A complex scenario of glacial survival in Mediterranean and continental refugia of a temperate continental vole species ( Microtus arvalis ) in Europe

2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 459-474
Author(s):  
Jesús T. García ◽  
Julio Domínguez‐Villaseñor ◽  
Fernando Alda ◽  
María Calero‐Riestra ◽  
Pedro Pérez Olea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microtus Arvalis ◽  
Vole Species ◽  
Complex Scenario

scholarly journals Extensive Host Sharing of Central European Tula Virus

2009 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 459-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit ◽  
Sandra Essbauer ◽  
Rasa Petraityte ◽  
Kumiko Yoshimatsu ◽  
Kirsten Tackmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Sequence Evolution ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Microtus Arvalis ◽  
Transmission Cycle ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Tula Virus ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Large Panel ◽  
Vole Species

ABSTRACT To examine the host association of Tula virus (TULV), a hantavirus present in large parts of Europe, we investigated a total of 791 rodents representing 469 Microtus arvalis and 322 Microtus agrestis animals from northeast, northwest, and southeast Germany, including geographical regions with sympatric occurrence of both vole species, for the presence of TULV infections. Based on serological investigation, reverse transcriptase PCR, and subsequent sequence analysis of partial small (S) and medium (M) segments, we herein show that TULV is carried not only by its commonly known host M. arvalis but also frequently by M. agrestis in different regions of Germany for a prolonged time period. At one trapping site, TULV was exclusively detected in M. agrestis, suggesting an isolated transmission cycle in this rodent reservoir separate from spillover infections of TULV-carrying M. arvalis. Phylogenetic analysis of the S and M segment sequences demonstrated geographical clustering of the TULV sequences irrespective of the host, M. arvalis or M. agrestis. The novel TULV lineages from northeast, northwest, and southeast Germany described here are clearly separated from each other and from other German, European, or Asian lineages, suggesting their stable geographical localization and fast sequence evolution. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that TULV represents a promiscuous hantavirus with a large panel of susceptible hosts. In addition, this may suggest an alternative evolution mode, other than a strict coevolution, for this virus in its Microtus hosts, which should be proven in further large-scale investigations on sympatric Microtus hosts.

scholarly journals Diagnostic Criteria for Identification of Microtus s. l. Species (Rodentia, Arvicolidae) of the Ukrainian Carpathians

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 471-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoltán Barkaszi
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Museum Specimens ◽  
Microtus Arvalis ◽  
Anatomical Features ◽  
Condylobasal Length ◽  
Molar Teeth ◽  
Vole Species ◽  
Linear Body

Abstract The present paper deals with the issues of diagnostics of morphologically similar vole species (Microtus s. l.) common in the fauna of the Ukrainian Carpathians. Three groups of characters have been analysed: external traits (linear body dimensions, coloration features, etc.), morphological and anatomical features of the skull (size of its structures, form of certain bones and sutures, etc.), and morphology of molar teeth (number and form of enamel lobes and triangles). The analysis of museum specimens of voles collected in the region of the Ukrainian Carpathians has shown that external and cranial non-metric characters allow reliable identification to genus level, while for species diagnostics it is necessary to use a complex of characters including structural features of molars and dimensions of skull structures. The height and width of the braincase have the largest diagnostic value among cranial characters for the sibling species complex Terricola subterraneus–Terricola tatricus, while for the pair of morphologically similar species Microtus agrestis–Microtus arvalis such value have the upper molars length, condylobasal length, and braincase height. The most significant, revised and newly described, diagnostic characters have been generalized into an identification key, especially convenient for use during work with collection materials.

scholarly journals Zoonotic viruses in three species of voles (Microtus spp.) from Poland

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maciej Grzybek ◽  
Katarzyna Tołkacz ◽  
Tarja Sironen ◽  
Sanna Mäki ◽  
Mohammed Alsarraf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Infections ◽  
Puumala Virus ◽  
Host Age ◽  
Microtus Arvalis ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Ne Poland ◽  
Zoonotic Viruses ◽  
Vole Species ◽  
Reservoir Hosts ◽  
Microtus Spp

ABSTRACTRodents are known to be reservoir hosts for a plethora of zoonotic viruses and therefore play a significant role in the dissemination of these pathogens. We trapped three vole species (Microtus arvalis, M. oeconomus and M. agrestis) in N.E. Poland, all of which are widely distributed species in Europe, and, using immunofluorescence assays, we assessed serum samples for the presence of antibodies to hantaviruses, arenaviruses and cowpox viruses (CPXV). We detected antibodies against CPXV and Puumala virus (PUUV), overall seroprevalence of combined viral infections of 18.2% [10.5-29.3] and mostly attributed to CPXV. Antibodies to Tula hantavirus, typical for Microtus voles, are known to cross-react strongly with the PUUV antigen used in PUUV screening, but we detected only one PUUV/TULV cross-reaction in Microtus arvalis (1.3% [0.1-7.9]). We found antibodies against CPXV in all three Microtus spp. Seroprevalence was similar in all vole species. There were no significant differences in seroprevalence between the sexes and among host age categories. Our results contribute to the increasing understanding of CPXV abundance in voles in Europe, and confirm that CPXV circulates also in Microtus spp. voles in NE Poland.

