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Santicchia F, Tranquillo C, Wauters LA, Palme R, Panzeri M, Preatoni D, Bisi F, Martinoli A. Physiological stress response to urbanisation differs between native and invasive squirrel species. Sci Total Environ 2024; 922:171336. [PMID: 38423339 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Novel pressures derived from urbanisation can alter native habitats and ultimately impact wildlife. Coping with such human-driven changes might induce shifts in species phenotypic traits, such as physiological responses to anthropogenic stressors. Preadaptation to face those challenges has been suggested to favour settlement and spread of invasive alien species in urbanised areas which, consequently, might respond differently than ecologically similar native species to stressors posed by urbanisation. The activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the subsequent release of glucocorticoids (GCs) has been suggested to mediate responses to anthropogenic disturbance in vertebrates. Furthermore, intraspecific competition, in conjunction with stressors related to urbanisation, might affect invasive and native species physiological stress responses differently. Using a parallel pseudo-experimental study system we measured faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations of the native Eurasian red squirrel and the invasive alien Eastern grey squirrel along a rural-urban gradient and in relation to conspecific density. The two species responded differently to challenges posed by the synergic effect of urbanisation and intraspecific competition. Association of FGMs and conspecific density in native red squirrels varied between rural and suburban sites, potentially depending on differential HPA axis responses. In urban sites, this relationship did not differ significantly from that in rural and suburban ones. Conversely, invasive grey squirrels' FGMs did not vary in relation to conspecific density, nor differed along the rural-urban gradient. Improving knowledge about native and competing invasive species' physiological responses to anthropogenic stressors can support conservation strategies in habitats altered by man. Our findings suggested that the invasive squirrels might be preadapted to cope with these challenges in urbanised areas, potentially increasing their success under the future global change scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Santicchia
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy.
| | - Claudia Tranquillo
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy.
| | - Lucas A Wauters
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy; Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Rupert Palme
- Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Mattia Panzeri
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Damiano Preatoni
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy.
| | - Francesco Bisi
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy.
| | - Adriano Martinoli
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy.
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Raso C, Galietta V, Eleni C, Innocenti M, Fonti N, Palmerini T, Grillo M, Calderini P, Borgogni E. Ectopic Pregnancy and T-Cell Lymphoma in a Eurasian Red Squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris): Possible Comorbidity and a Comparative Pathology Perspective. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:731. [PMID: 38473116 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is a life-threatening disease that affects humans and other mammals. Tumors causing ruptures of the reproductive tract have been identified as possible predisposing factors in human and veterinary medicine. We here describe a case of concomitant ectopic pregnancy and lymphoma in a Eurasian red squirrel found deceased in Italy and submitted to the public health laboratory Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana (IZSLT) for post-mortem examination. A full-term partially mummified ectopic fetus in the abdomen and a large fibrinonecrotic tubal scar adjacent to the right ovary were observed at necropsy. The tubal scar is likely the point of tubal rupture through which the fetus displaced. Histology revealed the presence of neoplastic cells referable to lymphoma infiltrating the ovary, spleen, small intestine, heart and peripancreatic adipose tissue. The lymphoma was further characterized as T-cell-type using immunohistochemistry. We suggest that the lymphoma, by involving the ovary, played a pathogenetic role in the development of a secondary EP by altering the genital tract at the structural and hormonal levels. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of concomitant ovarian lymphoma and EP in animals and humans in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Raso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e Della Toscana "M. Aleandri", 02100 Rieti, Italy
| | - Valentina Galietta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e Della Toscana "M. Aleandri", 00178 Roma, Italy
