Cross-transmission of Eimeria spp. (Protozoa, Apicomplexa) of rodents--a review

A total of 169 cross-transmission attempts has been made with 44 (11.8%) of the 372 named species of Eimeria of rodents. Of these, 161 were rodent-to-rodent, 6 rodent-to-lagomorph, and 1 each rodent-to-carnivore and rodent-to-bird. None of the last three categories was successful. In the rodent-to-rodent combinations, 39 (80%) of the 49 attempts to transmit a coccidian species from one rodent species to another of the same genus were successful, and only 14 (12.5%) of the 112 attempts to transmit a coccidium to a rodent of a different genus were successful. Eight of the successful attempts were with E. chinchillae, which was the only truly euryxenous species of Eimeria in the group. Two successful attempts were between between the closely related rodent genera Spermophilus and Cynomys, and two were both of E. separata from Rattus norvegicus to some genetic strains but not to others of Mus musculus. One attempt with E. vermiformis from Mus musculus to Rattus norvegicus required treatment of the rat with the immunosuppressant dexamethasone to succeed. More cross-transmission studies are needed to determine the host spectra of the species of Eimeria and other coccidian genera, and to determine the roles of genetics and immunosuppression in their transmission.     

Phylogenetic relationships among rodent Eimeria species determined by plastid ORF470 and nuclear 18S rDNA sequences

Phylogenetic analyses for 10 rodent Eimeria species from different host genera based on plastid ORF470 and nuclear 18S rDNA sequences were done to infer the evolutionary relationships of these rodent Eimeria species and their correlation to morphology and host specificity. The phylogenies based on both data sets clearly grouped the 10 rodent Eimeria species into two major lineages, which reflect more their morphological differences than host specificity. Species in lineage A have spheroidal to subspheroidal sporulated oocysts, are similar in size (18-29 x 17-23; xbar = 22 x 20 microm), have an oocyst residuum and one-two polar granules; these include Eimeria albigulae (Neotoma), Eimeria arizonensis (Peromyscus, Reithrodontomys), Eimeria onychomysis (Onychomys) and Eimeria reedi (Perognathus). Species in lineage B, including Eimeria falciformis (Mus), Eimeria langebarteli (Reithrodontomys), Eimeria nieschulzi (Rattus), Eimeria papillata (Mus), Eimeria separata (Rattus) and Eimeria sevilletensis (Onychomys) have different shapes (ovoid, ellipsoid, elongated ellipsoid, etc.), differ greatly in size (10-27 x 9-24; xbar = 19 x 16 microm) and all lack an oocyst residuum. Thus, The oocyst residuum was the most determinant feature that differentiated the two lineages. The accession numbers of ORF470 of E. albigulae, E. arizonensis, E. falciformis, E. nieschulzi, E. onychomysis, E. papillata, E. reedi, E. separata, E. sevilletensis, E. langebarteli are AF311630-AF311639 and 18S rDNA of E. langebarteli, E. papillata, E. reedi, E. separata, E. sevilletensis are AF311640-AF311644.     

Identification of novel rodent herpesviruses, including the first gammaherpesvirus of Mus musculus

Rodent herpesviruses such as murine cytomegalovirus (host, Mus musculus), rat cytomegalovirus (host, Rattus norvegicus), and murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (hosts, Apodemus species) are important tools for the experimental study of human herpesvirus diseases. However, alphaherpesviruses, roseoloviruses, and lymphocryptoviruses, as well as rhadinoviruses, that naturally infect Mus musculus (house mouse) and other Old World mice are unknown. To identify hitherto-unknown rodent-associated herpesviruses, we captured M. musculus, R. norvegicus, and 14 other rodent species in several locations in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Thailand. Samples of trigeminal ganglia, dorsal root ganglia, brains, spleens, and other organs, as well as blood, were analyzed with a degenerate panherpesvirus PCR targeting the DNA polymerase (DPOL) gene. Herpesvirus-positive samples were subjected to a second degenerate PCR targeting the glycoprotein B (gB) gene. The sequences located between the partial DPOL and gB sequences were amplified by long-distance PCR and sequenced, resulting in a contiguous sequence of approximately 3.5 kbp. By DPOL PCR, we detected 17 novel betaherpesviruses and 21 novel gammaherpesviruses but no alphaherpesvirus. Of these 38 novel herpesviruses, 14 were successfully analyzed by the complete bigenic approach. Most importantly, the first gammaherpesvirus of Mus musculus was discovered (Mus musculus rhadinovirus 1 [MmusRHV1]). This virus is a member of a novel group of rodent gammaherpesviruses, which is clearly distinct from murine herpesvirus 68-like rodent gammaherpesviruses. Multigenic phylogenetic analysis, using an 8-kbp locus, revealed that MmusRHV1 diverged from the other gammaherpesviruses soon after the evolutionary separation of Epstein-Barr virus-like lymphocryptoviruses from human herpesvirus 8-like rhadinoviruses and alcelaphine herpesvirus 1-like macaviruses.     

