Helminth fauna in small rodents (Mammalia: Rodentia) of canal banks in meliorated territories

A helminth fauna of small rodents inhabiting channel banks have been investigated in soil improvement territories (Belorussian Polesie) in the period 1996-1999. 41 helminth species have been found in animals. Generally, there are specific helminths of rodents of the Cricetidae and Muridae families. These animals also participate in life cycles of bird's and carnivore's helminths.     

Helminth fauna of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Estonia

Thirty-seven carcasses of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) collected and examined in Estonia during 1999-2001 had helminths. Parasites identified and their prevalence included Diphyllobothrium latum (5%), Taenia pisiformis (100%), Taenia laticollis (41%), Taenia hydatigena (3%), Taenia taeniaeformis (3%), Toxocara cati (68%), and Trichinella spp. (22%). The only significant relationships (P < or = 0.05) between occurrence of helminths and host age and sex were a greater number of T. pisiformis and T. laticollis in older than in youger male lynx, and older males had a greater number of species of helminth than did younger lynx. Sixty-one fecal samples collected during snow tracking of nine lynx were examined; eggs of T. cati were identified in 38 samples, and Capillaria spp were found in eight samples. This is the first systematic investigation of parasites of lynx in Estonia.     

Besondere Haarstrukturen der Soricidae (Mammalia,Insectivora) und ihre taxonomische Deutung

Zusammenfassung Die vorliegende Untersuchung befaßt sich mit besonderen Haarfeinstrukturen der Soricidae, wobei geklärt werden soll, ob dem H-förmigen Haarquerschnitt-Profil eine taxonomische Bedeutung zukommt. Wir überprüften deshalb die betreffenden Haarstrukturen mit Hilfe des REM in 8 Gattungen.Das besondere Haarprofil, das auf das Terminalsegment der Grannenhaare beschränkt ist, findet sich bei folgenden Gattungen:Sorex, Neomys, Blarina undCryptotis, alles Vertreter der Subfamilie Soricinae. Sämtliche untersuchten Vertreter der Subfamilie Crocidurinae, d.h.Crocidura, Praesorex, Suncus undSylvisorex weisen ein einfaches Haarprofil auf.Das H-Profil wird als Synapomorphie der Soricinae angesehen und charakterisiert diese als monophyletische Gruppe. Die haarmorphologischen Kriterien ergänzen somit die osteologischen Kriterien von Repenning (1967) und sprechen für die Beibehaltung der von vielen Autoren abgelehnten Subfamilien.

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Special hair structures in Soricidae (Mammalia, Insectivora) and their taxonomic interpretation

Summary The following study should clear up the structures of the H-shaped profile found in the hairs of some shrews and show if it has a taxonomic signification. Therefore we studied the concerned hair structures by scanning electron microscopy in 8 genera.The special hair-shape, which is confined to the terminal segment of guard hairs, is found in the species of the following genera:Sorex, Neomys, Blarina andCryptotis, all members of the subfamily Soricinae. All the examined members of the subfamily Crocidurinae, i.e.Crocidura, Praesorex, Suncus andSylvisorex show a simple hair shape.The H-shaped hair characterizes the Soricinae as a monophyletic unity. Yet, the morphological criteria of hair complete the osteological criteria of Repenning (1967) an plead for the validitiy of the often refuted subfamilies.

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Mit Unterstützung des Schweizerischen Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Nr. 3.515.71, 3.821.72, 3.413-0.74)

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Unser Dank gilt Herrn Prof. N. Schönenberger, Herrn Prof.R. Krstic und Frau C. Regamey, die uns bei der histologischen Präparation behilflich waren, insbesondere auch Herrn Dr. T. Jalanti, der uns in die REM-Technik einführte. Kostbares Material wurde uns von Frau A. Geraets (Bonn), Herrn Prof. U. Rahm (Basel) und Herrn Dr. V. Aellen (Genf) zur Verfügung gestellt; auch ihnen sei hierfür herzlich gedankt.     

