Publications

descriptive kinetics of the seminiferous epithelium cycle and genome size in the mole talpa occidentalis (insectivora).	the male germ cell cytodifferentiative process of the mole talpa occidentalis is described. cytochemical procedures were used 1) to follow acrosome formation and spermatid differentiation, dividing the seminiferous epithelium cycle into ten stages, each characterized by typical germ cell-to-cell associations, and recognizing 13 steps in spermatid differentiation; 2) to monitor, in situ, histones replacement by protamines at step 11 of the spermiogenic process. the seminiferous epithelium cycle o ...	1995	7561724
characterization of pneumocystis carinii infection in sorex araneus from southern finland.	histologic and quantitative techniques were compared in an evaluation of the intensity of pneumocystis carinii infection in common shrews (sorex araneus) at espoo, southern finland, from september 1992 to may 1993. the histological scores were comparable to the results of the cyst count technique. the number of p. carinii cysts found in common shrews was low compared to those reported by others in clinically ill laboratory rats. the inflammatory changes detected in the lung sections had no signi ...	1995	8583642
gene mapping in the common shrew (sorex araneus; insectivora) by shrew-rodent cell hybrids: chromosome localization of the loci for hprt, tk, ldha, mdh1, g6pd, pgd, and ada.	we selected the common shrew (sorex araneus) to generate the first insectivore gene map. shrew-chinese hamster and shrew- mouse somatic cell hybrid cells were constructed. when the 119 shrew-rodent clones were characterized, only shrew chromosomes were found to have segregated. a panel of hybrid clones was selected for gene assignment. the genes for hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (hprt), glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase (g6pd), and malate dehydrogenase 1 (mdh1) were assigned to shrew ...	1995	8597634
myosin heavy chains in skeletal muscles of the common shrew (sorex araneus): absence of a slow isoform and transitions of fast isoforms with ageing.	myosin heavy chain (mhc) composition in seven skeletal muscles of the common shrew (sorex araneus) was analysed by gradient sds-page and immunoblotting with monoclonal antibodies. characteristic for the studied muscles (diaphragm, lateral gastrocnemius, medial gastrocnemius, masseter, plantaris, soleus and tibialis anterior) was a total absence of the slow isoform, mhci; all muscles were exclusively composed of two fast isoforms mhciid and mhciib. in young adults the amount of mhciid varied betw ...	1995	8669296
chromosome localization of the loci for pepa, pepb, peps, idh1, gsr, mpi, pgm1, np, sod1, and me1 in the common shrew (sorex araneus).	this report extends the genetic map of the common shrew (sorex araneus) by adding chromosome assignments for ten genes to the seven already mapped (pack et al. 1995). a somatic cell hybrid panel was used for the mapping. the genes for peptidase a (pepa) and isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (idh1) map to chromosome de; the genes for phosphoglucomutase-1 (pgm1), superoxide dismutase-1 (sod1), and mannosephosphate isomerase (mpi) are located on chromosome af; the genes for nucleoside phosphorylase (np) a ...	1996	8661695
[shrews as a borrelia reservoir in northwestern russia].	the borreliemia was discovered in 22 (44.9%) of 49 common shrews (sorex araneus, soricidae), which were captured in the end of july-august 1995 in the novgorod province. the borreliae were located near the capillaries of the true skin and in the veins of the subcutaneous layer.	1996	8984447
[leptospira antibodies in small mammals in eastern slovakia].	during the five years (1991-1995) mostly free living small mammals were examined serologically for the presence of antibodies to leptospira. serological examinations were used by kmety and bakoss (1978). altogether, 2493 individuals of 22 species were examined, an important part of host material (69.6%) was caught in two lowland areas which are intensively cultivated landscapes (east slovakian lowland and kosická kotlina basin). the remaining material comes from submontane areas with less agricu ...	1996	9045500
chromosome localization of the gene for growth hormone in the common shrew (sorex araneus).	the chromosome localization of the gene encoding growth hormone (gh) was determined by southern blotting of dna obtained from a panel of common shrew x chinese hamster and common shrew x mouse hybrid somatic cell clones using mink gh dna as a probe. the gh gene was found to be localized on chromosome hn of the common shrew.	1996	9225591
the relationships between brain, serum, and whole blood che activity in the wood mouse (apodemus sylvaticus) and the common shrew (sorex araneus) after acute sublethal exposure to dimethoate.	abstract inhibition of cholinesterase (che) activity produced by a single acute intraperitoneal administration of dimethoate was studied in the wood mouse, apodemus sylvaticus, and the common shrew, sorex araneus, under laboratory conditions. che values from serum and whole blood were compared with those obtained from brain in order to obtain a non-destructive tool for predicting the severity of brain acetylcholinesterase (ache) inhibition. in addition, serum and brain inhibition following oral ...	1996	23902326
polychlorinated biphenyls in small mammals from contaminated landfill sites.	pcbs in small mammals living in a contaminated landfill site varied in both concentration and congener composition, reflecting both the feeding strategy of each species and the chlorination of the congeners. body concentrations of sigmapcb on a 1:1:1 arochlor (1242:1254:1260) basis gave a rank order of sorex araneus > apodemus sylvaticus > microtus agrestis. comparisons with data for other pcb-contaminated sites suggest that the sigmapcb values in s. araneus from the landfill site may be of suff ...	1996	15091398
origin and evolution of homologous repeated sequences in the mitochondrial dna control region of shrews.	the complete mitochondrial dna (mtdna) control region was amplified and directly sequenced in two species of shrew, crocidura russula and sorex araneus (insectivora, mammalia). the general organization is similar to that found in other mammals: a central conserved region surrounded by two more variable domains. however, we have found in shrews the simultaneous presence of arrays of tandem repeats in potential locations where repeats tend to occur separately in other mammalian species. these loca ...	1996	8583904
anatomical study of the abdominal arterial system in soricids (insectivora, mammalia): functional and phylogenetic implications.	information on the anatomy of the abdominal arterial system in insectivora is scarce. we described the origin, distribution, and variations of the visceral abdominal arteries in some soricidae in order to provide the first comprehensive data on this subject in insectivora. results were interpreted from a functional and phylogenetic viewpoint.	1997	9143678
[chromosome coupling in robertsonian heterozygotes in common (sorex araneus) and musk (suncus murinus) shrews].		1997	9376804