| | - Claudia Eleni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e Della Toscana "M. Aleandri", 00178 Roma, Italy
| | | | - Niccolò Fonti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Viale delle Piagge, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Tiziana Palmerini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e Della Toscana "M. Aleandri", 00178 Roma, Italy
| | - Mauro Grillo
- UOC Igiene e Sanità Animale, ASL Rieti, 02100 Rieti, Italy
| | - Pietro Calderini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e Della Toscana "M. Aleandri", 02100 Rieti, Italy
| | - Elena Borgogni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e Della Toscana "M. Aleandri", 02100 Rieti, Italy
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Hall L, Nichols C, Martelli F, Leng J, Shuttleworth C, La Ragione R. Significant differences in the caecal bacterial microbiota of red and grey squirrels in Britain. J Med Microbiol 2024; 73. [PMID: 38354038 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction. Red squirrel populations have declined in the UK since the introduction of the grey squirrel, due to resource competition and grey squirrels carrying a squirrelpox virus that is fatal to red squirrels.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. It is not known if the gut microbiota of the two species is similar and if this could impact the survival of red squirrels.Aim. The aim of this study was to profile the caecal microbiota of red and grey squirrels obtained opportunistically from a conservation programme in North Wales.Methodology. Bacterial DNA was extracted from ten red and ten grey squirrels and sent for 16S rRNA sequencing. Three samples from red squirrels returned less than 5000 reads, and so were not carried forward for further analyses.Results. Samples taken from the caeca of red squirrels had significantly lower bacterial diversity and a higher percentage of Bacilli bacteria when compared to samples from grey squirrels. When the abundance of bacterial groups across all levels of phylogenetic classifications was compared between the two groups of squirrels, grey squirrels had a higher abundance of bacteria belonging to the families S24-7, RF39 and Rikenellaceae. Escherichia coli with resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was identified in all samples. Cefotaxime resistance was identified in two samples from grey squirrels along with sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim in one of these samples.Conclusion. Clear differences between the caecal microbiota of the two species of squirrel were identified, which could potentially impact their overall health and ability to compete for resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Hall
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7AL, UK
| | | | - Francesca Martelli
- Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA -Weybridge), Addlestone, UK
| | - Joy Leng
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7AL, UK
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Craig Shuttleworth
- School of Natural Science, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Roberto La Ragione
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7AL, UK
- School of Biosciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK
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Beliniak A, Gryz J, Klich D, Jasińska K, Krauze-Gryz D. Body Condition and Breeding of Urban Red Squirrels: Comparison of Two Populations Affected by Different Levels of Urbanization. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12. [PMID: 36496767 DOI: 10.3390/ani12233246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The red squirrel is among the mammals that have adjusted well to urban habitats. Here, we focused on the two populations inhabiting Warsaw: in a park (with year-round supplemental feeding) and in an urban forest. We hypothesised that park squirrels would have higher body mass (and better body condition), being more stable over the year, and would have a higher breeding rate (i.e., the share of breeding females). Contrary to our hypothesis, forest squirrels were heavier and had better body condition than park squirrels. The body masses of squirrels from both areas were quite stable (with the highest values obtained in spring). Females in better body conditions were more likely to breed. More breeding females and sub-adults were trapped in the park. Regardless of the study site, the highest share of breeding females was in spring, but they also bred in winter and in the remaining seasons. The lower body mass/condition of park squirrels may be possibly explained by high intraspecific competition, or by stable food (and thermal as typical for the city) conditions, in which accumulating fat was not crucial. Mild winter conditions may have also enabled squirrels to breed early. This study showed the high plasticity of red squirrels living in human-transformed habitats.
