cultural resources are largely unknown. we characterized the concentrations of al, as, bi, cd, co, cu, fe, pb, hg, mo, ni, se, ag, tl, th, u, and zn, gross alpha and beta activities, and u and th radioisotopes in soil, vegetation (hesperostipa comata, artemisia tridentata, tamarix chinensis), and rodents (peromyscus maniculatus, p. boylii) to waste mate ...201930136757
conservation of the genome-wide recombination rate in white-footed mice.despite being linked to the fundamental processes of chromosome segregation and offspring diversification, meiotic recombination rates vary within and between species. recent years have seen progress in quantifying recombination rate evolution across multiple temporal and genomic scales. nevertheless, the level of variation in recombination rate within wild populations-a key determinant of evolution in this trait-remains poorly documented on the genomic scale. to address this notable gap, we use ...201931366913
development of homeothermic endothermy is delayed in high-altitude native deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus).altricial mammals begin to independently thermoregulate during the first few weeks of postnatal development. in wild rodent populations, this is also a time of high mortality (50-95%), making the physiological systems that mature during this period potential targets for selection. high altitude (ha) is a particularly challenging environment for small endotherms owing to unremitting low o2 and ambient temperatures. while superior thermogenic capacities have been demonstrated in adults of some ha ...201931337307
evidence of degradation of hair corticosterone in museum specimens.researchers increasingly rely on non-invasive physiological indices, such as glucocorticoid (gc) levels, to interpret how vertebrates respond to changes in their environment. recently, hair gcs have been of particular interest, because they are presumed stable over long periods of storage, which may facilitate the study of large-scale spatial and temporal patterns of stress in mammals. in the current study, we evaluated the stability of hair corticosterone levels in museum specimens, and the pot ...201830099031
acclimatization of low altitude-bred deer mice ( peromyscus maniculatus) to high altitude.a colony of deer mice subspecies ( peromyscus maniculatus sonoriensis) native to high altitude (ha) has been maintained at sea level for 18-20 generations and remains genetically unchanged. to determine if these animals retain responsiveness to hypoxia, one group (9-11 wk old) was acclimated to ha (3,800 m) for 8 wk. age-matched control animals were acclimated to a lower altitude (la; 252 m). maximal o2 uptake (v̇o2max) was measured at the respective altitudes. on a separate day, lung volume, di ...201830091664
an updated genetic map of peromyscus with chromosomal assignment of linkage groups.species across the rodent genus peromyscus have become prominent models for studying diverse mechanistic and evolutionary processes, including chromosome evolution, infectious disease transmission and human health, ecological adaptation, coat color variation, and parental care. supporting such diverse research programs has been the development of genetic and genomic resources for species within this genus, including genome data, interspecific chromosome homologies, and a recently developed genet ...201829947964
novel focus of sin nombre virus in peromyscus eremicus mice, death valley national park, california, usa.the deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus) is the primary reservoir for sin nombre virus (snv) in the western united states. rodent surveillance for hantavirus in death valley national park, california, usa, revealed cactus mice (p. eremicus) as a possible focal reservoir for snv in this location. we identified snv antibodies in 40% of cactus mice sampled.201829774841
impact of sylvatic plague vaccine on non-target small rodents in grassland ecosystems.oral vaccination is an emerging management strategy to reduce the prevalence of high impact infectious diseases within wild animal populations. plague is a flea-borne zoonosis of rodents that often decimates prairie dog (cynomys spp.) colonies in the western usa. recently, an oral sylvatic plague vaccine (spv) was developed to protect prairie dogs from plague and aid recovery of the endangered black-footed ferret (mustela nigripes). although oral vaccination programs are targeted toward specific ...201829744628
the deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus) as an enzootic reservoir of plague in california.it has long been theorized that deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) are a primary reservoir of yersinia pestis in california. however, recent research from other parts of the western usa has implicated deer mice as spillover hosts during epizootic plague transmission. this retrospective study analyzed deer mouse data collected for plague surveillance by public health agencies in california from 1971 to 2016 to help elucidate the role of deer mice in plague transmission. the fleas most commonly fo ...201829700709
back to basics: a methodological perspective on marble-burying behavior as a screening test for psychiatric illness.animal models of human psychiatric illness are valuable frameworks to investigate the etiology and neurobiology underlying the human conditions. accurate behavioral measures that can be used to characterize animal behavior, thereby contributing to a model's validity, are crucial. one such measure, i.e. the rodent marble-burying test (mbt), is often applied as a measure of anxiety- and compulsive-like behaviors. however, the test is characterized by noteworthy between-laboratory methodological di ...201829694852
