scholarly journals An Addition to the Mammalian Fauna of Saskatchewan: The Western Harvest Mouse, Reithrodontomys megalotis

2012 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Gilbert Proulx ◽  
Benjamin P. Proulx

The Western Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis) is rare in Canada, and its distribution is believed to be restricted to south-central British Columbia and southeastern Alberta. Between 2008 and 2010, we identified Western Harvest Mouse hairs in 71 of 1424 scats (5%) of Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Coyote (Canis latrans), American Badger (Taxidea taxus), and Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata) collected in southwestern Saskatchewan. The presence of Western Harvest Mouse was confirmed at the same latitude as populations reported in Alberta and British Columbia, in scats collected in or nearby grasslands. This is the first time that the presence of the Western Harvest Mouse has been confirmed in Saskatchewan.

2010 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 204
Author(s):  
Serge Larivière ◽  
Vance Lester ◽  
Wanda Gorsuch

We assessed sex ratio, body mass, and harvest rates for 5 species of carnivores (Mammalia: Carnivora) collected in southern Saskatchewan, Canada during spring and summer 1999-2001. Overall, 647 adult carnivores were collected; captures consisted mostly of Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis, 50.7% of captures, 2.6±0.6 kg), Raccoon (Procyon lotor; 28.3%, 6.5±1.3 kg), American Badger (Taxidea taxus, 8.2%, 7.7±1.5 kg), Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes, 7.7%, 4.6±0.6 kg), and Coyote (Canis latrans, 5.1%, 11.0±1.5 kg). Sex ratio (M:F) of captures was male-biased for Raccoon (2.5:1), Striped Skunk (1.7:1), but did not differ from 1:1 for American Badger (2.3:1), Coyote (1.7:1), or Red Fox (2.2:1). For both Striped Skunk and Raccoon, the temporal variation in sex ratio of captures suggests that males were more vulnerable to capture early in the spring than females. Harvest rates were highest for Striped Skunks (range 0.8-2.2 animals/km2) followed by Raccoons (0.4-1.3 animals/km2), American Badgers (0.2-0.5 animal/km2), Red Foxes (0.2-0.4 animal/km2), and Coyotes (0.1-0.4 animals/km2).


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gang Liu ◽  
Shanshan Zhao ◽  
Wenbo Tan ◽  
Sándor Hornok ◽  
Wumei Yuan ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundPreviously, twelve Rickettsia species were found in ticks, fleas, sheep keds (Melophagus ovinus), bats (common pipistrelle: Pipistrellus pipistrellus) and a tick-bitten patient in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), northwestern China. Here we aimed to molecularly detect rickettsial agents in red fox (Vulpes vulpes), marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna) and their ticks.MethodsDuring 2018-2019, 12 red foxes, 1 marbled polecat and their ticks were sampled in two counties and a city of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (northwestern China). The heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney of these 13 carnivores were dissected, followed by DNA extraction. Hard ticks were identified both morphologically and molecularly. All samples were examined for the presence of rickettsiae by amplifying four genetic markers.ResultsA total of 26 adult ticks and 28 nymphs (38 Ixodes canisuga, nine Ixodes kaiseri, six Haemaphysalis erinacei and one Dermacentor marginatus) were collected from red foxes, and four H. erinacei ticks were removed from a marbled polecat. Analysis of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences indicated that 2-32 nucleotides differed between I. canisuga, I. kaiseri and H. erinacei from northwestern China and Europe. Rickettsia raoultii was detected in three red foxes, Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae in a red fox, Rickettsia sibirica in a red fox and a marbled polecat, and R. raoultii in two tick species (I. canisuga and D. marginatus).ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, I. canisuga and I. kaiseri have not been previously reported from red foxes in China. The DNA of R. sibirica and R. raoultii was detected for the first time in organs of red foxes, and R. sibirica in organs of marbled polecat. This is also the first molecular evidence for the presence of R. raoultii in I. canisuga. Our findings add to the range of tick-borne pathogens in wildlife species and associated ticks in China.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gang Liu ◽  
Shanshan Zhao ◽  
Wenbo Tan ◽  
Sándor Hornok ◽  
Wumei Yuan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Previously, twelve Rickettsia species were identified in ticks, fleas, sheep keds (Melophagus ovinus), bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) and a tick-bitten patient in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in northwestern China. Here we aimed to molecularly detect rickettsial agents in red fox (Vulpes vulpes), marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna) and their ticks. Methods During 2018–2019, 12 red foxes, one marbled polecat and their ticks were sampled in two counties and a city of the XUAR. The heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney of these 13 carnivores were dissected, followed by DNA extraction. Hard ticks were identified both morphologically and molecularly. All samples were examined for the presence of rickettsiae by amplifying four genetic markers (17-kDa, gltA, ompA, sca1). Results A total of 26 adult ticks and 28 nymphs (38 Ixodes canisuga, nine Ixodes kaiseri, six Haemaphysalis erinacei and one Dermacentor marginatus) were collected from red foxes, and four Ha. erinacei ticks were removed from the marbled polecat. Analysis of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences indicated that 2–32 nucleotides differed between I. canisuga, I. kaiseri and Ha. erinacei from northwestern China and Europe. Rickettsia raoultii was detected in three red foxes, Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae in a red fox, Rickettsia sibirica in a red fox and a marbled polecat, and R. raoultii in two tick species (I. canisuga and D. marginatus). Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, I. canisuga and I. kaiseri have not been previously reported from red foxes in China. The DNA of R. sibirica and R. raoultii was detected for the first time in the organs of red foxes, and R. sibirica in the organs of a marbled polecat. This is also the first molecular evidence for the presence of R. raoultii in I. canisuga. Our findings expand the range of tick-borne pathogens in wildlife species and associated ticks in China.