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Tranquillo C, Wauters LA, Santicchia F, Preatoni D, Martinoli A. Living on the edge: morphological and behavioral adaptations to a marginal high-elevation habitat in an arboreal mammal. Integr Zool 2022. [PMID: 36052941 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Habitats are characterized by different local environmental conditions that influence both behavior and morphology of species, which can result in habitat-dependent phenotypic differences among animals living in heterogeneous environments. We studied three alpine populations of Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris), one living in a marginal high-elevation habitat at the edge of the species' altitudinal distribution, and two occurring in higher-quality habitats. Here, we investigated whether squirrels living in the marginal area differed in two morphological parameters (body size and body mass) and/or in the expression of four personality traits estimated with an open field test and a mirror image stimulation test (activity, exploration, activity-exploration and social tendency). Furthermore, we tested whether within-individual variance of the traits (behavioral plasticity) was higher in the edge habitat. Male squirrels in the edge habitat were smaller and weighed less than in the other study areas, while among females size-habitat relationships were less marked. These sex-specific patterns were explained by a strong association between body mass and reproductive success in female squirrels. Squirrels in the marginal habitat were more active, explorative and had a more social personality than in the other habitats. However, in contrast to our predictions, behavioral plasticity was smaller in the marginal habitat, but only for the trait exploration. Our results suggest that animals choose the habitat that best fits their personality, and that habitat-related differences in selective pressures may shape animals' morphology. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Tranquillo
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, Varese, 21100, Italy
| | - Lucas Armand Wauters
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, Varese, 21100, Italy.,Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium
| | - Francesca Santicchia
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, Varese, 21100, Italy
| | - Damiano Preatoni
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, Varese, 21100, Italy
| | - Adriano Martinoli
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, Varese, 21100, Italy
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Santicchia F, Wauters LA, Tranquillo C, Villa F, Dantzer B, Palme R, Preatoni D, Martinoli A. Invasive alien species as an environmental stressor and its effects on coping style in a native competitor, the Eurasian red squirrel. Horm Behav 2022; 140:105127. [PMID: 35121301 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Free-living animals cope with environmental stressors through physiological and behavioural responses. According to the unidimensional model, these responses are integrated within a coping style: proactive individuals (bold, active-explorative and social) have a lower hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity than reactive ones (shy, less active-explorative, less social). These associations may change when individuals are exposed to human-induced rapid environmental change (HIREC), such as the introduction of invasive alien species (IAS). Here, we studied Eurasian red squirrels to investigate the relationship between personality traits and one integrated measure of HPA axis activity, both in areas uncolonized (natural populations) and colonized by an IAS, the Eastern grey squirrel (invaded populations). We expected an association between physiological and behavioural responses, and that activity, exploration and social tendency would covary, forming a behavioural syndrome in natural populations, while competition with the IAS was predicted to disrupt these associations. We used faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs) as an integrated measure of adrenocortical activity, and measured the levels of four personality traits (exploration, activity, activity-exploration and social tendency) with an open field test and a mirror image stimulation test. We found no correlation between FGMs and personality traits, neither in natural nor invaded populations. However, we found correlations among personality traits in areas without interspecific competition, indicating a behavioural syndrome, which was disrupted in invaded populations. This is one of the few studies showing that an IAS, acting as an environmental stressor, alters a native species' behavioural syndrome, but does not influence its coping style.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Santicchia
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy.
| | - Lucas Armand Wauters
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy; Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Claudia Tranquillo
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Ben Dantzer
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 830 North University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Rupert Palme
- Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Damiano Preatoni
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Adriano Martinoli
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
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Olah DI, Páll E, Cerbu C, Zăblău SD, Duca G, Suătean MI, Potârniche AV, Vasiu A, Spînu M. A Peek into the Bacterial Microbiome of the Eurasian Red Squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12. [PMID: 35268234 DOI: 10.3390/ani12050666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sciurus vulgaris (the Eurasian red squirrel) is native to Europe and Asia, but due to habitat destruction or fragmentation, interspecific competition, and infectious diseases, especially in European island areas the species finds itself at the brink of extinction. The repopulation of such bare habitats requires healthy squirrel specimens, either translocated from other wild habitats or reintroduced to the wilderness following captive breeding. Captivity, nonetheless, has shown an immense capacity to reshape the structure of wild species’ microbiota, adapting it to the less diverse diet and fewer environmental challenges. Therefore, assessing the differences between “wild” and “captive” microbiota in this species could elucidate if special living conditions are needed in order to augment the survival rate of specimens reintroduced into the wild. Furthermore, the microflora profile of the normal flora of healthy red squirrels raised in captivity could support clinicians in addressing infectious diseases episodes and also raise awareness on the zoonotic risk. Hence, this study aimed at documenting the bacterial species carried by S. vulgaris, disclosing overall similarities and variability patterns of the microbiota identified in individuals from two different living environments. We anticipated that the bacterial community would be less diverse in individuals raised in captivity, owing to their restrictive diet and to unchanging conditions in the enclosure. We also hypothesized that there would be a higher prevalence of zoonotic microorganisms in the captive animals, due to the proximity of humans and of other domestic species. To test this, samples (n = 100) were taken from five body regions of 20 red squirrels, both free-ranging and bred in captivity, processed by classical microbiology techniques, and further identified by biochemical assay (VITEK®2 Compact System). A relatively poor bacterial community, comprising 62 bacterial strains belonging to 18 species and 8 different genera, was identified. Most of these microorganisms were reported for the first time in S. vulgaris. With no discrimination between living environments, the highest prevalence (p < 0.001), was registered in Staphylococcus sciuri (60%; 12/20), followed by Escherichia coli (45%; 9/20) and Bacillus cereus (35%; 7/20). The results suggest unremarkable differences in diversity and richness of the resident aerobic microbiota of S. vulgaris, in relation to the living environment.