no evidence of sperm selection by female common shrews.	there is currently much interest in the suggestion that females are capable of post-copulatory (or cryptic) choice for male genetic compatibility. here, i investigate this idea using data from mixed-paternity litters of the common shrew (sorex araneus). females of this species are highly promiscuous and, in natural populations, regularly incur costs of inbreeding by mating with close relatives. selection should therefore favour female ability for sperm selection on the basis of male relatedness. ...	1997	9364789
[geography of chromosomes of natural populations of the shrews sorex araneus and suncus murinus].	the geographic distribution of chromosome races of two shrew species (sorex araneus and suncus murinus) was analyzed on the basis of published data and personal results. it was shown that expansion of both species was accompanied by fixation of different chromosome rearrangements (mainly robertsonian translocations) in isolates. chromosome polymorphism studied from the viewpoint of ecology and geography of these species allows reconstruction of their evolutionary history and understanding of the ...	1997	9378305
novosibirsk revisited 24 years on: chromosome polymorphism in the novosibirsk population of the common shrew sorex araneus l.	a robertsonian fusion polymorphism in the common shrew (sorex araneus l.), first described in academgorodok near novosibirsk (western siberia) in 1970-72, was re-examined in 1994-95. the polymorphism in the 1970s involved chromosome arm combinations go, jl, mp and qr, i.e. each of these combinations was present in both a metacentric and a twin-acrocentric state in the population at that time. the twin-acrocentric morph for go occurred at low frequency in 1970-72 and was not observed in 1994-95. ...	1997	9279011
the impact of chronic radioactive stress on the immuno-physiological condition of small mammals.	the mass of internal organs and cellularity index of thymus and spleen were measured in small mammals inhabiting territories with a low level of chronic irradiation caused by the chernobyl accident. comparing with uncontaminated territories from the same region, bank voles (clethrionomys glareolus) demonstrated an increase in liver and thymus mass and cellularity index of thymus, while sub-adult shrews (sorex araneus) at contaminated territories had larger body mass, heavier spleen, kidney, and ...	1997	9281840
chromosome location of sixteen genes in the common shrew, sorex araneus l. (mammalia, insectivora).	this report extends the genetic map of the common shrew (sorex araneus) by use of a clone panel of shrew-chinese hamster and shrew-mouse hybrid cells (pack et al., 1995; matyakhina et al., 1996). this set of hybrid clones made it possible to assign the shrew genes for isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (idh2), inorganic pyrophosphatase (pp), glutamicpyruvate transaminase (gpt), adenosine kinase (adk), glucuronidase 2 (gusb) and acid phosphatase 2 (acp2) to chromosome ik; the genes for adenylate kinases ...	1997	9284916
disturbances of the mineral incorporation in various species of mice and shrews in the emission area of a phosphate plant.	the cd emission of a phosphate plant was clearly reflected by the cd status of herbivorous european wood mice and common field voles as well as of european shrews taking in mostly animal food. the antagonistic effect of the emitted cd and mo better available for plants with high ground ph most probably caused the deterioration in the cu status of the animals of both phases in the nutritional chain. the lower ca, p, and mg incorporation with european wood mouse and common field vole within the co ...	1997	9404674
meiosis and fertility in common shrews, sorex araneus, from a chromosomal hybrid zone in central sweden.	adult male common shrews from the uppsala and hällefors robertsonian chromosomal races and hybrids were collected from the area of surahammar in sweden. meiosis and fertility of hybrid (complex heterozygotes) and nonhybrid (homozygotes) individuals were compared based on an analysis of chromosomal interactions and synapsis at pachytene, chiasma characteristics at diakinesis, and germ-cell death. no individuals suffered severe germ-cell loss, and the differences found among the uppsala and hällef ...	1997	9465899
pneumocystis carinii of the common shrew, sorex araneus, shows a discrete phenotype.	we carried out an immunohistological and morphological study on pneumocystis carinii originating from the common shrew, sorex araneus. immunologic properties were studied by applying two commercially available immunofluorescence staining kits with differing developmental form specificity to a lung homogenate. the cyst form-specific staining kit reacted with cysts originating from s. araneus. ultrastructurally this particular antigen epitope specifically deposited on the electron-lucent middle la ...	1997	9109260
lung parasites of shrews from pennsylvania.	we examined lung parasites of three species of soricids, sorex cinereus (n = 58), sorex fumeus (n = 23) and blarina brevicauda (n = 45) collected from pennsylvania (usa), from 1990 to 1995. yeast-like cells of hisfoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum were found in lung sections stained with grocott's modification of gomori's methenamine silver, periodic acid-schiff, giemsa, and hematoxylin-eosin in two (3%) s. cinereus, eight (35%) s. fumeus and two (4%) b. brevicauda. the number of spores of h. c ...	1997	9131560
robertsonian chromosomal rearrangements in the short-tailed shrew, blarina carolinensis, in western tennessee.	we report significant heterozygosity for numerous robertsonian translocations in the southern short-tailed shrew (blarina carolinensis) in western tennessee. eight robertsonian rearrangements were documented using g-banding techniques that explain the variability in diploid numbers from 46 throughout most of the range of the species to 34-40 in western tennessee. these fusions resulted in the loss of telomere sequences and were not associated with nucleolar organizer regions. when heterozygocity ...	1997	9186509
serosurvey for orthopoxviruses in rodents and shrews from norway.	two hundred and twenty one blood samples representing eight different rodent species and the common shrew (sorex araneus), collected in norway between 1993 and 1995, were examined for anti-orthopoxvirus antibodies by a competition enzyme linked imunnosorbent assay (elisa) and, when possible, an indirect immunofluorescence assay. the serological results indicated that the bank vole (clethrionomys glareolus), woodmouse (apodemus sylvaticus) and norway lemming (lemmus lemmus) may be reservoir speci ...	1998	9577770
muscle capillary supply in hind limb and diaphragm of the common shrew (sorex araneus).	shrew species of the subfamily soricinae have unusually high metabolic rates when compared to crocidurinae shrews and other similar-sized mammals. the aim of this study was to clarify whether the high basal metabolic rate of soricinae shrews is reflected in a high capillary density in their muscles. to this end, the capillary supply of four limb muscles and diaphragm of the common shrew (sorex araneus) was quantified from cross-sectioned muscles. the capillary densities of the limb muscles were ...	1998	9646505