Parasitology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 145 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
ADNAN HODŽIĆ ◽  
NAIKE MROWIETZ ◽  
RITA CÉZANNE ◽  
PIA BRUCKSCHWAIGER ◽  
SYLVIA PUNZ ◽  
...  

SUMMARYRed fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the most abundant wild canid species in Austria, and it is a well-known carrier of many pathogens of medical and veterinary concern. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence and diversity of protozoan, bacterial and filarial parasites transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods in a red fox population in western Austria. Blood (n= 351) and spleen (n= 506) samples from foxes were examined by PCR and sequencing and the following pathogens were identified:Babesia canis,Babesiacf.microti(syn.Theileria annae),Hepatozoon canis,Anaplasma phagocytophilum,CandidatusNeoehrlichia sp. andBartonella rochalimae. Blood was shown to be more suitable for detection ofBabesiacf.microti, whilst the spleen tissue was better for detection ofH. canisthan blood. Moreover, extremely low genetic variability ofH. canisand its relatively low prevalence rate observed in this study may suggest that the parasite has only recently been introduced in the sampled area. Furthermore, the data presented here demonstrates, for the first time, the possible vertical transmission ofH. canisfrom an infected vixen to the offspring, and this could explain the very high prevalence in areas considered free of its main tick vector(s).


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 204 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Z. Woinarski ◽  
Sally L. South ◽  
Paul Drummond ◽  
Gregory R. Johnston ◽  
Alex Nankivell

Introduced predators have had, and continue to have, severe impacts on Australian biodiversity. At a recently established conservation reserve, Witchelina, in arid South Australia, we assessed the diet of feral cats (Felis catus) (404 samples), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) (51 samples) and dog (Canis familiaris) (11 samples) over a 3-year period. There was marked overlap (98.5%) in dietary composition between cats and foxes. Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) comprised a major dietary item for all three predators. Invertebrates contributed the largest number of prey items for foxes and cats, but mammals comprised the bulk, by weight, for all three predators. Birds and reptiles had a higher frequency of occurrence in the diet of cats than of foxes or dogs. The size of mammal prey taken was least for cats and greatest for dogs. The diets of cats and foxes showed significant seasonal variation, with reptiles and invertebrates being least common in the diet in winter. The threatened thick-billed grasswren (Amytornis modestus) was found for the first time in the diet of feral cats. Bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) occurred in about one-third of cat and fox samples. This study contributes further to the evidence of biodiversity impacts of introduced predators, and the need for their strategic management.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Mariana Chávez-Andrade ◽  
Jaime Luévano-Esparza ◽  
Gustavo E. Quintero-Díaz ◽  
Horacio V. Bárcenas ◽  
Gerardo Ceballos