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Wauters LA, Mazzamuto MV, Santicchia F, Martinoli A, Preatoni DG, Lurz PWW, Bertolino S, Romeo C. Personality traits, sex and food abundance shape space use in an arboreal mammal. Oecologia 2021; 196:65-76. [PMID: 33796927 PMCID: PMC8139925 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04901-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
Animal space use is affected by spatio-temporal variation in food availability and/or population density and varies among individuals. This inter-individual variation in spacing behaviour can be further influenced by sex, body condition, social dominance, and by the animal's personality. We used capture-mark-recapture and radio-tracking to examine the relationship between space use and personality in Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in three conifer forests in the Italian Alps. We further explored to what extent this was influenced by changes in food abundance and/or population density. Measures of an individual's trappability and trap diversity had high repeatability and were used in a Principal Component Analysis to obtain a single personality score representing a boldness-exploration tendency. Males increased home-range size with low food abundance and low female density, independent of their personality. However, bolder males used larger core-areas that overlapped less with other males than shy ones, suggesting different resource (food, partners) utilization strategies among personality types. For females, space use-personality relationships varied with food abundance, and bolder females used larger home ranges than shy ones at low female density, but the trend was opposite at high female density. Females' intrasexual core-area overlap was negatively related to body mass, with no effect of personality. We conclude that relationships between personality traits and space use in free-ranging squirrels varied with sex, and were further influenced by spatio-temporal fluctuations in food availability. Moreover, different personality types (bold-explorative vs. shy) seemed to adopt different space-use strategies to increase access to food and/or partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas A Wauters
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J.H. Dunant, 3, 21100, Varese, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Maria Vittoria Mazzamuto
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J.H. Dunant, 3, 21100, Varese, Italy.,School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA
| | - Francesca Santicchia
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J.H. Dunant, 3, 21100, Varese, Italy.
| | - Adriano Martinoli
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J.H. Dunant, 3, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Damiano G Preatoni
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J.H. Dunant, 3, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Peter W W Lurz
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK
| | - Sandro Bertolino
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Università degli Studi di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Claudia Romeo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Bamber JA, Shuttleworth CM, Hayward MW. Do Differing Levels of Boldness Influence the Success of Translocation? A Pilot Study on Red Squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris). Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1748. [PMID: 32993075 DOI: 10.3390/ani10101748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary As many species go extinct across the world, conservation initiatives seek to protect and boost wildlife populations, including through translocation programmes that involve the movement or release of captive or wild-caught individuals back into areas they have historically occupied. Captive-bred animals to be released into the wild can undergo behavioural testing to determine if the individuals have skills that would aid survival and increase the establishment of new populations. This research illustrates different levels of boldness in red squirrels and suggests selecting animals for release based on their boldness or timidity. Despite working with a low sample size in this pilot study, we observed trends suggesting that selecting individuals based upon a bold/timid scale of personality may improve future releases of red squirrels. By releasing timid animals first, the establishment of a population may be more successful, and this can be followed by releasing bold animals in later releases to enable faster distribution expansion of the population. This could result in improved success rates of restoration programmes, thus, lowering costs, improving the plight of biodiversity, and reducing early deaths of the released wildlife. Thus, we highlight a need for future research and collaboration within the translocation sector to assess personality. Abstract Conservation translocations, including reintroductions, are practices that are vital to restoring biodiversity and ecosystem function within conservation schemes globally. Sadly, population translocations have had a poor success rate historically. At a time where biodiversity is constantly decreasing, improving translocation success is vital for future conservation schemes. Often, to improve success, the selection of individuals is based on genetic characteristics and behaviours linked directly to survival. Further development to improve selection is proposed within this paper using animal personality. The study took place opportunistically to test how personality, in particular an animal’s boldness/timidness, may influence a population restoration of red squirrels into the Ogwen Valley, North Wales. Despite frequent translocations, data on how boldness and timidness may affect the establishment of this