The pattern of nucleotide difference at individual codons among mouse, rat, and human

The patterns of nucleotide difference were compared at 3,473,111 codons from 9,390 aligned orthologous genes of mouse (Mus musculus), rat (Rattus norvegicus), and human (Homo sapiens). The results showed evidence of a higher frequency of both synonymous and nonsynonymous differences from human in the rat than in the mouse. However, contrary to a previous report, there was no evidence of a greater frequency of codons with multiple nonsynonymous substitutions between the two rodent species than expected under random substitution.     

西藏农区鼠害调查初报

2007年4月和6月在西藏山南、日喀则地区及拉萨市农区进行鼠密度和鼠种调查.采用铗夜法,共捕鼠169只,隶属2科4属5种,分别为小家鼠、黄胸鼠、白尾松田鼠、藏仓鼠和长尾仓鼠.白尾松田鼠为该区农田优势种,其组成比例为93.44%;黄胸鼠为山南地区农舍区的优势种,组成比例为82.35%.在日喀则农舍区则只捕获有小家鼠.山南和日喀则地区4月农田的平均捕获率分别为2.06%和7.43%;农舍区的平均捕获率分别为9.77%和9.15%.6月山南地区农田的平均捕获率为5.37%,显著高于该地4月的捕获率.西藏农区的白尾松田鼠在4月开始进入繁殖期.     

乌鲁木齐市小型兽类群落特征与分布格局初步研究

根据2002年7月的调查资料对乌鲁木齐市养禽场鼠类群落进行了研究。结果表明：该地区分布的鼠类可划分为2种群落,(1)褐家鼠 小家鼠群落;(2)小家鼠 灰仓鼠群落。同时对鼠类群落的多样性,均匀度等进行了初步研究。     

Some parasites and other organisms of wild rodents in the vicinity of an SPF unit.

80 Rattus norvegicus and 63 Mus musculus caught near the Laboratory Animals Centre, were examined for parasites and other organisms: 32 parasite species were found and 2 species of Mycoplasma. A small number of individuals were tested and found positive serologically for species of Leptospira.     

Peromyscus maniculatus--Mus musculus chromosome homology map derived from reciprocal cross species chromosome painting

The Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus genomes have been extensively studied, yet despite the emergence of Peromyscus maniculatus as an NIH model for genome sequencing and biomedical research much remains unknown about the genome organization of Peromyscines. Contrary to their phylogenetic relationship, the genomes of Rattus and Peromyscus appear more similar at the gross karyotypic level than either does to Mus. We set out to define the chromosome homologies between Peromyscus, Mus and Rattus. Reciprocal cross-species chromosome painting and G-band homology assignments were used to delineate the conserved chromosome homology map between P. maniculatus and M. musculus. These data show that each species has undergone extensive chromosome rearrangements since they last shared a common ancestor 25 million years ago (mya). This analysis coupled with an inferred homology map with Rattus revealed a high level of chromosome conservation between Rattus and Peromyscus and indicated that the chromosomes of Mus are highly derived.     