zoo-fish analysis in insectivores: "evolution extols the virtue of the status quo".	in evolutionary terms, insectivores are thought to be close to primates. through zoo-fish analysis using human chromosome-specific painting probes, the syntenic relationship between the human and common shrew, sorex araneus, karyotypes was studied. the human karyotype was found to be conserved in the shrew, with 32 autosomal segments of common synteny. special arrangements, already known from similar studies on other species, were noted: fusions of hsa 16 and 19, hsa 3 and 21, and hsa 14 and 15. ...	1998	9678336
naturally occurring orthopoxviruses: potential for recombination with vaccine vectors.	orthopoxviruses are being increasingly used as live recombinant vectors for vaccination against numerous infectious diseases in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. for risk assessments and surveillance, information about the occurrence, distribution and ecology of orthopoxviruses in western europe is important but has mainly been based on serological investigations. we have examined kidneys, lungs, spleens, and livers of norwegian small rodents and common shrews (sorex araneus) for the prese ...	1998	9705389
[features of the parasitic system of ixodid ticks--borrelia--small mammals in the russian northwest].	mammals and ticks was collected in 1995-1997 years in novgorod region from may to september. traps were exposed during 5 consecutive days every month in 4 different biotopes. 928 hosts were captured during three years. 357 larvae and 59 nymphs of ixodes persulcatus, 356 larvae and 71 nymphs of i. trianguliceps were collected. the clethrionomys glareolus and sorex araneus are main hosts of larvae of i. persulcatus and i. trianguliceps. c. glareolus feed 76.2% of i. persulcatus larvae and 25% of i ...	1998	9859127
meiotic drive favors robertsonian metacentric chromosomes in the common shrew (sorex araneus, insectivora, mammalia).	meiotic drive has attracted much interest because it concerns the robustness of mendelian segregation and its genetic and evolutionary stability. we studied chromosomal meiotic drive in the common shrew (sorex araneus, insectivora, mammalia), which exhibits one of the most remarkable chromosomal polymorphisms within mammalian species. the open question of the evolutionary success of metacentric chromosomes (robertsonian fusions) versus acrocentrics in the common shrew prompted us to test whether ...	1998	10072577
spermatogenesis in common shrews, sorex araneus, from a hybrid zone with extensive robertsonian polymorphism.	the analysis of the fertility of hybrid and nonhybrid individuals from a chromosomal contact zone gives us the possibility of studying the role of chromosomes in speciation processes. in this study, homozygous, "simple" and "complex" robertsonian heterozygous male common shrews (sorex araneus) from the abisko-sidensjö chromosomal hybrid zone in sweden were analysed. the degree of germ cell death was estimated, sperm counts were performed and the testis and seminal vesicles weighed in each indivi ...	1998	9678351
[chromosomal localization of nine genes in common shrew (sorex araneus)].	syntheny and localization of the following genes in common shrew sorex araneus were determined: isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (idh2), acid phosphatase 2 (acp2), glutamine--pyruvate--oxo-acid transaminase (gpt), and inorganic pyrophosphatase (pp) on chromosome ik; adenylate kinases 1 and 3 (ak1 and ak3) on chromosome af; and enolase 1 (eno1) on chromosome jl. two genes were assigned to definite arms: aminoacylase 1 (acy1) to arm p of chromosome mp and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 1 (got1) to ar ...	1998	9589866
analysing interspecific associations in parasites: alternative methods and effects of sampling heterogeneity.	the purpose of the present study was (1) to test the ability of six alternative methods to detect random and non-random patterns of overall association in artificial presence/absence data sets, and (2) to analyse overall associations and effects of sampling heterogeneity in four empirical presence/absence data sets of helminths of the common shrew sorex araneus. in the null model, the expected distribution was created by means of a randomisation procedure. application of methods on artificial da ...	1998	28307526
do riverine barriers, history or introgression shape the genetic structuring of a common shrew (sorex araneus) population?	the common shrew (sorex araneus) is subdivided into numerous chromosome races. the valais and cordon chromosome races meet and hybridize at a mountain river in les houches (french alps). significant genetic structuring was recently reported among populations found on the valais side of this hybrid zone. in this paper, a phylogenetic analysis and partial mantel tests are used to investigate the patterns and causes of this structuring. a total of 185 shrews were trapped at 12 localities. all indiv ...	1999	10469203
seasonal dynamics of pneumocystis carinii in the field vole, microtus agrestis, and in the common shrew, sorex araneus, in finland.	seasonal dynamics of pneumocystis carinii in the field vole, microtus agrestis, and in the common shrew, sorex araneus, were investigated in southern and central finland by microscopical examination of methenamine silver-stained tissue sections. in both host species at both localities the number of p. carinii cyst forms was highest in late autumn (november). in s. araneus, prevalence was higher than in m. agrestis during all seasons. none of the animals was heavily infected or apparently ill, an ...	1999	10070655
emmonsiosis of wild rodents and insectivores in czechland.	adiaspores of the fungus emmonsia crescens were detected microscopically in the lung tissue of 13% of 10.081 small mammals belonging to 24 species examined in 14 areas of the czech republic between 1986 and 1997; 441/1.934 (23%) clethrionomys glareolus, 1/6 (17%) arvicola terrestris, 357/2.172 (16%) apodemus flavicollis, 220/1.981 (11%). a sylvaticus, 23/265 (9%) a. microps, 11/81 (14%) microtus subterraneus, 93/1.275 (7%) m. arvalis, 98/1.439 (7%) m. agrestis, 1/3 (33%) ondatra zibethicus, 1/1 ...	1999	10231750
[karyologic differentiation in the common shrew sorex araneus l. from the upper and middle volga river basin (insectivora, mammalia)].		1999	10420262
[chromosomal localization of 10 genes on the cytogenetic map of the common shrew sorex araneus l].	using a panel of hybrid clones (common shrew--chinese hamster and common shrew--mouse), the syntheny and localization of the following genes was determined: genes for alpha-galactosidase (gla), acid phosphatase (acp1), and phosphoglycerate kinase (pgk1) on chromosome de; adenosine kinase (adk) and glucuronidase 2 (gus2) on chromosome ik; glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 2 (got2) and peptidase d (pepd) on chromosome hn; and glyoxalase 1 (glo1) and phosphoglucomutase 2 (pgm2) on chromosome go. ge ...	1999	10420272
pcr detection of granulocytic ehrlichiae in ixodes ricinus ticks and wild small mammals in western switzerland.	the presence of granulocytic ehrlichiae was demonstrated by pcr in ixodes ricinus ticks and wild small mammals in switzerland in two areas of endemicity for bovine ehrlichiosis. six ticks (three females and three nymphs) (1.4%) of 417 i. ricinus ticks collected by flagging vegetation contained ehrlichial dna. a total of 201 small mammals from five species, wood mouse (apodemus sylvaticus), yellow-necked mouse (apodemus flavicollis), earth vole (pitymys subterraneus), bank vole (clethrionomys gla ...	2000	10698987