species are low. Testing was performed on key survival behaviours and boldness/timidness pre-release. This was performed via video data collection and identification of key behaviours that could be used to identify boldness or behaviours that could be linked to reduced fitness once released. Encounters at different distance intervals were monitored post-release via camera trapping to identify if boldness/timidness may change the furthest encounter distance of focal animals away from their release site. Relationships between the period for an individual to reappear post-threat was significantly linked to boldness, with other behavioural results and the encounter distance also showing trends of a potential relationship. Our results indicate that bolder individuals have a higher chance of expressing behavioural traits that will increase exposure to risks and, therefore, reduce the likelihood of successfully establishing populations. However, the small sample size of this study means that further research is needed. We suggest that during early stages of conservation translocation programmes, personality testing for boldness should become common practice, and we recommend selecting timid individuals for an initial release to improve population establishment, with bolder individuals utilised later to expand population distribution.
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Côrte-Real JV, Lopes AM, Rebelo H, Paulo Lopes J, Amorim F, Pita R, Correia J, Melo P, Beja P, José Esteves P, Abrantes J. Adenovirus emergence in a red squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris) in Iberian Peninsula. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 67:2300-2306. [PMID: 32418319 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Adenoviruses (AdV) are pathogens capable of infecting animals and humans leading to a wide spectrum of diseases. They have a widespread geographical dissemination and infect several species, including red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). In the Iberian Peninsula, there are no reports of infection of red squirrels by AdV. In this study, we report for the first time the detection of squirrel AdV in a red squirrel trapped in central Portugal. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the sequences obtained for the hexon and the penton base genes were similar to the Korean squirrel AdV strain and strongly divergent from the strains present in red squirrels in Europe. These findings indicate the emergence of a new strain circulating in Europe and raise concerns regarding the conservation of the red squirrel.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Vasco Côrte-Real
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Ana Margarida Lopes
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,UMIB/UP - Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Hugo Rebelo
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Institute of Agronomy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Lopes
- Parques de Sintra - Monte da Lua S.A., Parque de Monserrate, Sintra, Portugal
| | - Francisco Amorim
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Pita
- MED Institute, University of Évora, Mitra Pole, Évora, Portugal.,Unit of Conservation Biology, Institute of Mediterranean Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Évora, Mitra Pole, Évora, Portugal
| | - Jorge Correia
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, CIISA-Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Pedro Beja
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,EDP Biodiversity Chair, CIBIO/InBio, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Pedro José Esteves
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,CITS - Center of Investigation in Health Technologies, CESPU, Gandra, Portugal
| | - Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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11
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Kostrzewa A, Krauze-Gryz D. The choice and handling of supplemental food by red squirrels in an urban park. Behav Processes 2020; 178:104153. [PMID: 32479840 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
One of the main factors that allow the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) to live in cities may be the availability of supplemental food provided by people. In this article, preferences of red squirrels in relation to supplemental food, how it is handled, and whether change seasonally, is investigated. A cafeteria test was performed, in which squirrels could choose one from six kind of nuts. Three types of nuts were used: walnuts, hazelnuts and peanuts, with unshelled and shelled nuts of each offered. In most cases squirrels took an offered nut. If a nut was not taken, it was mostly due to lack of interest, without signs of fear. Regardless of season, whole, unshelled walnuts were selected most frequently - the most high-energy and least perishable from offered food. The least frequently selected overall were peanuts. Caching behaviour changed seasonally - nuts were mostly eaten in spring and hoarded in autumn and it took less time to cache nuts in autumn and winter. It may reflect optimal caching strategy at the time when food is abundant and there is a desire to secure as big a store of food as possible. Results from the study suggest that supplemental food is an important component of squirrels' diet and have an impact on their caching strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Kostrzewa
- Dept. of Forest Zoology and Wildlife Management, Warsaw University of Life Sciences WULS-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, Warsaw, 02-776, Poland.
| | - Dagny Krauze-Gryz
- Dept. of Forest Zoology and Wildlife Management, Warsaw University of Life Sciences WULS-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, Warsaw, 02-776, Poland.
