Molecular phylogeny of wood mice (Apodemus, Muridae) in East Asia

Sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (1140 bp) and nuclear IRBP (1152 bp) genes were used to assess the evolutionary history of Apodemus , using the complete set of Asian species. Our results indicate that speciation in Asia involved three radiations, which supports an earlier study. The initial radiation yielded A. argenteus (Japanese endemic), A. gurkha (Nepalese endemic), and the ancestral lineage of the remaining Asian species. This lineage subsequently diverged into four groups: agrarius-chevrieri ( agrarius group), draco-latronum-semotus ( draco group), A. peninsulae , and A. speciosus (Japanese endemic). The final step consisted of divergence within two species groups as a consequence of the geography of the Yunnan-Guizhou plateau and Taiwan. The ecological ability of two Apodemus species to inhabit one locality via niche partitioning likely drove the second radiation and shaped the basic geographical pattern seen today: A. argenteus and A. speciosus in Japan, A. agrarius and A. peninsulae in northern China, and the A. agrarius and A. draco groups in southern China. The three radiations are estimated to have occurred 7.5, 6.6, and 1.8–0.8 Mya respectively, using the IRBP clock, based on rat–mouse divergence 12 Mya.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 80 , 469–481.     

Mitochondrial genome sequences of the striped field mice Apodemus agrarius coreae and Apodemus agrarius chejuensis

We determined the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome sequences of the striped field mice Apodemus agrarius coreae and Apodemus agrarius chejuensis. The mt genomes of A. a. coreae and A. a. chejuensis are 16,260 and 16,261 base pairs in length, respectively. The general features of the 13 protein-coding genes of the two species are similar to those of other rodents. The TAG termination codon for NADH dehydrogenase subunit (ND) 3 is unique to Apodemus in the Muroidea. The L-strand replication origin has the potential to form a stable stem-loop structure. Within the control region, a termination-associated sequence and several conserved sequence blocks were observed. The diversity of the 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs, and 1 control region between the two species ranged between 0.005 (ATP8) and 0.027 (ND4L).     

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of wood mice (genus Apodemus Kaup, 1829) based on complete mtDNA cytochrome b sequences, with emphasis on Chinese species

Phylogenetic relationships among 15 species of wood mice (genus Apodemus) were reconstructed to explore some long-standing taxonomic problems. The results provided support for the monophyly of the genus Apodemus, but could not reject the hypothesis of paraphyly for this genus. Our data divided the 15 species into four major groups: (1) the Sylvaemus group (A. sylvaticus, A. flavicollis, A. alpicola, and A. uralensis), (2) the Apodemus group (A. peninsulae, A. chevreri, A. agrarius, A. speciosus, A. draco, A. ilex, A. semotus, A. latronum, and A. mystacinus), (3) A. argenteus, and (4) A. gurkha. Our results also suggested that orestes should be a valid subspecies of A. draco rather than an independent species; in contrast, A. ilex from Yunnan may be regarded as a separate species rather than a synonym of orestes or draco. The species level status of A. latronum, tscherga as synonyms of A. uralensis, and A. chevrieri as a valid species and the closest sibling species of A. agrarius were further corroborated by our data. Applying a molecular clock with the divergences of Mus and Rattus set at 12 million years ago (Mya) as a calibration point, it was estimated that five old lineages (A. mystacinus and four major groups above) diverged in the late Miocene (7.82-12.74 Mya). Then the Apodemus group (excluding A. mystacinus) split into two subgroups: agrarius and draco, at about 7.17-9.95 Mya. Four species of the Sylvaemus group were estimated to diverge at about 2.92-5.21 Mya. The Hengduan Mountains Region was hypothesized to have played important roles in Apodemus evolutionary histories since the Pleistocene.     