detection and evaluation of antibody response to a baylisascaris-specific antigen in rodent hosts with the use of western blotting and elisa.diagnosis of parasitic diseases that involve tissue-stage larvae is challenging, and serology remains the most effective antemortem test for detecting these infections. baylisascaris procyonis, the raccoon roundworm, is a zoonotic ascarid. raccoons are the usual definitive host, and humans may be infected as accidental hosts. more than 150 species of birds and mammals may act as paratenic hosts, and rodents play an important role in the transmission and maintenance of this parasite in nature. mi ...201830074878
sibling rivalry: males with more brothers develop larger testes.when females mate with multiple partners in a reproductive cycle, the relative number of competing sperm from rival males is often the most critical factor in determining paternity. gamete production is directly related to testis size in most species, and is associated with both mating behavior and perceived risk of competition. deer mice, peromyscus maniculatus, are naturally promiscuous and males invest significantly more in sperm production than males of p. polionotus, their monogamous sister ...201830250695
ecological processes determining the distribution dynamics of vole populations during forest succession.the size and distribution of animal populations may vary drastically over time following a disturbance event. while both competition and predation can control the size of animal populations, changes in the relative importance of these two density-dependent processes remain poorly documented during ecological succession. here, we combined habitat selection and optimal foraging theory to identify the processes that can explain the increase in red-backed voles (myodes gapperi) during post-logging f ...201830244315
evolved changes in breathing and co2 sensitivity in deer mice native to high altitudes.we examined the control of breathing by o2 and co2 in deer mice native to high altitude to help uncover the physiological specializations used to cope with hypoxia in high-altitude environments. highland deer mice ( peromyscus maniculatus) and lowland white-footed mice ( p. leucopus) were bred in captivity at sea level. the first and second generation progeny of each population was raised to adulthood and then acclimated to normoxia or hypobaric hypoxia (12 kpa o2, simulating hypoxia at ~4,300 m ...201830183337
prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in two species of peromyscus mice common in northern wisconsin.two species of mice, the white-footed mouse, peromyscus leucopus (rafinesque; rodentia: cricetidae) and the woodland deer mouse, peromyscus maniculatus (wagner; rodentia: cricetidae), serve as reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens in many parts of north america. however, the role p. maniculatus plays in the amplification and maintenance of anaplasma phagocytophilum (rickettsiales: ehrlichiaceae) and borrelia burgdorferi (spirochaetales: spirochaetaceae) is not well understood. in northern wisconsin ...201829506103
indirect effects of a large mammalian herbivore on small mammal populations: context-dependent variation across habitat types, mammal species, and seasons.multiple consumer species frequently co-occur in the same landscape and, through effects on surrounding environments, can interact in direct and indirect ways. these interactions can vary in occurrence and importance, and focusing on this variation is critical for understanding the dynamics of interactions among consumers. large mammalian herbivores are important engineers of ecosystems worldwide, have substantial impacts on vegetation, and can indirectly affect small-mammal populations. however ...201830598804
interspecific comparison of hantavirus prevalence in peromyscus populations from a fragmented agro-ecosystem in indiana, usa.comparatively little is known about hantavirus prevalence within rodent populations from the midwestern us, where two species of native mice, the prairie deer mouse ( peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) and the white-footed mouse ( peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis), are dominant members of rodent communities. we sampled both species in central indiana and tested individuals for presence of hantavirus antibodies to determine whether seroprevalence (percent of individuals with antibodies reactive to ...201828977768
evaluating the impacts of coinfection on immune system function of the deer mouse ( peromyscus maniculatus) using sin nombre virus and bartonella as model pathogen systems.:  simultaneous infections with multiple pathogens can alter the function of the host's immune system, often resulting in additive or synergistic morbidity. we examined how coinfection with the common pathogens sin nombre virus (snv) and bartonella sp. affected aspects of the adaptive and innate immune responses of wild deer mice ( peromyscus maniculatus). adaptive immunity was assessed by measuring snv antibody production; innate immunity was determined by measuring levels of c-reactive protein ...201828977767
isotopic niche variation from the holocene to today reveals minimal partitioning and individualistic dynamics among four sympatric desert mice.species interact with each other and their environment over a range of temporal scales, yet our understanding of resource partitioning and the mechanisms of species coexistence is largely restricted to modern time-scales of years to decades. furthermore, the relative magnitudes of inter- vs. intraspecific variation in resource use are rarely considered, despite the potential for the latter to influence a species' ability to cope with changing environmental conditions. modern desert rodent commun ...201829048750