findings of mycobacteria in insectivores and small rodents.	the organs of 30 insectivorous mammals and 62 rodents from areas inhabited by people or livestock where cattle paratuberculosis or mycobacterial infections of swine had been found to occur were examined by cultivation during the monitoring of occurrence and spread of mycobacterioses in cattle and swine. mycobacteria were found in the organs of 3 insectivores (10%) and 6 rodents (9.7%). mycobacterium chelonae was isolated from the organs of the lesser white-toothed shrew (crocidura suaveolens) an ...	2000	11271823
a comparison of spermatogenesis in homozygotes, simple robertsonian heterozygotes and complex heterozygotes of the common shrew (sorex araneus l.).	spermatogenesis was studied in 56 shrews (sorex araneus l.) from two chromosomal hybrid zones in poland. the hybrid zones were formed between chromosome races that differed in robertsonian metacentrics. shrews were compared in four classes: homozygotes, simple robertsonian heterozygotes, complex heterozygotes forming four-element rings in meiosis i, and complex heterozygotes forming four- or five-element chains. there was a significant effect of karyotype on the level of germ-cell death and chai ...	2000	10849082
microsatellites can be misleading: an empirical and simulation study.	it has been long recognized that highly polymorphic genetic markers can lead to underestimation of divergence between populations when migration is low. microsatellite loci, which are characterized by extremely high mutation rates, are particularly likely to be affected. here, we report genetic differentiation estimates in a contact zone between two chromosome races of the common shrew (sorex araneus), based on 10 autosomal microsatellites, a newly developed y-chromosome microsatellite, and mito ...	2000	11005307
the phylogenetic position of the talpidae within eutheria based on analysis of complete mitochondrial sequences.	the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of the mole talpa europaea was sequenced and included in phylogenetic analyses together with another lipotyphlan (insectivore) species, the hedgehog erinaceus europaeus, and 22 other eutherian species plus three outgroup taxa (two marsupials and a monotreme). the phylogenetic analyses reconstructed a sister group relationship between the mole and fruit bat artibeus jamaicensis (order chiroptera). the talpa/artibeus clade constitutes a sister clade of the ce ...	2000	10666706
short interspersed elements (sines) from insectivores. two classes of mammalian sines distinguished by a-rich tail structure.	four trna-related sine families were isolated from the genome of the shrew sorex araneus (sor element), mole mogera robusta (tal element), and hedgehog mesechinus dauuricus (eri-1 and eri-2 elements). each of these sines families is specific for a single insectivora family: sor, for soricidae (shrews); tal, for talpidae (moles and desmans); eri-1 and eri-2, for erinaceidae (hedgehogs). there is a long polypyrimidine region (tc-motif) in tal, eri-1, and eri-2 elements located immediately upstream ...	2001	11668393
on morphological clocks and paleophylogeography: towards a timescale for sorex hybrid zones.	phylogeography--the study of within-species phylogenetic and geographic divergence--has been primarily the domain of molecular evolutionists because molecular markers record population structure on smaller scales than do traditional morphological traits. but when geometric morphometrics are combined with distance-based phylogenetics molar shape divergence appears to record population-level phylogeny, a fact that allows extant and fossil populations to be combined in a single phylogeographic stud ...	2001	11838775
helminth fauna of the common shrew (sorex araneus linnaeus, 1758) in ecosystems of belorussian polesie transformed by reclamation.		2001	11570570
[chromosomal evolution of the common shrew sorex araneus l.from the southern ural and siberia in the postglacial period].	this paper summarizes a series of studies on chromosomal geography of the common shrew sorex araneus l. in siberia and the southern urals. chromosomal races inhabiting the southern urals and the western siberian plain sequentially replace each other in the latitudinal direction. in this region, karyotypes of each two adjacent races differ from each other by a single whole-arm reciprocal translocation. in the eastern siberian branch, the neighboring races differ mainly in the number or set of met ...	2001	11421117
importance of surveillance of tularemia natural foci in the known endemic area of central europe, 1991-1997.	marked activation of natural foci of tularemia in the known endemic area of central europe, comprising the borderland of slovakia, austria and the czech republic, led to an epidemic outbreak in western slovakia and an increase in the number of human tularemia cases in the adjoining regions of northeastern austria and southern moravia from 1995 to 1997. the aim of this paper was to present the results of a longitudinal study on the prevalence of infection with francisella tularensis in small mamm ...	2001	11467089
[involvement of the common shrew, sorex araneus (insectivora, soricidae), in circulation of the tick-borne encephalitis virus in south-western siberia].	we presented the data on the abundance of immature instars of the taiga tick ixodes persulcatus schuize on the common shrews sorex araneus l. in natural foci of tick-borne encephalitis in the south of western siberia. basing on the results of virological and serological studies we demonstrated a low effectiveness of this host species as a donor of disease agent strains, which are predominant in the territory under study, for ticks feeding on shrews. the analysis of samples taken from the young s ...	2001	11871252
the evolutionary history of the two karyotypic groups of the common shrew, sorex araneus, in poland.	genetic variability within and among two karyotypic groups and five chromosome races of the common shrew (sorex araneus) in poland was assayed by sequencing a 1023 bp part of the cytochrome b gene (mtdna) from 28 individuals. thirty-four variable positions defined 21 distinct haplotypes with a maximum sequence divergence of 0.88%. no significant differentiation in the cytochrome b gene between western and eastern karyotypic groups was found. haplotype diversity estimates within the races and gro ...	2002	11920129
phylogeographical structure, postglacial recolonization and barriers to gene flow in the distinctive valais chromosome race of the common shrew (sorex araneus).	using one male-inherited and eight biparentally inherited microsatellite markers, we investigate the population genetic structure of the valais chromosome race of the common shrew (sorex araneus) in the central alps of europe. unexpectedly, the y-chromosome microsatellite suggests nearly complete absence of male gene flow among populations from the st-bernard and simplon regions (switzerland). autosomal markers also show significant genetic structuring among these two geographical areas. isolati ...	2002	11972764