Systematics of white-toothed shrews (Crocidura) (Mammalia: Insectivora: Soricidae) of Taiwan: Karyological and morphological Studies

We define the species boundaries of white-toothed shrews (genus Crocidura ) in Taiwan using karyological and morphological characteristics. Ninety-nine animals were obtained from all over Taiwan at capture rates usually less than 10%. Three species are recognized by distinct cytotypes: Crocidura attenuata tanakae 2n = 40, FN = 56; Crocidura suaveolens hosletti 2n = 40, FN = 50; Crocidura kurodai 2n = 40, FN = 54. A suite of six morphological characters diagnose the three species: shape of skull, position of incisive foramina, shape of fourth upper premolar, shape of pinna, tail vibrissae, and foot pads. A species key and notes on the life history of each species are provided. Finally, we discuss chromosomal evolution and biolgeography of Crocidura in East and South East Asia.     

Helminth fauna of the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) in north-central Florida

The gastrointestinal tracts of 32 free-ranging, 9-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) from north-central Florida were examined for the presence of helminths during July 1991 to November 1993. Aspidodera sp. (Nematoda: Aspidoderidae), most closely resembling Aspidodera sogandaresi, were recovered from 20 of 32 armadillos examined. Total numbers of A. sogandaresi ranged from 1 to 1,021 per infected animal, and followed an inverse correlation to body condition index for those animals. The cystacanth stage of 1 acanthocephalan, Macracanthorhynchus ingens, was present in 1 armadillo, and is the first report of M. ingens in the 9-banded armadillo. The present study contributes to the known natural history of the 9-banded armadillo, an important animal research model.     

New developments in vertebrate cytotaxonomy IX Chromosome numbers in the order Insectivora (Mammalia)

A reference list of chromosome numbers of about 110 species in the order insectivora is presented. Cytotaxonomic data are known for six families: Solenodontidae, Tenrecidae (incl. Potamogalidae), Erinaceidae, Soricidae, Talpidae and Macroscelididae (only the Chrysochloridae remain unstudied). The list provides, wherever possible, the diploid chromosome number(s), Nombre Fondamental, and references; sometimes information on geography, synonymy, as well as short comments are added.This is the ninth in a series of articles, by different authors, to appear in this journal under the editorship of Professor Chiarelli, supplementing the data published in Cytotaxonomy and Vertebrate Evolution (A. B. Chiarelli & E. Capanna, eds, Academic Press, London & New York, 1973).-Eds.     

The Mercury Content and Antioxidant System in Insectivorous Animals (Insectivora,Mammalia) and Rodents (Rodentia,Mammalia) of Various Ecogenesis Conditions

This study is aimed at analyzing the total mercury in the tissues of mammals adapted to a semiaquatic or subterranean lifestyle and at analyzing the possible role of their antioxidant system in heavy metal detoxication. The water shrew Neomis fodiens Pennant, 1771, European mole Talpa europaea Linnaeus, 1758, muskrat Ondatra zibethicus Linnaeus, 1766, and water vole Arvicola terrestris Linnaeus, 1758 were the species under study. Our results indicate that mercury accumulation in the tissue depends on the age, tissue type, and diet of the species. The highest mercury content was recorded in water shrew tissues compared to other species. Age-dependent accumulation of the toxicant in the animals is reported. A correlation between mercury accumulation and catalase activity in the kidneys of the animals studied was found.     

Age determination, age structure, and longevity in the mole Scalopus aquaticus (Mammalia: Insectivora)

Three hundred and eighty-two moles, Scalopus aquaticus , were collected from 16 sampling grids located within a 23 km² area in South Carolina, USA. Age of moles was determined using tooth wear. Both the mean and median ages of trapped moles were c. two years; the oldest mole was in its seventh year of life. More than 50% of the individuals are estimated to die during the first six months of life; adult survivorship was relatively high and age-dependent. There was differential mortality between the sexes, and females lived longer than males. Scalopus aquaticus in South Carolina lived c. 1.2 times longer than the maximum lifespan predicted on the basis of body mass. Pooled samples of moles yielded the expected age distribution, with fewer individuals occurring in successively older age classes. However, based on bootstrap estimates of the variance in age structure, samples from some grids contained significantly more young or old individuals than expected due to sampling error. Mole populations appear not to be in demographic equilibrium at this local scale, but instead conform more closely to a metapopulation-type of structure.     