is species richness driving intra- and interspecific interactions and temporal activity overlap of a hantavirus host? an experimental test.high species diversity of the potential animal host community for a zoonotic pathogen may reduce pathogen transmission among the most competent host, a phenomenon called the "dilution effect", but the mechanisms driving this effect have been little studied. one proposed mechanism is "encounter reduction" where host species of low-competency decrease contact rates between infected and susceptible competent hosts, especially in directly transmitted diseases. we conducted an experiment in outdoor e ...201729141047
a damped precipitation-driven, bottom-up model for deer mouse population abundance in the northwestern united states.small-mammal population densities can be regulated by bottom-up (food availability) and top-down (predation) forces. in 1993, an el niño southern oscillation event was followed by a cluster of human hantavirus with pulmonary syndrome in the southwestern united states. an upward trophic cascade hypothesis was proposed as an explanation for the outbreak: increased plant productivity as a consequence of el niño precipitations led to an unusual increase in distribution and abundance of deer mice (pe ...201729299286
intraspecific functional diversity of common species enhances community stability.common species are fundamental to the structure and function of their communities and may enhance community stability through intraspecific functional diversity (ifd). we measured among-habitat and within-habitat ifd (i.e., among- and within-plant community types) of two common small mammal species using stable isotopes and functional trait dendrograms, determined whether ifd was related to short-term population stability and small mammal community stability, and tested whether spatially explici ...201728261464
when perception reflects reality: non-native grass invasion alters small mammal risk landscapes and survival.modification of habitat structure due to invasive plants can alter the risk landscape for wildlife by, for example, changing the quality or availability of refuge habitat. whether perceived risk corresponds with actual fitness outcomes, however, remains an important open question. we simultaneously measured how habitat changes due to a common invasive grass (cheatgrass, bromus tectorum) affected the perceived risk, habitat selection, and apparent survival of a small mammal, enabling us to assess ...201728331590
species' traits help predict small mammal responses to habitat homogenization by an invasive grass.invasive plants can negatively affect native species, however, the strength, direction, and shape of responses may vary depending on the type of habitat alteration and the natural history of native species. to prioritize conservation of vulnerable species, it is therefore critical to effectively predict species' responses to invasive plants, which may be facilitated by a framework based on species' traits. we studied the population and community responses of small mammals and changes in habitat ...201728317278
introduced rats and an endemic roundworm: does rattus rattus contribute to baylisascaris procyonis transmission in california?the introduced black rat, rattus rattus, occurs throughout the native range of the raccoon roundworm, baylisascaris procyonis, and might incorporate into its life cycle if rats consume parasite eggs, acquire viable infections, and are eaten by raccoons. although rats forage at raccoon latrines, their role in b. procyonis transmission remains unknown. here i tested the potential for rats to amplify b. procyonis transmission in california by surveying wild rodents for b. procyonis and conducting s ...201728732456
linking songbird nest predation to seedling density: sugar maple masting as a resource pulse in a forest food web.the ecological literature presents considerable evidence for top-down forcing on the maintenance of species diversity. yet, in temperate forests, bottom-up forces often exert a strong influence on ecosystem functioning. here, we report on the indirect influence of a pulsed resource, sugar maple (acer saccharum) seed production, on nest survival in a migratory songbird. we hypothesized that seed production in year t would determine daily nest survival rate in year t + 1 through its effects on see ...201729299253
peromyscus maniculatus bairdii as a naturalistic mammalian model of obsessive-compulsive disorder: current status and future challenges.obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd) is a prevalent and debilitating condition, characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behavior. animal models of ocd arguably have the potential to contribute to our understanding of the condition. deer mice (permomyscus maniculatus bairdii) are characterized by stereotypic behavior which is reminiscent of ocd symptomology, and which may serve as a naturalistic animal model of this disorder. moreover, a range of deer mouse repetitive behaviors may be r ...201729214602
effects of hypoxia at different life stages on locomotory muscle phenotype in deer mice native to high altitudes.animals native to high altitude must overcome the constraining effects of hypoxia on tissue o2 supply to support routine metabolism, thermoregulation in the cold, and exercise. deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) native to high altitude have evolved an enhanced aerobic capacity in hypoxia, along with increased capillarity and oxidative capacity of locomotory muscle. here, we examined whether exposure to chronic hypoxia during development or adulthood affects muscle phenotype. deer mice from a hig ...201729175484