fiber capillarization relative to mitochondrial volume in diaphragm of shrew.	the objective was to examine fiber capillarization in relation to fiber mitochondrial volume in the highly aerobic diaphragm of the shrew, the smallest mammal. the diaphragms of four common shrews [sorex araneus; body mass, 8.2 +/- 1.3 (se) g] and four lesser shrews (sorex minutus, 2.6 +/- 0.1 g) were perfusion fixed in situ, processed for electron microscopy, and analyzed by morphometry. capillary length per fiber volume was extremely high, at values of 8,008 +/- 1,054 and 12,332 +/- 625 mm(-2) ...	2002	12070224
the cerebellum at birth in therian mammals, with special reference to rodents.	the stage of cerebellar development at birth was assessed in 23 species of placental mammals. serial histological sections were examined and five stages in the differentiation of the cerebellar cortical layers were defined. a wide diversity of conditions at birth was found. the available evidence (after parsimony reconstruction) suggests that the last common ancestor of placentals was born with an altricial cerebellum in which the molecular layer was just present between the external granular la ...	2002	12119530
alps, genes, and chromosomes: their role in the formation of species in the sorex araneus group (mammalia, insectivora), as inferred from two hybrid zones.	during the pleistocene glaciations, the alps were an efficient barrier to gene flow between isolated populations, often leading to allopatric speciation. afterwards, the alps strongly influenced the post-glacial recolonization of europe and represent a major suture zone between differentiated populations. two hybrid zones in the swiss and french alps between genetically and chromosomally well-differentiated species-the valais shrew, sorex antinorii, and the common shrew, s. araneus-were studied ...	2002	12438784
sex chromosome aneuploidy in wild small mammals.	we describe four examples of the xo condition in wild mammals. one xo house mouse (mus musculus domesticus) was caught in nature and subsequently gave birth to three litters in captivity, confirming for wild mice the fertility observed for xo laboratory mice. two other xo house mice were produced from laboratory crosses of wild-caught mice. an immature xo common shrew (sorex araneus) was caught in nature; this appears to be the first xo recorded in the order insectivora. we collected data from r ...	2002	12438805
the role of glacial epochs in the formation of chromosomal polymorphism in the common shrew sorex araneus l. (insectivora, mammalia).		2002	12469415
a population of the common shrew sorex araneus l. (insectivora, mammalia) of the sok race inhabiting a patch of forest at the southern boundary of the species range.		2002	12474764
meiotic studies of male common shrews (sorex araneus l.) from a hybrid zone between chromosome races.	thirty-three adult male common shrews (sorex araneus l.) were collected from a hybrid zone between two chromosomal races that differed in robertsonian metacentrics. anaphase i nondisjunction frequencies were estimated on the basis of metaphase ii counts. riv and cv complex heterozygotes (four-element rings and five-element chains at meiosis i, respectively) had substantially higher nondisjunction rates than homozygotes and simple robertsonian heterozygotes. however, at least in the case of riv-f ...	2002	12438778
[intraspecies phylogenetic connections in sorex araneus l.: a southern baltic subgroup of chromosome races].	results of chromosome g-banding were used to identify two new karyotypic races of the common shrew (sorex araneus l.) in the european part of russia. the chromosomal diagnosis of race st. petersburg included five metacentrics (hk, ip, jl, mq, and nr) and two acrocentrics (g and o) (2na = 20); the diagnosis of race west dvina included six metacentrics (gm, hk, ip, jl, no, and qr) (2na = 18). the phylogenetic significance of the chromosomal markers gm, hk, and ip is considered and the possibility ...	2002	11852798
changes in individual quality during a 3-year population cycle of voles.	in small mammal populations with multiannual oscillations in density, the occurrence of large individuals in the peak phase (the "chitty effect") is a typical feature, but mechanisms behind this phenomenon have remained unclear. we analysed long-term data sets collected in western finland between 1984 and 1992 to: (1) find out how the body size and body condition of voles (microtus agrestis, m. rossiaemeridionalis, clethrionomys glareolus) and shrews (sorex araneus) was associated with the 3-yea ...	2002	28547147
lack of a distinct gradient in biomarker responses in small mammals collected at different distances from a highway.	this study describes biomarker effects in small mammals exposed to traffic emissions. animals were collected at 10-50 m (site 1), 150-200 m (site 2), and 5 km (site 3) from a very busy highway (a2). to distinguish between routes of exposure, strictly carnivorous common shrews ( sorex araneus) and predominantly herbivorous bank voles ( clethrionomys glareolus) were collected. as a measure of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pahs), aromatic dna adduct levels were determined by (32)p-p ...	2002	12202932
giant mitochondria in the retina cone inner segments of shrews of genus sorex (insectivora, soricidae).	the retinas of three species of shrews (sorex araneus, s. coronatus, and s. minutus) were analyzed. two kinds of photoreceptors were identified according to (among other characteristics) the traits of the mitochondria of their inner segments. the rod inner segments contained several round or oval mitochondria distributed longitudinally inside the ellipsoid. the cone inner segment showed a few mitochondria, which we classified as megamitochondria (maximum length = 4.22 microm in s. araneus, 5.68 ...	2003	12740941
bartonella infection in sylvatic small mammals of central sweden.	sylvatic small mammals were captured in rural habitats near uppsala, sweden, to measure the prevalence of bartonella infections, characterize bacterial isolates and identify their host range, and increase our understanding of host-pathogen ecology. during 7 nights of trapping at 3 localities, 236 small mammals were captured (trap success 30%). bartonella were isolated from bloods of apodemus flavicollis (19 of 110 tested), apodemus sylvaticus (6/25), clethrionomys glareolus (9/60), microtus agre ...	2003	12613756
[structure and seasonal dynamics of an ectoparasite community on the common shrew (sorex araneus) in the il'men'-volkhov lowland].	species composition, seasonal dynamics, and a load of ectoparasites per individual and population of the common shrew sorex araneus have been examined in coniferous and mixed forests of the ilmen'-volkhov lowland (a neighbourhood of oskuy village, chudovo district, novgorod province) during the period 1999-2003. trapping of mammals was carried monthly, with exception of few accidental gaps. the gero traps were used for catching micromammalian hosts. the lines of trap were checked 2 times a day, ...	2003	14964844
[biotope distribution of cestodes from the common shrew sorex araneus in southern karelia].	specific features in the formation of cestode species composition in the common shrew in different biotopes have been analyzed. four categories of parasites have been recognized depending on a degree of dominance: dominants (neoskrjabinolepis singularis, molluscotaenia crassiscolex), subdominants (ditestolepis diaphana), adominants a (staphylocystis furcata, vigisolepis spinulosa, adominants b (hymenolepis scutigera, dilepis undula, d. secunda, taenia mustelae). a significant similarity was disc ...	2003	14964848