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12
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Santicchia F, Wauters LA, Piscitelli AP, Van Dongen S, Martinoli A, Preatoni D, Romeo C, Ferrari N. Spillover of an alien parasite reduces expression of costly behaviour in native host species. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:1559-1569. [PMID: 32291765 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the effects of invasive alien species (IAS) on native host-parasite relationships is of importance for enhancing ecological theory and IAS management. When IAS and their parasite(s) invade a guild, the effects of interspecific resource competition and/or parasite-mediated competition can alter existing native host-parasite relationships and the dependent biological traits such as native species' behaviour. We used a natural experiment of populations of native red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris that were colonized by the alien grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis, comparing repeated measurements of red squirrel parasite infection and personality with those taken in sites where only the native species occurred. We explored two alternative hypotheses: (a) individual differences in personality traits (activity and/or sociability) of native red squirrel positively affect the probability of macroparasite spillover and thus the likelihood to acquire the alien's parasitic helminth Strongyloides robustus; (b) the combined effects of grey squirrel presence and parasite infection result in a reduction of costly personality traits (activity and/or exploration). Using data from 323 arena tests across three experimental (native species and IAS) and three control sites (only native species), we found negative correlations between native species' activity and infection with S. robustus in the sites invaded by the alien species. Activity was also negatively correlated with infection by its native helminth Trypanoxyuris sciuri but only when grey squirrels were present, while in the red-only sites there was no relationship of T. sciuri infection with any of the personality traits. Moreover, individuals that acquired S. robustus during the study reduced their activity after infection, while this was not the case for animals that remained uninfected. Our results show that parasite-mediated competition is costly, reducing activity in individuals of the native species, and altering the native host-native parasite relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Santicchia
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit "Guido Tosi Research Group", Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Lucas A Wauters
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit "Guido Tosi Research Group", Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Anna Pia Piscitelli
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", Università "La Sapienza" di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Adriano Martinoli
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit "Guido Tosi Research Group", Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Damiano Preatoni
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit "Guido Tosi Research Group", Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Claudia Romeo
- Department of Veterinary Sciences and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ferrari
- Department of Veterinary Sciences and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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13
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Mead D, Fingland K, Cripps R, Portela Miguez R, Smith M, Corton C, Oliver K, Skelton J, Betteridge E, Dolucan J, Dudchenko O, Omer AD, Weisz D, Lieberman Aiden E, Fedrigo O, Mountcastle J, Jarvis E, McCarthy SA, Sims Y, Torrance J, Tracey A, Howe K, Challis R, Durbin R, Blaxter M. The genome sequence of the Eurasian red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris Linnaeus 1758. Wellcome Open Res 2020; 5:18. [PMID: 32587897 PMCID: PMC7309416 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15679.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a genome assembly from an individual male Sciurus vulgaris (the Eurasian red squirrel; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Eutheria; Rodentia; Sciuridae). The genome sequence is 2.88 gigabases in span. The majority of the assembly is scaffolded into 21 chromosomal-level scaffolds, with both X and Y sex chromosomes assembled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Mead
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Kathryn Fingland
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG25 0QF, UK
| | - Rachel Cripps
- The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, Preston, PR5 6BY, UK
| | | | - Michelle Smith
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Craig Corton
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Karen Oliver
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Jason Skelton
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Emma Betteridge
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Jale Dolucan
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | | | | | - David Weisz
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | | | - Olivier Fedrigo
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics of Language, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Mountcastle
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics of Language, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Erich Jarvis
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics of Language, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Shane A. McCarthy
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Ying Sims
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - James Torrance
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Alan Tracey
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Kerstin Howe
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Richard Challis
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Richard Durbin
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Mark Blaxter
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
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14
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Turkia T, Jousimo J, Tiainen J, Helle P, Rintala J, Hokkanen T, Valkama J, Selonen V. Large-scale spatial synchrony in red squirrel populations driven by a bottom-up effect. Oecologia 2020; 192:425-37. [PMID: 31927627 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04589-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Spatial synchrony between populations emerges from endogenous and exogenous processes, such as intra- and interspecific interactions and abiotic factors. Understanding factors contributing to synchronous population dynamics help to better understand what determines abundance of a species. This study focuses on spatial and temporal dynamics in the Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) using snow-track data from Finland from 29 years. We disentangled the effects of bottom-up and top-down forces as well as environmental factors on population dynamics with a spatiotemporally explicit Bayesian hierarchical approach. We found red squirrel abundance to be positively associated with both the abundance of Norway spruce (Picea abies) cones and the predators, the pine marten (Martes martes) and the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), probably due to shared habitat preferences. The results suggest that red squirrel populations are synchronized over remarkably large distances, on a scale of hundreds of kilometres, and that this synchrony is mainly driven by similarly spatially autocorrelated spruce cone crop. Our research demonstrates how a bottom-up effect can drive spatial synchrony in consumer populations on a very large scale of hundreds of kilometres, and also how an explicit spatiotemporal approach can improve model performance for fluctuating populations.