fuel use in mammals: conserved patterns and evolved strategies for aerobic locomotion and thermogenesis.effective aerobic locomotion depends on adequate delivery of oxygen and an appropriate allocation of metabolic substrates. the use of metabolic substrates during exercise follows a predictive pattern of lipid and carbohydrate oxidation that is similar in lowland native cursorial mammals. we have found that in two highland lineages of mice (phyllotis and peromyscus) the fuel use pattern is shifted to a greater reliance on carbohydrates compared to their lowland conspecifics and congenerics. howev ...201728859408
circulatory mechanisms underlying adaptive increases in thermogenic capacity in high-altitude deer mice.we examined the circulatory mechanisms underlying adaptive increases in thermogenic capacity in deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) native to the cold hypoxic environment at high altitudes. deer mice from high- and low-altitude populations were born and raised in captivity to adulthood, and then acclimated to normoxia or hypobaric hypoxia (simulating hypoxia at ∼4300 m). thermogenic capacity [maximal o2 consumption (v̇o2,max), during cold exposure] was measured in hypoxia, along with arterial o2 ...201728839010
the genetic basis of parental care evolution in monogamous mice.parental care is essential for the survival of mammals, yet the mechanisms underlying its evolution remain largely unknown. here we show that two sister species of mice, peromyscus polionotus and peromyscus maniculatus, have large and heritable differences in parental behaviour. using quantitative genetics, we identify 12 genomic regions that affect parental care, 8 of which have sex-specific effects, suggesting that parental care can evolve independently in males and females. furthermore, some ...201728424518
evolved changes in the intracellular distribution and physiology of muscle mitochondria in high-altitude native deer mice.mitochondrial function changes over time at high altitudes, but the potential benefits of these changes for hypoxia resistance remains unclear. we used high-altitude-adapted populations of deer mice, which exhibit enhanced aerobic performance in hypoxia, to examine whether changes in mitochondrial physiology or intracellular distribution in the muscle contribute to hypoxia resistance. permeabilized muscle fibres from the gastrocnemius muscle had higher respiratory capacities in high-altitude mic ...201728418073
quantitative shedding of multiple genotypes of cryptosporidium and giardia by deer mice ( peromyscus maniculatus ) in a major agricultural region on the california central coast.deer mice ( peromyscus maniculatus ) are abundant and widely distributed rodents in north america that occupy diverse habitats, including agricultural landscapes. giardia and cryptosporidium are common parasites in wildlife including deer mice, which may play a role in on-farm contamination of produce. an important step in assessing the risk of produce contamination by cryptosporidium and giardia shed by deer mice is to determine the prevalence, levels, and genotypes of (oo)cysts in mouse feces. ...201728387527
alteration of the α1β2/α2β1 subunit interface contributes to the increased hemoglobin-oxygen affinity of high-altitude deer mice.deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) that are native to high altitudes in the rocky mountains have evolved hemoglobins with an increased oxygen-binding affinity relative to those of lowland conspecifics. to elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for the evolved increase in hemoglobin-oxygen affinity, the crystal structure of the highland hemoglobin variant was solved and compared with the previously reported structure for the lowland variant.201728362841
effects of seed density and proximity to refuge habitat on seed predation rates for a rare and a common lupinus species.biotic interactions such as seed predation can play a role in explaining patterns of abundance among plant species. the effect of seed predation will depend on how the strength of predation differs across species and environments, and on the degree to which seed loss at one life-cycle phase increases fitness at another phase. few studies have simultaneously quantified predispersal and postdispersal predation in co-occurring rare and common congeners, despite the value of estimating both for unde ...201728325829
the development of repetitive motor behaviors in deer mice: effects of environmental enrichment, repeated testing, and differential mediation by indirect basal ganglia pathway activation.little is known about the mechanisms mediating the development of repetitive behaviors in human or animals. deer mice reared with environmental enrichment (ee) exhibit fewer repetitive behaviors and greater indirect basal ganglia pathway activation as adults than those reared in standard cages. the developmental progression of these behavioral and neural circuitry changes has not been characterized. we assessed the development of repetitive behavior in deer mice using both a longitudinal and coh ...201728181216