[puumala and dobrava viruses in the northeastern and central regions of bosnia].	bosnia and herzegovina has been known as a highly endemic region for hantavirus infections for more than 50 years. previous studies have shown that at least two different hantaviruses, the murine dobrava (dob) and avricoline puumala (puu) viruses, each carried by a different rodent species, have been circulating in the area. however, there is little information on rodent population density fluctuations in bosnia over the past years as well as on the ratio of puumala to dobrava infection in human ...	2003	15011464
no apparent reduction of gene flow in a hybrid zone between the west and north european karyotypic groups of the common shrew, sorex araneus.	the common shrew, sorex araneus, exhibits an unusually high level of karyotypic variation. populations with identical or similar karyotypes are defined as chromosome races, which are, in turn, grouped into larger evolutionary units, karyotypic groups. using six microsatellite markers, we investigated the genetic structure of a hybrid zone between the sidensjö and abisko chromosome races, representatives of two distinct karyotypic groups believed to have been separated during the last glacial max ...	2004	15078456
[structure of parasitic arthropod communities in forest small mammals].	species composition and structure of ectoparasite arthropod communities were examined all year round six years in the bank vole clethrionomys glareolus, ural wood mouse apodemus uralensis and the common shrew sorex araneus in forests of the ilmen'-volkhov depression. in total, 4500 host samples have been examined and all ectoparasites have been collected. the species composition of ectoparasite community in small mammal species are as follows: the bank vole--29 insect, tick and mite species, the ...	2004	15656091
[seasonal dynamics of a flea number (siphonaptera) on the common shrew (sorex araneus) in the north part of the novgorod oblast].	in the course of 5-year stationary investigations of the common shrew sorex araneus in the north part of the novgorod oblast, 12 flea species have been recorded on this host. among them, palaeopsylla soricis and doratopsilla dasycnema are specific parasites of small insectivores, including the common shrew. hystrichopsylla talpae is a polyxenous species, parasitizing both rodents and insectivores. other 9 flea species are not common parasites of s. araneus and apparently have come to this host f ...	2004	15656093
scanning electron microscopy of lingual papillae in the common shrew, sorex araneus, l.	the dorsal surface of the tongue of the adult common shrew (sorex araneus l.) was examined by scanning electron microscopy. as in the other insectivores, three types of lingual papillae were observed: filiform, fungiform and vallate papillae. the filiform papillae represented the most numerous type of lingual papillae. the characteristic feature of the filiform papillae, covering the apex and corpus of the tongue, is the two processes tilted to the root of the tongue. the filiform papillae on th ...	2004	15352882
hand development and sequence of ossification in the forelimb of the european shrew crocidura russula (soricidae) and comparisons across therian mammals.	hand development in the european shrew crocidura russula is described, based on the examination of a cleared and double-stained ontogenetic series and histological sections of a c. 20-day-old embryo and a neonate. in the embryo all carpal elements are still mesenchymal condensations, and there are three more elements than in the adult stage: the 'lunatum', which fuses with the scaphoid around birth; a centrale, which either fuses with another carpal element or just disappears later in ontogeny; ...	2004	15291793
unusual distribution pattern of telomeric repeats in the shrews sorex araneus and sorex granarius.	sorex araneus and sorex granarius are sibling species within the sorex araneus group with karyotypes composed of almost identical chromosome arms. s. granarius has a largely acrocentric karyotype, while, in s. araneus, various of these acrocentrics have combined together by robertsonian (rb) fusions to form metacentrics, with the numbers and types of metacentrics differing between chromosomal races. our studies on telomeric sequences in s. araneus and s. granarius revealed differences between ch ...	2005	16170626
sex chromosome meiotic drive in hybrid males of the common shrew (sorex araneus).	patterns of sex chromosome segregation in six homozygous males of the common shrew (sorex araneus linnaeus, 1758) belonging to two chromosomal races, as well as in 16 interracial hybrids were studied. based on their karyotypes the hybrids can be subdivided into two groups: (a) complex heterozygotes, which form meiotic quadrivalents in chain and chain + ring configurations, and (b) complex heterozygotes, which form meiotic pentavalents in chain configurations. random (1:1) segregation of sex chro ...	2005	19058534
predator-induced synchrony in population oscillations of coexisting small mammal species.	comprehensive analyses of long-term (1977-2003) small-mammal abundance data from western finland showed that populations of microtus voles (field voles m. agrestis and sibling voles m. rossiaemeridionalis) voles, bank (clethrionomys glareolus) and common shrews (sorex araneus) fluctuated synchronously in 3 year population cycles. time-series analyses indicated that interspecific synchrony is influenced strongly by density-dependent processes. synchrony among microtus and bank voles appeared addi ...	2005	15695211
lack of mitochondrial dna divergence between chromosome races of the common shrew, sorex araneus, in sweden. implications for interpreting chromosomal evolution and colonization history.	the common shrew, sorex araneus, has one of the most variable karyotypes among mammals, displaying numerous chromosome races throughout its distribution. the six chromosome races present in sweden can be categorized in two different karyotypic groups, the west and north european karyotypic groups (western and northern). three races belonging to the western group are considered to have arisen through whole arm reciprocal translocations (warts). race formation through this process requires a bottl ...	2005	16029472
metals distribution and interactions in tissues of shrews (sorex spp.) from copper- and zinc-contaminated areas in poland.	to assess the risk from heavy metal accumulation to insectivorous species exposed to different pollutants, shrews [sorex araneus (linnaeus 1758) and sorex minutus (linnaeus 1766)] were collected in the olkuski ore region (oor; a zn and cd smelter area), legnicko-głogowski copper mine region (lgcr; a copper ore-mining area), and białowieza forest (bf; a control area). a few sites were chosen in each region and a total of 57 animals were collected from them. the liver and kidneys were dissected fr ...	2005	16091604