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Korean field mouse Apodemus peninsulae (Rodentia, Murinae) from Korea

We have determined the complete mitochondrial genome of a subspecies of the Korean field mouse, Apodemus peninsulae peninsulae, from South Korea. The total length of the A. p. peninsulae genome is 16,268 bp with a base composition of 34.5% A, 30.7% T, 22.6% C, and 12.2% G.     

Hantaan virus surveillance targeting small mammals at Dagmar North Training Area, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea, 2001-2005

In response to a hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome case in November 2000, a seasonal rodent-borne disease surveillance program was initiated at Dagmar North Training Area (DNTA), Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea. From April 2001-December 2005, 1,848 small mammals were captured. Apodemus agrarius accounted for 92.5%, followed by Mus musculus (3.6%), Crocidura lasiura (2.1%), and Microtus fortis (1.1%). Three species of rodents were found to be antibody-positive (Ab+) for Hantaan virus (HTNV): A. agrarius (22.3%), M. musculus (9.1%), and M. fortis (5.0%). Ab+ rates for A. agrarius increased with increasing weight (age), except for those weighing <10 g. The peak HTNV transmission period in Korea coincided with the peak reproductive potential of A. agrarius during the fall (August/September) surveys. HTNV strains from DNTA were distinct from HTNV strains from the People's Republic of China. From these studies, more accurate risk assessments can be developed to better protect personnel from rodent-borne diseases.     

Absence of spermatozoal CD46 protein expression and associated rapid acrosome reaction rate in striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius)

Background  

In rodents, the cell surface complement regulatory protein CD46 is expressed solely on the spermatozoal acrosome membrane. Ablation of the CD46 gene is associated with a faster acrosome reaction. Sperm from Apodemus flavicollis (yellow-necked field mice), A. microps (pygmy field mice) and A. sylvaticus (European wood mice) fail to express CD46 protein and exhibit a more rapid acrosome reaction rate than Mus (house mice) or BALB/c mice. A. agrarius (striped field mice) belong to a different Apodemus subgenus and have pronounced promiscuity and large relative testis size. The aim of this study was to determine whether A. agrarius sperm fail to express CD46 protein and, if so, whether A. agrarius have a faster acrosome reaction than Mus.     

舟山岛东部地区小型兽类的群落组成与动态分析

１９９０年７月至１９９２年１２月在浙江舟山岛东部地区每月定点调查小型兽类的群落组成和数量动态。该地区可划分为室内、房周围、稻田区、山地和山林等五类生境的５个小兽群落。群落相似性指数以稻田区的黑线姬鼠＋黄毛鼠群落与山地的黑线姬鼠＋黄毛鼠群落最高,多样性指数和均匀性指数以房周围臭Ｑｕ＋黄毛鼠＋褐家鼠群落最高。各群落的全年数量动态可分为双峰型（室内和山地生境）与单峰型（其余３种生境）。对各群落种类组成的     

中国和韩国黑线姬鼠两亚种的线粒体DNA限制性片段分析

本文利用印迹杂交技术对中国华北地区黑线姬鼠Ａｐｏｄｅｍｕｓａｇｒａｒｉｕｓｐａｌｉｄｉｏｒ和韩国黑线姬鼠Ａ．ａｇｒａｒｉｕｓｃｏｒｅａｅ共１０７号标本的线粒体ＤＮＡ（ｍｉｔｏｃｈｏｎｄｒｉａｌＤＮＡ,ｍｔＤ－ＮＡ）,通过８种限制性内切酶的消化,进行了限制性片段的分析。共检出３５种限制性片段和１２种单倍体类型。１２种单倍型在平均离散度为１．０１％时聚合为两个亚群：一个亚群为黑线姬鼠华北亚种,由采自中国４个不同地区的５１号标本的４种单倍型所组成;另一个亚群为黑线姬鼠朝鲜亚种,由采自韩国４个不同地区的５６号标本的８种单倍型所组成。黑线姬鼠华北亚种和朝鲜亚种在ｍｔＤＮＡ表型上表现出一定差异,这在分子水平上确立了两亚种的分类地位。为了进一步澄清黑线姬鼠种下分类的混乱,很有必要对中国其他地区的标本进行该项研究     