Helminth associations in white-toothed shrews Crocidura russula (Insectivora: Soricidae) from the Albufera Natural Park, Spain

The helminths of 218 white-toothed shrews from 29 sites in 2 biotopes in the Albufera Natural Park (Valencia, Spain) were examined from July 1990 to August 1991. An association analysis of helminths occurring at a prevalence of more than 4% was carried out for 4 species of cestodes located in the intestine (Hymenolepis pistillum, H. scalaris, H. tiara, and Pseudhymenolepis redonica) and 3 species of nematodes (Pseudophysaloptera sp. located in the stomach, Stammerinema rhopocephala larvae in the intestine and abdominal cavity, and Porrocaecum sp. in the thoracic and abdominal cavities). Bivariate (species pairs) versus multivariate analyses (associations within the entire set of species) were performed of presence-absence and of quantitative records (influence of intensity on associations). The associations were evaluated with respect to the sex and age of the host and to the sampling date and sites. The host and environment played a limited role, and the major determinant of species assemblage was phylogenetic. Positive associations were found among both the cestodes and the nematodes, whereas negative associations were found between cestodes and nematodes. The type of life cycle was probably the second greatest determinant of species associations. Nematodes using shrews as a paratenic host or as their definitive host were both positively associated.     

Helminth fauna of sandhill crane populations in Texas

Three species of trematode [Orchipedium jolliei Schell, 1967; Prohyptiamus grusi Kocan, Waldrup, Ramakka, and Iverson, 1982; Echinostoma revolutum (Froelich, 1802)], three species of nematode (Tetrameres grusi Shumakovich, 1946; Synhimanthus sp.; Contracaecum sp.), and one species of cestode (Anomotaenia sp.) were recovered from 146 sandhill cranes, Grus canadensis (Linnaeus), collected in Alaska, Canada, and two areas in Texas. The only common and abundant species were O. jolliei and T grusi. Of cranes collected in Texas, those that came from the Canadian breeding grounds had significantly greater abundances of O. jolliei and T. grusi than those from Alaska. However, cluster analysis using rank abundances of helminth species across the four geographic regions and stepwise multiple discriminant analysis using the grouping variable of the presence or absence of a subspecies-specific pancreatic protein indicated that classification of cranes into populations based on helminth abundances was impractical as a management technique.     

The helminth fauna of the shrew genus Sorex (Insectivora: Soricidae) in the Kandalksha nature reserve

The helminth fauna of shrews (Sores araneus, S. caecutiens, S. minutus, S. minutissimus) from the Karelian coast and islands of the Kandalaksha nature reserve was studied. 18 helminth species belonging to 3 taxonomic groups, Trematoda (3), Cestoda (8), and Nematoda (7) were found. The main body of the helminth fauna of shrews is represented by the nematodes species Longistriata codrus, L. didas, and the cestode species Ditestolepis diaphana. Inhabiting of shrews in the insular localities leads to the decrease of the species diversity and the abundance of their helminths. The distribution ranges of the shrew parasites have been outlined more accurately.     

Helminth fauna of the wolf (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) in Belorussian Polesie

The results of our own long-term helminthological investigations (1980-2010) of wolves in Belorussian Polesie are presented. 87.2% of wolves were infected by helminths according to helminthological autopsy, and 98.5% by coproscopical data. 26 species of helminths were found: 5 trematode species, 9 cestode species, 11 nematode species and 1 acanthocephalan species. The wolf is a new host for nematode Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy, 1856) in Belarus.     

Morphometric geographic variation in the Asian lesser white-toothed shrew Crocidura shantungensis (Mammalia,Insectivora) in East Asia

This study investigated geographic variation in the Asian lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura shantungensis Miller, 1901, among a number of localities in East Asia, including the Korean Peninsula, Tsushima Island, Cheju Island, and Taiwan, using univariate and multivariate analyses of cranial morphometric characters. Sexual differences were found in Taiwanese shrews, but were not evident in those from Korea or Tsushima. The samples from Taiwan had a larger overall cranial size than those from Korea and Tsushima, and were well separated from the latter two samples in the discriminant analyses. The overall size of the Cheju shrews was also greater, but lay within the variation of those from Taiwan. Crocidura dsinezumi quelpartis Kuroda, 1934, described from Cheju Island, is actually a junior synonym of C. shantungensis, and is not related to C. dsinezumi.     

Notes on type specimens of European Miocene Talpidae and a tentative classification of old world Tertiary Talpidae (Insectivora: Mammalia)

Survey of the type of the Miocene Talpidae of Europe results in the allocation of several of the types to new or different genera. Three genera and one species previously referred to the family do not belong there. The diversity of Miocene talpids indicates an influx of generic stocks into Western Europe in the early Miocene, probably from Asia. New data provide a basis for a tentative phylogeny and classification of the European genera.