RESUMENEl estado de Aguascalientes es uno de los más pequeños de la república, y ocupa el lugar 29 por su extensión territorial. Dada su superficie territorial, su diversidad de mamíferos es una de las menores entre los estados del país. Aguascalientes no cuenta con una lista actualizada. Aquí reportamos 86 especies de mamíferos. El orden con mayor número de especies es Rodentia, seguido por el Chiroptera; ambos incluyen el 71% de la mastofauna del estado. No hay especies endémicas al estado, pero dos especies de murciélagos, seis de roedores y un carnívoro son endémicas de México. Según la norma oficial mexicana (NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010) de especies en riesgo de extinción, la musaraña (Notiosorex crawfordi), el tejon (Taxidea taxus) y tres murciélagos (Choeronycteris mexicana, Leptonycteris nivalis y L. yerbabuenae) se encuentran en la categoría de Amenazada (A) y Leopardus pardalis (ocelote) está en Peligro de extinción (P). Palabras clave: Mamíferos, Aguascalientes, Estado de conservación.ABSTRACTThe state of Aguascalientes is very small in size and has a relatively small mammalian fauna diversity. There is not an updated checklist of the mammal fauna of the state, so here we reported 86 species; the orders Rodentia and Chiroptera are the most diverse and together comprised 71% of the mammal species. There are no endemic species in Aguascalientes, but two bat species and six rodents are endemic to Mexico. According to the Mexican endangered species act (NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010), the dessert shrew (Notiosorex crawfordi), the American badger (Taxidea taxus), and three species (Choeronycteris mexicana, Leptonycteris nivalis and L. yerbabuenae, are listed as threatened species, and the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) as endangered. Key words: Mammals, Aguascalientes, Conservation status.


1966 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 544-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L. Carr ◽  
Hugh B. Leech

AbstractAgabus audeni Wallis, known only by the type from south-central British Columbia, is recorded from the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains just west of Calgary in southern Alberta. There are notes on its ecology and on its separation from other species, with a key to A. audeni and A. browni Leech. The Holarctic A. coxalis Sharp is discussed, and the Nearctic form referred for the first time to the subspecies ermaki (Zaitzev). Specific characters are illustrated.


2008 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Sullivan ◽  
Druscilla S. Sullivan

The Great Basin Pocket Mouse (Perognathus parvus) and Western Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis) are two peripheral species occurring in the southern Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Both species are listed as vulnerable to extirpation because of habitat loss, primarily due to conversion of natural habitat to agricultural uses and suburban expansion. Population dynamics of these two species were studied in three habitat types: old field, sagebrush, and pine forest. The Great Basin Pocket Mouse occurred at densities ranging from 12 to 28/ha in sagebrush habitats and at 2-8/ha in old fields and Ponderosa Pine forest. The Western Harvest Mouse occurred at variable densities up to 10/ha in old fields and up to 5/ha in sagebrush habitats. Mean number of lactating females for Great Basin Pocket Mice ranged from 4-8 in sagebrush, 1-5 in old fields and pine forests combined. Mean juvenile survival to adulthood ranged from 3.28 young Great Basin Pocket Mice per pregnant female in sagebrush, 4.67 in old field, and 1.82 in pine forest habitats. Mean juvenile survival to adulthood of Western Harvest Mice ranged from 1.46-1.72 young per female in old field and sagebrush habitats. Conservation of habitat features (high biomass and structural diversity of grasses and forbs) in linear habitats has the potential to maintain populations of Western Harvest Mice. The Great Basin Pocket Mouse needs features of sagebrush and old field habitats that need to be conserved as natural non-linear components in mosaics of natural and anthropogenic habitats. Both species could act as “indicators” of habitat integrity for a wide range of other vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant species in the Okanagan Valley.


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