黑线姬鼠与大林姬鼠组织中超氧化物酶 和过氧化物酶的分布与活性比较

以黑线姬鼠(Apodemus agrarius)和大林姬鼠(A. peninsulae)为研究对象,采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(PAGE)不连续体系的方法,比较分析了心、肝、肾、肌肉、脑、肺6种器官和组织中超氧化物酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性,并建立了2种酶的电泳图谱。结果显示,上述2种酶在黑线姬鼠和大林姬鼠的6种器官和组织中均有表达并表现出明显的特异性,其中,2种鼠中超氧化物酶共分离出迁移率由0.15~0.66的9条电泳谱带,过氧化物酶共分离出迁移率由0.09~0.83的20条电泳谱带。在肝和肺中酶的活性最强,黑线姬鼠6种器官和组织中超氧化物酶活性均强于大林姬鼠,2种鼠组织中过氧化物酶的活性和分布相似,但在同一物种不同器官和组织间过氧化物酶的活性及分布存在明显差异。     

黔西北地区农田鼠类群落结构的研究

本文根据黔西北地区农田鼠类的种类组成和数量,将该地区农田鼠类划分为如下４个鼠类群落：Ａ．高山姬鼠＋社鼠群落,Ｂ．黑线姬鼠＋锡金小家鼠＋高山姬鼠群落,Ｃ．黑线姬鼠＋大足鼠＋锡金小家鼠群落和Ｄ．黑线姬鼠＋小家鼠群落。在群落Ｂ中多样性指数（１．４３３）和均匀性指数（０．６８９）最高,最低是群落Ａ,分别为０．８８９和０．４５７;最高的优势度指数（０．５０５）是群落Ａ,而群落Ｂ是０．３０３为最低;群落Ｂ和群落Ｃ之间的相似性指数（０．７５０）最高,群落Ａ和群落Ｄ之间是０．０７５为最低。     

Apodemus agrarius as a new definitive host for Neodiplostomum seoulense

A total of 1,496 rodents and insectivores were live-trapped at Yeoncheon-gun (n = 351), Paju-shi (804), and Pocheon-gun (343), Gyeonggi-do (Province), and examined for intestinal helminths, including Neodiplostomum seoulense, seasonally from December 2004 to September 2005. Six species of rodents, including Apodemus agrarius (1,366), Mus musculus (32), Micronytus fortis (28), Eothenomys regulus (9), Micronys minutus (6), and Cricetulus triton (3), and 1 species of insectivores Crocidura lasiura (54) were collected. A total of 321 adult N. seoulense were collected from 19 (1.4%) A. agrarius. The worm burden ranged from 1 to 101 per A. agrarius (mean; 16.9). No N. seoulense was observed in other rodent or insectivore species examined. The infection rate during autumn (4.5%) was higher than those during spring (0.8%), summer (0.8%), and winter (0.5%). The average number of N. seoulense in infected A. agrarius was the highest in spring (66.0 specimens), followed by autumn (15.2), winter (4.5), and summer (3.3). This study first confirms that A. agrarius is a natural definitive host for N. seoulense, and demonstrates that the infection rates and intensities vary seasonally and geographically.     