living at the physiological limits: field and maximum metabolic rates of the common shrew (sorex araneus).	shrews (genus sorex, small insectivorous mammals) are well known for their extremely high basal metabolic rates (bmrs) even when corrected for their small body size. we measured energy expenditure of the common shrew (sorex araneus) under natural conditions (field metabolic rate [fmr]) by doubly labeled water method to test whether fmr is proportional to high bmr in this species. the study was performed in summer in northeastern poland. in addition to the fmr, we also measured maximum metabolic ...	2005	16096983
ural chromosomal serov race of common shrew sorex araneus l. (insectivora, mammalia) that inhabits polydominant deep coniferous taiga in the north of european russia.		2005	16405116
development and phenotypic correlations: the evolution of tooth shape in sorex araneus.	do morphogenetic processes cause common patterns of phenotypic covariation, and do those patterns evolve over microevolutionary timescales? evolution of molar shape variance-covariance (p) matrixes was studied in five populations of the common shrew, sorex araneus. p matrix evolution was assessed using matrix correlation, matrix disparity, and common principal component analysis (cpca). significant changes in covariance structure were found among the populations, but the differences were small. ...	2005	15642087
pliocene and pleistocene diversification and multiple refugia in a eurasian shrew (crocidura suaveolens group).	we sequenced 998 base pairs (bp) of mitochondrial dna cytochrome b and 799 bp of nuclear gene brca1 in the lesser white-toothed shrew (crocidura suaveolens group) over its geographic range from portugal to japan. the aims of the study were to identify the main clades within the group and respective refugia resulting from pleistocene glaciations. analyses revealed the asian lesser white-toothed shrew (c. shantungensis) as the basal clade, followed by a major branch of c. suaveolens, subdivided se ...	2006	16426868
risk assessment of metals and organic pollutants for herbivorous and carnivorous small mammal food chains in a polluted floodplain (biesbosch, the netherlands).	a risk assessment was made for a carnivorous and a herbivorous food chain in a heavily polluted natural estuary (biesbosch), by determining the most critical pollutants and the food chain most at risk. exposure of food chains to metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pahs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) was assessed by analyzing dietary concentrations, internal concentrations, and biomarkers of exposure. common shrew (sorex araneus) and bank vole (clethrionomys glareolus) were selected ...	2006	16530312
cross-species chromosome painting unveils cytogenetic signatures for the eulipotyphla and evidence for the polyphyly of insectivora.	insectivore-like animals are traditionally believed among the first eutherian mammals that have appeared on the earth. the modern insectivores are thus crucial for understanding the systematics and phylogeny of eutherian mammals as a whole. here cross-species chromosome painting, with probes derived from flow-sorted chromosomes of human, was used to delimit the homologous chromosomal segments in two soricidae species, the common shrew (sorex araneus, 2n = 20/21), and asiatic short-tailed shrew ( ...	2006	16544189
is there an association of pneumocystis infection with the presence of arena-, hanta-, and poxvirus antibodies in wild mice and shrews in finland?	as part of studies on the nature of the endemic virus infections in natural rodent hosts, the possible association of cyst forms of pneumocystis spp. with the presence of hanta-, cowpox-, and arenavirus antibodies in wild mice (apodemus flavicollis, n=105; apodemus agrarius, n=63; micromys minutus, n=50) and the common shrew (sorex araneus, n=101) was studied in south-central finland. one hantavirus (saaremaa virus, saav) seropositive a. agrarius, and 2 cowpoxvirus (cpxv) seropositive s. araneus ...	2006	16556344
natural tick-borne encephalitis virus infection among wild small mammals in the southeastern part of western siberia, russia.	infestation of small mammals, including common shrews sorex araneus l., field mice apodemus agrarius pallas, and red voles clethrionomus rutilus schreber, with immature ixodes persulcatus ticks and their infection with tickborne encephalitis virus (tbev) were studied in the forest-steppe habitat in the vicinity of novosibirsk, russia. larval ticks parasitize all three host species, but virtually all nymphs were found only on field mice and red voles. detection of the viral rna using reverse tran ...	2006	16584325
genetic and karyotypic structure in the shrews of the sorex araneus group: are they independent?	the species of the common shrew (sorex araneus) group are morphologically very similar but exhibit high levels of karyotypic variation. here we used genetic variation at 10 microsatellite markers in a data set of 212 individuals mostly sampled in the western alps and composed of five karyotypic taxa (sorex coronatus, sorex antinorii and the s. araneus chromosome races cordon, bretolet and vaud) to investigate the concordance between genetic and karyotypic structure. bayesian analysis confirmed t ...	2006	16629812
identification of all pachytene bivalents in the common shrew using dapi-staining of synaptonemal complex spreads.	a major problem in studies of synaptonemal complexes (sc) is the difficulty in distinguishing individual chromosomes. this problem can be solved combining sc immunostaining with fish of chromosome-specific sequences. however, this procedure is expensive, time-consuming and applicable only to a very limited number of species. in this paper we show how a combination of sc immunostaining and dapi staining can allow identification of all chromosome arms in surface-spreads of the sc of the common shr ...	2006	16964574
[wild small mammals are the reservoir hosts of the bartonella genus bacteria in the south of moscow region].	a total of 103 blood samples collected from wild small mammals captured in the prioksko-terrasny reserve on the south of moscow region were studied to determine the bartonellae prevalence. the examined species were the yellow-necked mice apodemus flavicollis (35 samples), the european wood mouse apodemus uralensis (10 samples), the bank vole clethrionomys glareolus (51 samples), the house mouse mus musculus (3 samples), the common vole microtus arvalis (2 samples), and the shrew sorex araneus (2 ...	2006	17094651
[species composition, host association and niche differentiation in fleas of small mammals in the ilmen-volkhov lowland].	species composition, abundance, annual cycles, and host association of fleas parasitizing small mammals were investigated. the problem of niche differentiation in these insects is considered on the base of the comparative analysis of their annual cycles. the annual cycles of the fleas are revealed to be similar in the case of few number of flea species in parasite community. thus, two species parasitizing sorex araneus (doratopsylla dasycnema and palaeopsylla soricis), as well as three species a ...	2006	17144403
restricted gene flow at specific parts of the shrew genome in chromosomal hybrid zones.	the species and races of the shrews of the sorex araneus group exhibit a broad range of chromosomal polymorphisms. european taxa of this group are parapatric and form contact or hybrid zones that span an extraordinary variety of situations, ranging from absolute genetic isolation to almost free gene flow. this variety seems to depend for a large part on the chromosome composition of populations, which are primarily differentiated by various robertsonian fusions of a subset of acrocentric chromos ...	2006	17017071