acclimation to hypoxia increases carbohydrate use during exercise in high-altitude deer mice.the low o2 experienced at high altitude is a significant challenge to effective aerobic locomotion, as it requires sustained tissue o2 delivery in addition to the appropriate allocation of metabolic substrates. here, we tested whether high- and low-altitude deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) have evolved different acclimation responses to hypoxia with respect to muscle metabolism and fuel use during submaximal exercise. using f1 generation high- and low-altitude deer mice that were born and rais ...201728077391
the ultimate and proximate mechanisms driving the evolution of long tails in forest deer mice.understanding both the role of selection in driving phenotypic change and its underlying genetic basis remain major challenges in evolutionary biology. here, we use modern tools to revisit a classic system of local adaptation in the north american deer mouse, peromyscus maniculatus, which occupies two main habitat types: prairie and forest. using historical collections, we find that forest-dwelling mice have longer tails than those from nonforested habitat, even when we account for individual an ...201727958661
peromyscus as a model system for understanding the regulation of maternal behavior.the genus peromyscus has been used as a model system for understanding maternal behavior because of the diversity of reproductive strategies within this genus. this review will describe the ecological factors that determine litter size and litter quality in polygynous species such as peromyscus leucopus and peromyscus maniculatus. we will also outline the physiological and social factors regulating maternal care in peromyscus californicus, a monogamous and biparental species. because biparental ...201727381343
peromyscus as a model system for human hepatitis c: an opportunity to advance our understanding of a complex host parasite system.worldwide, there are 185 million people infected with hepatitis c virus and approximately 350,000 people die each year from hepatitis c associated liver diseases. human hepatitis c research has been hampered by the lack of an appropriate in vivo model system. most of the in vivo research has been conducted on chimpanzees, which is complicated by ethical concerns, small sample sizes, high costs, and genetic heterogeneity. the house mouse system has led to greater understanding of a wide variety o ...201727498234
pathogenesis of vesicular stomatitis new jersey virus infection in deer mice ( peromyscus maniculatus) transmitted by black flies ( simulium vittatum).the natural transmission of vesicular stomatitis new jersey virus (vsnjv), an arthropod-borne virus, is not completely understood. rodents may have a role as reservoir or amplifying hosts. in this study, juvenile and nestling deer mice ( peromyscus maniculatus) were exposed to vsnjv-infected black fly ( simulium vittatum) bites followed by a second exposure to naive black flies on the nestling mice. severe neurological signs were observed in some juvenile mice by 6 to 8 days postinoculation (dpi ...201727312365
admixture on the northern front: population genomics of range expansion in the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus) and secondary contact with the deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus).range expansion has genetic consequences expected to result in differentiated wave-front populations with low genetic variation and potentially introgression from a local species. the northern expansion of peromyscus leucopus in southern quebec provides an opportunity to test these predictions using population genomic tools. our results show evidence of recent and post-glacial expansion. genome-wide variation in p. leucopus indicates two post-glacial lineages are separated by the st. lawrence ri ...201728902189
control of breathing and ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia in deer mice native to high altitudes.we compared the control of breathing and heart rate by hypoxia between high- and low-altitude populations of peromyscus mice, to help elucidate the physiological specializations that help high-altitude natives cope with o2 limitation.201728640969
microsatellite markers reveal low frequency of natural hybridization between the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus) and deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus) in southern quebec, canada.in some parts of southern quebec, two closely related rodent species - the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus) and the deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus) - have recently come in contact because of climate-driven changes in the distribution of the former. both species share similar morphology, ecology, and life history traits, which suggests that natural hybridization may be possible. hybridization among these two species can have important implications on the ecological roles these rodents ...201728177836
expression kinetics of rantes and mcp-1 in the brain of deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) infected with vesicular stomatitis new jersey virus.the vesicular stomatitis virus (vsv) causes encephalitis in mice when inoculated intranasally. the deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus), a native new world rodent, is also susceptible to vsv infection and develops similar central nervous system (cns) lesions to those observed in other rodent species. chemokines, such as regulated on activation, normal t-cell expressed and secreted (rantes; ccl-5) and monocyte chemoattractant protein (mcp)-1 (ccl-2), which are important for chemotaxis and activati ...201627780575