萧山围垦农区小型兽类种群动态的研究

１９８５年４月１９９２年１２月,作者采用夹夜法对萧山围垦农区小型兽类的种群动态进行了连续逐月定点定时的研究。种群的季节消长规律呈前峰型曲线的种群有黑线姬鼠、小家鼠和褐家鼠（室内）,呈后峰型曲线的种群有臭Ｑｕ和褐家鼠（室外）。黑线姬鼠季节消长规律与农区作物类型、小兽群落组成、冬季死亡率和怀孕率等因素有关,并受环境因子的影响。     

Microsatellites indicate a high frequency of multiple paternity in Apodemus (Rodentia)

Microsatellites were employed to estimate frequency of multiple paternity litters of two species of mice (genus Apodemus): striped field mouse (A. agrarius), and wood mouse (A. sylvaticus). Ten pregnant females of A. agrarius and six of A. sylvaticus were collected from natural populations in the northern Ukraine and analysed with 11 and nine microsatellite loci, respectively. Multiple paternity was indicated in eight of 10 litters in A. agrarius and in three of six litters in A. sylvaticus. Multiple paternity was documented at several loci (ranging from two to 10). In two cases (A. agrarius), three males were estimated to have fathered the litter.     

洞庭湖不同退田还湖类型区东方田鼠和黑线姬鼠的繁殖特性

针对洞庭湖区实施的“退田还湖” 重大生态环境恢复工程,以原有“围湖”造的垸田和垸外湖滩为对照,对退田还湖区(含双退与单退两种形式)的啮齿动物群落于2003 ～ 2006 年进行定位观察。采用夹捕法进行采样,于每年的1 月、4 月、7 月、10 月进行。比较洞庭湖不同退田还湖类型区东方田鼠和黑线姬鼠种群的繁殖
指标参数。总体来看,调查期间东方田鼠和黑线姬鼠的繁殖指数要比上世纪80 ～90 年代报道的要高,这与前几年其种群处于年数量低谷有关,是东方田鼠和黑线姬鼠种群负反馈机制的体现。不同类型生境间的比较结果显示,单退垸与原有生境没有明显变化,而双退垸内黑线姬鼠和东方田鼠均有较显著的变化,主要表现在双退垸内夏季东方田鼠保持高的繁殖能力和黑线姬鼠的繁殖力锐减。由于双退垸的高程优势,鼠群在夏季汛期不会迁出垸内,仅迁移集中至较高区域,这种水位变化引导的害鼠种群迁移应该是造成繁殖变化的主要原因。由于黑线姬鼠不适应这种迁移以及集中后与东方田鼠的激烈竞争,迁移到高地后的黑线姬鼠几乎停止繁殖,繁殖指数仅为0.03 (I♀ = 0.05),明显低于当期其它生境。值得注意的是夏季滞留在双退垸内的东方田鼠,繁殖强度却不减,繁殖指数达1.54 (I♀ = 3.36),与春季湖滩种群的相当。说明没有经过长距离迁移的东方田鼠种群,在夏季仍会保持较高的繁殖强度,与夏季被迫远距离迁入农田的东方田鼠种群繁殖力急剧下降形成鲜明对比。由此可知,在初夏如果有适宜的栖息地(如双退垸的高台、原有堤岸等),东方田鼠仍能保持较强繁殖力。本文揭示了双退垸内水位变化引发种群迁移后东方田鼠和黑线姬鼠繁殖能力的这种迥异表现,具体深层次原因有待进一步探讨。     

黄泥河林区鼠类群落演替的研究

本文研究了吉林省黄泥河林区5个次生植被类型的鼠类群落结构和生物量的变化。原始针阔混交林采伐后,大林姬鼠数量减少,棕背(鼠平)数量增加,黑线姬鼠侵入。形成次生阔叶林和人工落叶松林后,鼠类群落仍为原始针阔混交林中的大林姬鼠+棕背(鼠平)群落类型。人工红松林的形成使棕背(鼠平)数最明显减少,成为大林姬鼠群落。森林开垦成农田,相应形成黑线姬鼠+大林姬鼠群落。草甸发展成草甸森林,鼠类群落由东方田鼠+棕背(鼠平)演变成棕背(鼠平)群落。并分析了环境因素对鼠类演替的影响。     