[molecular variability in the commom shrew sorex araneus l. from european russia and siberia inferred from the length polymorphism of dna regions flanked by short interspersed elements (inter-sine pcr) and the relationships between the moscow and seliger chromosome races].	genetic exchange among chromosomal races of the common shrew sorex araneus and the problem of reproductive barriers have been extensively studied by means of such molecular markers as mtdna, microsatellites, and allozymes. in the present study, the interpopulation and interracial polymorphism in the common shrew was derived, using fingerprints generated by amplified dna regions flanked by short interspersed repeats (sines)-intersine pcr (is-pcr). we used primers, complementary to consensus seque ...	2006	16871777
chromosome localization of microsatellite markers in the shrews of the sorex araneus group.	the extremely high rate of karyotypic evolution that characterizes the shrews of the sorex araneus group makes this group an exceptionally interesting model for population genetics and evolutionary studies. here, we attempted to map 46 microsatellite markers at the chromosome arm level using flow-sorted chromosomes from three karyotypically different taxa of the sorex araneus group (s. granarius and the chromosome races cordon and novosibirsk of s. araneus). the most likely localizations were pr ...	2006	16628496
[cerebrosides and sulfocerebrosides in the brain of insectivorous mammals].	brain cerebrosides (c) and sulfocerebrosides (s) of insectivora, which represent the most ancient and primitive order of placentary mammals, were first studied. the content of c and s is higher in hedgehogs (erinaceus europaeus, e. auritus) and mole (talpa europaea) brains as compared to shrew (sorex araneus) brain. hydroxy fatty acids predominate over normal fatty acids in c of all studied insectivora brains. the fatty acid content of c and s of the insectivora brains is similar in being rich i ...	2006	6485652
[seasonal changes in the brain and skull sizes of small mammals].	a comparative study of seasonal-age dynamics of brain size in six small mammal species, clethrionomys glareolus, c. rutilus, microtus oeconomus, m. gregalis (rodentia); sorex araneus, s. minutis (insectivora) has been carried out. the analysis of seasonal changes in brain weight confirms the existence of autumn-winter regression of brain weight, which takes place at the organism level. the regression is less pronounced in voles than in shrews. the decrease in brain weight both in voles and in sh ...	2006	2800709
the neuronal structure of the dorsal nucleus of the lateral geniculate body in the common shrew (sorex araneus) and the bank vole (clethrionomys glareolus): golgi and nissl studies.	the topography and neuronal structure of the dorsal nucleus of the lateral geniculate body (gld) of the common shrew and the bank vole are similar. the lateral geniculate body of both the species examined has a homogeneous structure and no observable cytoarchitectonic lamination. on the basis of the shape of the dendritic arbours as well as the pattern of dendritic arborisations the following two types of neurons were distinguished. type i "bushy" neurons that have multipolar or round perikarya ...	2006	17171615
[comparative anatomic studies of the cerebellum of insectivora. ii. the cerebellum of sorex araneus and elephantulus intufi].		2006	5399726
the nerve cells of the neostriatum in the common shrew (sorex araneus) and bank vole (clethrionomys glareolus): a golgi comparative study.	the studies were carried out on 12 brains derived from adult representatives of two mammalian orders, insectivora and rodentia. the neostriatum was compared in the common shrew (sorex araneus) and bank vole (clethrionomys glareolus). three main types of striatal neuron were distinguished in the common shrew and five types of neurons in the bank vole. the fifth type of bank vole neurons was additionally divided into two subtypes with respect to dendritic pattern.	2007	17533595
cycle length of spermatogenesis in shrews (mammalia: soricidae) with high and low metabolic rates and different mating systems.	the aim of the present study was to establish and compare the durations of the seminiferous epithelium cycles of the common shrew sorex araneus, which is characterized by a high metabolic rate and multiple paternity, and the greater white-toothed shrew crocidura russula, which is characterized by a low metabolic rate and a monogamous mating system. twelve s. araneus males and fifteen c. russula males were injected intraperitoneally with 5-bromodeoxyuridine, and the testes were collected. for cyc ...	2007	17267697
[cytogenetic control of a hybrid zone of between two sorex araneus chromosome races before breeding season].	two chromosome races of common shrew, moscow and seliger, differ in the arm combination in 11 diagnostic chromosomes (robertsonian metacentrics/acrocentrics). homozygotes of both pure races, simple robertsonian heterozygotes of seliger race, and complex heterozygotes (fi hybrids) were detected in the found earlier between hybrid zone of these races, in the spring before the breeding seasonbreeding season. the g/oheterozygote was first discovered in race seliger, whose chromosome formula typicall ...	2007	18592688
the very long telomeres in sorex granarius (soricidae, eulipothyphla) contain ribosomal dna.	two closely related shrew species, sorex granarius and sorex araneus, in which robertsonian rearrangements have played a primary role in karyotype evolution, present very distinct telomere length patterns. s. granarius displays hyperlong telomeres specifically associated with the short arms of acrocentrics, whereas telomere lengths in s. araneus are rather short and homogenous. using a combined approach of chromosome and fibre fish, modified q-fish, 3d-fish, ag-nor staining and trf analysis, we ...	2007	17899406
preferential segregation of metacentric chromosomes in simple robertsonian heterozygotes of sorex araneus.	one of the hypotheses explaining preferential transmission of metacentrics among simple robertsonian (rb) heterozygotes of the common shrew (sorex araneus l.) invokes the existence of meiotic drive. thus far, evidence that metacentrics are favoured at meiosis has been obtained indirectly, on the basis of crosses made under controlled conditions. the aim of the present work was to test the hypothesis in a direct study. we analysed products of chromosome segregation among 12 simple heterozygote ma ...	2007	17700635
cases of coat colour anomalies in the common shrew, sorex araneus l.	coat colour anomalies in the common shrew, sorex araneus l., in the geographical range of this species, including poland, are extremely rare. this study describes atypically coloured common shrews. light colouration of the coat is a result of lack ofpigment in the entire hair or hair fragments. it appears that atypically coloured shrews occur more often in isolated populations whose gene transfer with neighboring populations is limited.	2007	17687937