准噶尔盆地啮齿动物群落多样性与物种变化的分析

对准噶尔盆地的抽样调查,经聚类分析,该地区的鼠类可划分为4种群落：(1)以灰仓鼠（Cricetulus migratourius）+小家鼠（Mus musculus）为主的农田鼠类群落;(2)以红尾沙鼠（Meriones erythrourus）+灰仓鼠为主的砾石荒漠鼠类群落;(3)以褐家鼠（Rattus norvegicus）+小家鼠为主的城镇居民点鼠类群落;(4)以子午沙鼠（M.meridianus）+三趾跳鼠（Dipus sagitta）为主的梭梭荒漠鼠类群落。其群落多样性指数以群落(4)为最高（1.671）,群落(3)最低（0.979）。随着人类经济活动的增长,荒漠被大量开垦为农田,以及新兴市镇的涌现,使得原来以沙鼠属（Meriones）和跳鼠科（Dipodidae）为主要成分的荒漠鼠类群落逐渐被喜潮湿的灰仓鼠和小家鼠所替代,有些地区还出现了以褐家鼠为主的新格局。     

大鼠及小鼠微卫星引物在社鼠中的跨种扩增

利用微卫星引物在同一属、科、目不同种之间具有通用性的特点,通过PCR扩增、聚丙烯凝胶电泳和银染技术对社鼠(Niviventer confucianus)近缘物种大鼠(Rattus norvegicus)、小鼠(Mus musculus)中已知的70个微卫星位点引物进行跨种扩增,筛选适合社鼠相关研究的多态微卫星引物.结果发现,40个位点引物出现扩增条带,21个位点引物能够稳定扩增,其中15个位点杂合,13个位点具有多态性;PCR扩增的Mg2+浓度主要集中在1.5及2.0 mmol/L,退火温度在50～60℃之间不等.虽然部分扩增产物有影子带的存在,但并不影响等位基因的判读.总体来看,利用大、小鼠的微卫星引物扩增社鼠的微卫星位点是可行的.     

Chromosomal Homology of Rabbit (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS) Linkage Group VI with Rodent Species

Homologous portions of linkage group (LG) VI in the rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus, chromosome 8 in Mus musculus, and LG V of Rattus norvegicus have been observed. These linkage groups in Oryctolagus and Mus contain the extension locus (e), where recessive alleles are known in many species. Preliminary linkage data have added new loci to linkage group VI of the rabbit, revised the order and map distances on the linkage map, and by comparison with rodent species have strengthened the homology of LG VI in the rabbit with chromosome 8 of the mouse and with LG V of the rat. LG VI now contains five loci with the following order and intervening map distances: Es-1, Es-2 complex--6.3 +/- 2.1 cM--Est-1, Est-2 complex--18.5 +/- 3.7 cM--e.     

洞庭平原农房家鼠的栖息格局

洞庭平原农房主要有褐家鼠、小家鼠、黄胸鼠。鼠密度最高为厨房, 其次为杂屋, 卧室和堂屋较低。房屋的不同地面对鼠密度与鼠种组成都有影响, 地面用水泥硬化后房间的鼠密度明显低于普通未硬化泥土地面,硬化地面以小家鼠为主, 泥土地面以褐家鼠占优势。不同结构房屋的鼠密度亦有差异, 砖混结构的鼠密度明显低于土木结构; 其鼠种组成也不同, 砖混结构的房屋小家鼠占优势, 土木结构房屋则褐家鼠与小家鼠比例相当。房屋地面的硬化对害鼠的影响比房屋结构的改变要大。综合来看, 鼠密度最高的房间为泥土地面+ 土木结构的厨房; 鼠密度最低为硬化地面+ 砖混结构的堂屋。通常, 在家具等物品摆放整洁、食物与水源少的硬化地面的房间鼠密度较低, 且以小家鼠占优势; 在杂物堆放较多、脏乱差的泥土地面房间的鼠密度较高。因此, 在防治中应根据不同的环境条件、不同的鼠密度和优势鼠种, 采取相应的防治对策, 以取得最佳防治效果。     