how much effort is required to accurately describe the complex ecology of a rodent-borne viral disease?we use data collected on 18,1-ha live trapping grids monitored from 1994 through 2005 and on five of those grids through 2013 in the mesic northwestern us to illustrate the complexity of the deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus)/sin nombre virus (snv) host-pathogen system. important factors necessary to understand zoonotic disease ecology include those associated with distribution and population dynamics of reservoir species as well as infection dynamics. results are based on more than 851,000 tra ...201627398256
behavioural differences: a link between biodiversity and pathogen transmission.biodiversity often serves to reduce zoonotic pathogens, such that prevalence is lower in communities of greater diversity. this phenomenon is termed the dilution effect, and although it has been reported for several pathogens (e.g. sin nombre virus, snv), the mechanism is largely unknown. we investigated a putative mechanism, by testing the hypothesis that higher biodiversity alters behaviours important in pathogen transmission. using deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) and snv as our host-pathog ...201626752791
maporal hantavirus causes mild pathology in deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus).rodent-borne hantaviruses can cause two human diseases with many pathological similarities: hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (hcps) in the western hemisphere and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in the eastern hemisphere. each virus is hosted by specific reservoir species without conspicuous disease. hcps-causing hantaviruses require animal biosafety level-4 (absl-4) containment, which substantially limits experimental research of interactions between the viruses and their reservoir host ...201627763552
variable infection dynamics in four peromyscus species following experimental inoculation with baylisascaris procyonis.wild rodents such as peromyscus spp. are intermediate hosts for the zoonotic ascarid baylisascaris procyonis (raccoon roundworm), and previous studies indicate peromyscus leucopus (white-footed mouse) likely serves an important role in parasite ecology. natural infections have been sporadically identified in a few peromyscus spp., but no data are available on differences in susceptibility among the many other species. we compared survival and infection dynamics of b. procyonis in 4 species ( p. ...201627351237
a method to distinguish morphologically similar peromyscus species using extracellular rna and high-resolution melt analysis.a method applying high-resolution melt (hrm) analysis to pcr products copied and amplified from extracellular rna (exrna) has been developed to distinguish two morphologically similar peromyscus species: peromyscus leucopus and peromyscus maniculatus. p. leucopus is considered the primary reservoir host of borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent for lyme disease in north america. in northern minnesota the habitat ranges of p. leucopus overlaps with that of p. maniculatus. serum samples from li ...201627349513
emotionality and alcohol selection in deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus). 20164827295
host associations and genomic diversity of borrelia hermsii in an endemic focus of tick-borne relapsing fever in western north america.an unrecognized focus of tick-borne relapsing fever caused by borrelia hermsii was identified in 2002 when five people became infected on wild horse island in flathead lake, montana. the terrestrial small mammal community on the island is composed primarily of pine squirrels (tamiasciurus hudsonicus) and deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus), neither of which was known as a natural host for the spirochete. thus a 3-year study was performed to identify small mammals as hosts for b. hermsii.201627832805
molecular epidemiology of bartonella species isolated from ground squirrels and other rodents in northern california.bartonella spp. are endemic in wild rodents in many parts of the world. a study conducted in two northern california counties (sonoma and yolo) sampling california ground squirrels (otospermophilus beecheyi) and four other rodent species (peromyscus maniculatus, p. boylii, p. truei and neotoma fuscipes) led to the isolation of small gram-negative bacilli which were identified as bartonella spp. based on colony morphology, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (pcr-rf ...201627245290
peromyscus (deer mice) as developmental models.deer mice (peromyscus) are the most common native north american mammals, and exhibit great natural genetic variation. wild-derived stocks from a number of populations are available from the peromyscus genetic stock center (pgsc). the pgsc also houses a number of natural variants and mutants (many of which appear to differ from mus). these include metabolic, coat-color/pattern, neurological, and other morphological variants/mutants. nearly all these mutants are on a common genetic background, th ...201624896658
changes in trap temperature as a method to determine timing of capture of small mammals.patterns of animal activity provide important insight into hypotheses in animal behavior, physiological ecology, behavioral ecology, as well as population and community ecology. understanding patterns of animal activity in field settings is often complicated by the need for expensive equipment and time-intensive methods that limit data collection. because animals must be active to be detected, the timing of detection (e.g., the timing of capture) may be a useful proxy for estimation of activity ...201627792770
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