Influence of predation risk on recruitment and litter intervals in common voles (Microtus arvalis)

2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 281-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jochym ◽  
S. Halle
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Microtus Arvalis ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Risk Of Predation ◽  
Vole Species ◽  
Common Voles ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
Breeding Suppression

Research on mammals and birds has shown that predation may have indirect effects on prey reproduction. Some of the indirect effects may give prey an adaptive advantage. Females of several vole species respond to the presence of predators from the genus Mustela L., 1758 with suppressed breeding; this response increases females’ chances of survival. However, breeding suppression is observed only in a certain part of the female population; it is unclear whether predation risk affects the remaining females. We investigated this in a capture–mark–recapture experiment on reproductive effort of female common voles (Microtus arvalis (Pallas, 1778)) facing simulated presence of mustelid predators. We measured two parameters: the number of recruits per litter and the litter interval. Compared with control populations, the number of recruits per litter was not affected, but the litter interval was longer in females facing mustelid risk of predation. This indicates that predation risk affects females in a more complex way than originally proposed: it induces breeding suppression in some, but also influences litter frequency in others. Our result suggests that predatory stress deregulates the estrous cycle. Decreased frequency of litters can be a viable antipredatory adaptation in iteroparous organisms.

scholarly journals Zoonotic Viruses in Three Species of Voles from Poland

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1820
Author(s):  
Maciej Grzybek ◽  
Katarzyna Tołkacz ◽  
Tarja Sironen ◽  
Sanna Mäki ◽  
Mohammed Alsarraf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Significant Role ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Microtus Agrestis ◽  
Microtus Arvalis ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Zoonotic Viruses ◽  
Northeastern Poland ◽  
Vole Species ◽  
Reservoir Hosts

Rodents are known to be reservoir hosts for a plethora of zoonotic viruses and therefore play a significant role in the dissemination of these pathogens. We trapped three vole species (Microtus arvalis, Alexandromys oeconomus and Microtus agrestis) in northeastern Poland, all of which are widely distributed species in Europe. Using immunofluorescence assays, we assessed serum samples for the presence of antibodies to hantaviruses, arenaviruses and cowpox viruses (CPXV). We detected antibodies against CPXV and Puumala hantavirus (PUUV), the overall seroprevalence of combined viral infections being 18.2% [10.5–29.3] and mostly attributed to CPXV. We detected only one PUUV/TULV cross-reaction in Microtus arvalis (1.3% [0.1–7.9]), but found similar levels of antibodies against CPXV in all three vole species. There were no significant differences in seroprevalence of CPXV among host species and age categories, nor between the sexes. These results contribute to our understanding of the distribution and abundance of CPXV in voles in Europe, and confirm that CPXV circulates also in Microtus and Alexandromys voles in northeastern Poland.

scholarly journals Stability of the southern European border of Echinococcus multilocularis in the Alps: evidence that Microtus arvalis is a limiting factor

Parasitology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 141 (12) ◽  
pp. 1593-1602 ◽  
Author(s):  
DIOGO GUERRA ◽  
DANIEL HEGGLIN ◽  
LUCA BACCIARINI ◽  
MANUELA SCHNYDER ◽  
PETER DEPLAZES
Keyword(s):  
Echinococcus Multilocularis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Microtus Arvalis ◽  
Heterogeneous Distribution ◽  
The North ◽  
Endemic Focus ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
The Alps ◽  
Vole Species

SUMMARYThe known range of the zoonotic fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis has expanded since the 1990s, and today this parasite is recorded in higher abundances throughout large parts of Europe. This phenomenon is mostly attributed to the increasing European fox populations and their invasion of urban habitats. However, these factors alone are insufficient to explain the heterogeneous distribution of the parasite in Europe. Here, we analysed the spatial interrelationship of E. multilocularis with the known distribution of seven vole species in Ticino, southern Switzerland. Among 404 necropsied foxes (1990–2006) and 79 fox faecal samples (2010–2012), E. multilocularis was consistently found in the north of the investigated area. No expansion of this endemic focus was recorded during the 22 years of the study period. This stable endemic focus is coincident with the known distribution of the vole species Microtus arvalis but not, or only partly, with the distribution of the other autochthonous vole species. Our results give evidence that this vole species plays a crucial role in the maintenance of the parasite's life cycle and that its absence could be a limiting factor for the spread of E. multilocularis in this region.

scholarly journals Stable Isotopes Reveal the Dominant Species to Have the Widest Trophic Niche of Three Syntopic Microtus Voles

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1814
Author(s):  
Linas Balčiauskas ◽  
Raminta Skipitytė ◽  
Andrius Garbaras ◽  
Vitalijus Stirkė ◽  
Laima Balčiauskienė ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dominant Species ◽  
Trophic Ecology ◽  
Common Vole ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
The Other ◽  
Microtus Arvalis ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Vole Species ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Trophic Niches

Diets and trophic positions of co-occurring animals are fundamental issues in their ecology, and these issues in syntopic rodents have been studied insufficiently. Using carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope ratios from hair samples, we analysed the trophic niches of common (Microtus arvalis), field (M. agrestis), and root (M. oeconomus) voles co-occurring in orchards, berry plantations, and nearby meadows (as control habitat to orchards and plantations). We tested if the niche of the dominant common vole was the widest, whether its width depended on the presence of other vole species, and whether there were intraspecific differences. Results suggest stability in the trophic niches of all three Microtus species, as season explained only 2% of the variance. The widest trophic niche was a characteristic of the dominant common vole, the range of δ13C values exceeding the other two species by 1.6, the range of δ15N values exceeding the other two species by 1.9, and the total area of niche exceeding that of the other voles by 2.3–3 times. In the meadows and apple orchards, co-occurring vole species were separated according to δ13C (highest values in the dominant common vole), but they maintained similar δ15N values. Results give new insights into the trophic ecology small herbivores, showing the impact of species co-occurrence.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document