四川地震灾区灾后一年农村小兽监测报告

为了了解四川汶川5.12大地震后灾区害鼠的种群数量变化和群落演替,预防鼠传疫病的发生,指导灾后的媒介生物控制和鼠源疫病防控。从2008年6月至2009年6月,每月对重灾区的都江堰、彭州、什邡、绵竹、北川和汶川6地灾区进行1次小兽(鼠情)监测。选择农田和村庄2种主要生境,采用夹日法进行调查。其中农田生境的捕获率达7.35%,主要捕获到啮齿目(Rodentia)和食虫目(Insectivora)两类,其中啮齿目为1.49%,食虫目鼩鼱科(Soricidae)为5.86%。捕获的种类有褐家鼠(Rattus norvegicus)、大足鼠(Rattus nitidus)、黄胸鼠(Rattus tanezumi)、小家鼠(Mus musculus)、黑线姬鼠(Apodemus agrarias)、巢鼠(Micromys minutus)、针毛鼠(Niviventer fulvescens)、四川短尾鼩(Anourosorex squamipes)与臭鼩(Suncus Murinus)。村庄区域的捕获率为12.50%,主要捕获的亦是食虫目鼩鼱科的四川短尾鼩,高达10.02%,啮齿目的捕获率为2.48%。捕获的种类有褐家鼠、黄胸鼠、小家鼠和四川短尾鼩。结果表明,经过灾后的各种控制措施,鼠害得到有效的控制,啮齿目种类的捕获率基本低于3%。但食虫目鼩鼱科的捕获率较高,特别是都江堰、彭州、什邡、绵竹四地的四川短尾鼩种群数量高于已有报道的同期水平,并维持较高的繁殖力,且大量进入房舍区域。另外,黑线姬鼠的繁殖率也不低。需密切关注四川短尾鼩和黑线姬鼠种群动态趋势。据以往类似研究结果,结合初步调查数据和从控制鼠传疾病的角度考虑,灾区鼠情的监测要有中长期的思想准备,至少持续3a以上时间。     

A new species of Microphallus (Trematoda: Microphallidae) from Venezuela

During 1997-1999, a total of 94 crabs, Uca rapax were collected from La Sabana, La Ceiba and El Paujil, Sucre State, Venezuela. Of these 36 were infected with metacercariae. Two parasites were located in the abdominal muscles and one under the tissue of carapace and gonad. These metacercariae grew to adults in the following genera: Levinseniella, Microphallus and Maritrema, in the period of 2-5 days after feeding experimentally to the rat Rattus norvegicus, mice Mus musculus and duck Cairinia moschata. Specimens of the genus Microphallus were described herein as a new species M. sabanensis. The life cycle of M. sabanensis sp.nov. were studied experimentally using rat, mice and duck. All developmental stages and the adult are described. In addition, M. sabanensis was collected from wild birds Anas discors, Pluvialis squatarola, Butorides striatus, Egretta caerulea and Nycticorax violaceus from the same localities.     

五种啮齿类动物mtDNA蛋白编码基因序列变化的比较

目的利用本实验室测定的中国地鼠、金黄地鼠和GenBank中田鼠、小鼠、大鼠的线粒体全基因组序列,比较分析五种啮齿类动物的mtDNA蛋白编码基因序列的变异,探讨其分子进化关系。方法将五种动物各自的13个蛋白编码基因分别连接成一个序列,用DNAstar-EditSeq分析软件计算每个序列的碱基长度和组成,计算蛋白编码基因的碱基和氨基酸的差异。以人为外群,基于连接在一起的13个蛋白编码基因的氨基酸序列,用MEGA4.0软件通过最大简约性法(MP)和非加权成对平均数法(UPGMA)构建进化树。结果在五种啮齿动物的13个蛋白基因序列中,A、T、C、G碱基的平均含量为32.4%、29.6%、26.2%和11.9%,中国地鼠mtDNA各蛋白编码序列以及其编码的氨基酸序列与其他物种相比,与金黄地鼠的相应序列差异最小,与大鼠mtDNA各蛋白编码序列以及其编码的氨基酸序列差异较大。分子进化树也显示中国地鼠和金黄地鼠的亲缘关系最近,与小鼠、大鼠存在的差异相对大。结论五种动物的碱基组成的百分比中显示G的相对缺乏,相互之间的进化关系与传统的分类地位基本吻合。     