山东部分地区小兽类寄生恙螨的群落结构

用鼠笼捕捉活鼠,收集体外恙螨,分类计数,定量分析小兽类体外寄生恙螨的群落结构。探讨山东小兽类体外寄生恙螨群落结构及其与疾病的关系。结果表明,当地5种小兽类体外共有6种寄生恙螨。黑线姬鼠、大仓鼠体外寄生螨种较丰富,各有5种寄生螨。小盾纤恙螨宿主范围广,在4种小兽的体外均有发现。大仓鼠体外太平洋无前恙螨的带螨率和带螨指数最高(72．73％、52．00),临淮岗纤恙螨、泰山纤恙螨、须纤恙螨普遍寄生于黑线姬鼠、大仓鼠体外。黑线姬鼠与大仓鼠寄生螨群落多样性指数相对较高。黑线姬鼠寄生螨群落与大仓鼠的相似系数最大(39．2)。黑线姬鼠体外恙螨群落结构随季节变化而发生变化,恙螨群落的丰富度和多样性指数以冬季(12～2月)最低,春、秋季较高。     

黄泥河林区鼠类群落划分的研究

1988年6—7月,作者在吉林省黄泥河林区对森林鼠类群落划分进行了研究。将林区划分2个栖息地类型,依据物种组成相似系数及递归群划分法,划分出5个鼠类群落:即大林姬鼠+棕背(鼠平)群落;大林姬鼠群落;黑线姬鼠+大林姬鼠群落;东方田鼠+黑线姬鼠群落和棕背(鼠平)群落,并进行了讨论。     

Epidemiological studies on host animals of tsutsugamushi disease in Korea

Epidemiological studies on host rodents of tsutsugamushi disease were carried out during the period of July-September 1990 at nine localities of central Korea. Among total 111 wild rodents trapped by the modified Sherman live traps, 103 were Apodemus agrarius (92.8%), seven were Crocidura lasiura (6.3%) and one was Microtus fortis (0.9%), showing 24.0% of trapping rate in winter, 11.7% in spring, 11.2% in summer and 12.0% in autumn. Out of 103 A. agrarius 84 were parasitized by chiggers, showing 81.6% of the infestation rate and 43.0 of the chigger index. The antibody positive rate of A. agrarius sera to Rickettsia tsutsugamushi was significantly variable by locality, being in the range of 0-78.6%. The seasonal change of the antibody positive rate at Dorai 5-ri, Goyang-gun was 75.8% in average during November-March, decreased to 30.3% in April and further decreased to 13.3% in average during May-August. Among 33 antibody positives, 31 were Karp strain and two were Gilliam. Seven Crocidura lasiura sera showed all negative. R. tsutsugamushi organisms were isolated from three A. agrarius out of 94 mice tested, showing 3.2% of the infection rate.     

Molecular phylogeny and distribution of three Apodemus species (Muridae, Rodentia) in Serbia

Phylogenetic relationships among three species of the genus Apodemus ( A. flavicollis, A. sylvaticus and A. agrarius ) from seven different localities in Serbia were estimated using arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR) profiling, which allowed clear distinction between the sibling species A. flavicollis and A. sylvaticus . Eight oligonucleotide primers out of the 22 screened, gained a total of 397 amplified bands. The average pairwise genetic distances within Apodemus species ranged from 0.51 between A. flavicollis and A. sylvaticus , to 0.74 between A. sylvaticus and A. agrarius. The large genetic distances obtained among populations of A. flavicollis (0.13) indicate that this part of the Balkan Peninsula was probably a refuge during the last glaciation. Furthermore, differences obtained between populations south and north from the river Danube suggest that this species survived the Last Glacial Maximum in at least two separate refuges. Although our data for molecular markers are from a limited number of localities, extended analyses of C-band distribution on chromosomes from previously studied localities south of the rivers Danube and Sava, indicate that distribution of A. sylvaticus is limited to northern Serbia. Therefore, it is possible that this part of the Balkan Peninsula was not a refuge for this species during the last glaciation.