Isolation of members of the Haemophilus-Pasteurella-Actinobacillus group from feral rodents

46 feral rodents, including a common vole (Microtus arvalis), house mice (Mus musculus), muskrats (ondatra zibetica), house rats (Rattus rattus) and brown rats (R. norvegicus) were examined for bacteria of the Haemophilus-Pasteurella-Actinobacillus group. Haemophilus spp. (only M. musculus examined) were not obtained. All animal species were found contaminated by P. pneumotropica and/or Actinobacillus spp. Almost all M. musculus (96%) and most Rattus spp. (76%) were contaminated by P. pneumotropica and/or Actinobacillus spp. These bacteria were obtained most frequently from the upper respiratory tract, to a lesser extent from the lung and rarely from caecal contents. It is concluded that feral rodents might constitute an important source of contamination of laboratory rodents by members of the HPA-group.     

Hantavirus-specific antibodies in rodents and humans living in Kuwait

Hantaviruses are found in widely scattered areas of the world and are transmitted by inhalation of virus-contaminated aerosols of rodent excreta. The present study was undertaken in Kuwait to investigate the serological evidence for hantavirus infection in rodents and humans. Sera were collected from 283 wild rodents and 183 human subjects (46 Kuwaitis and 137 non-Kuwaitis). The rodent sera were investigated for the presence of antibodies against the Seoul and Puumala strains of the hantaviruses by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence technique using the virus-infected Vero E6 cells. The findings showed the presence of anti-hantavirus antibodies in seven out of the 283 (2.8%) rodents. Antibodies against the Seoul strain were present in six (2.1%) and against the Puumala strain in three (1%) rodents. Further, it was observed that three out of 84 (3.6%) of the Rattus norvegicus and four out of 174 (2.3%) Mus musculus had anti-hantavirus antibodies. Two rodents belonging to species Mus musculus had antibodies against both strains of the hantaviruses. Out of 183 human sera, 13 (7%) were positive for hantavirus antibodies. Among the Kuwaitis 5/46 (11%) and among the non-Kuwaitis 8/137 (6%) were positive for the hantavirus antibodies. Antibodies to both Puumala and Hantaan strains were detected in Kuwaitis as well as in non-Kuwaitis. Although no human case of hantavirus illness has yet been reported in Kuwait, the serological evidence of infection suggests a constant vigil.     

四种常用抗凝血灭鼠剂对两种家栖鼠实验室药效比较

比较了几种抗凝血灭鼠剂对家栖鼠的毒效。以常规浓度（溴敌隆０．００５％,杀鼠迷、杀鼠灵和敌鼠钠０．０２５％）的毒饵,对靶标鼠进行单笼饲养无选择和有选择以及围栏群养有选择摄食试验,用毒杀率和摄食系数评价毒效和适口性。结果表明：⑴实验鼠单笼饲养试验：溴敌隆和杀鼠迷对大白鼠适口性好,毒杀率高,敌鼠钠适口性差;对小白鼠的毒效和适口性,溴敌隆最好,敌鼠钠最差;⑵三省四地区的褐家鼠单笼饲养无选择试验,溴敌隆、杀     

新疆莫索湾垦区啮齿动物群落分布与生境类型关系的研究

为探索沙漠开垦为绿洲后,啮齿动物群落的生态分布格局及变迁规律,2004年6～8月对莫索湾垦区150团场啮齿动物进行了调查.结果表明：荒漠开垦为林地,红尾沙鼠占据主导地位;开垦为农田,鼠类群落表现出较大差异：棉田中柽柳沙鼠占主导地位,麦田中小家鼠为优势鼠种,苜蓿地则以小林姬鼠为主,白菜地中灰仓鼠占据优势地位;城镇居民区“伴人”鼠种褐家鼠居于绝对优势.结论：在荒漠开垦为林地、农田和变为居民区的过程中,鼠类群落也相应地由荒漠鼠类向人工景观鼠类演变.然而对于从沙漠腹地开垦出来的绿洲,虽然人类已开垦经营了半个世纪,但啮齿动物群落的原始荒漠特征仍较完善地保存着,这与当地极端的地理特征相一致.