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15
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von Loewenich FD, Seckert C, Dauber E, Kik MJL, de Vries A, Sprong H, Buschmann K, Aardema ML, Brandstetter M. Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis with Bartonella washoensis in a Human European Patient and Its Detection in Red Squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris). J Clin Microbiol 2019; 58:e01404-19. [PMID: 31619523 DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01404-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the genus Bartonella are fastidious Gram-negative facultative intracellular bacteria that are typically transmitted by arthropod vectors. Several Bartonella spp. have been found to cause culture-negative endocarditis in humans. Here, we report the case of a 75-year-old German woman with prosthetic valve endocarditis due to Bartonella washoensis The infecting agent was characterized by sequencing of six housekeeping genes (16S rRNA, ftsZ, gltA, groEL, ribC, and rpoB), applying a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) approach. The 5,097 bp of the concatenated housekeeping gene sequence from the patient were 99.0% identical to a sequence from a B. washoensis strain isolated from a red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris orientis) from China. A total of 39% (24/62) of red squirrel (S. vulgaris) samples from the Netherlands were positive for the B. washoensis gltA gene variant detected in the patient. This suggests that the red squirrel is the reservoir host for human infection in Europe.
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16
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Alcover MM, Ribas A, Guillén MC, Berenguer D, Tomás-Pérez M, Riera C, Fisa R. Wild mammals as potential silent reservoirs of Leishmania infantum in a Mediterranean area. Prev Vet Med 2019; 175:104874. [PMID: 31901603 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.104874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
A molecular survey of wild mammals was performed to assess their potential as reservoirs of L. infantum. A total of 156 specimens of wild mammalian fauna were obtained for analysis from areas in Catalonia with a reported incidence of canine leishmaniasis. They consisted of 124 small mammals: 35 Mus spretus (Muridae); 64 Erinaceus europaeus (Erinaceidae), 25 Sciurus vulgaris (Sciuridae) and 32 carnivores: 11 Vulpes vulpes (Canidae), 1 Felis catus (Felidae), 15 Meles meles, 4 Martes foina and 1 Mustela vison (Mustelidae). The analysis was performed on samples of liver, spleen, skin (ear) and blood extracted from the heart. Leishmania DNA was determined by a qPCR and specific anti-Leishmania antibodies were detected by an in-house (ELISA). Among the 156 specimens studied, 29.48% were positive in at least one of the samples studied and considered infected. In M. spretus, Leishmania DNA was detected in the liver, spleen or skin of 37.1% of 35 specimens, and 2 of the 13 specimens tested serologically were positive (15.38%). In E. europaeus, 34.4% of the 64 specimens were infected. Leishmania DNA was detected in 19/51 spleens and 5/50 skins; 2 of the 37 specimens analysed in both spleen and skin gave positive results in both samples. Serology was positive in 12.8% (6/47) by ELISA; 3 specimens were positive by both ELISA and qPCR. In S. vulgaris, Leishmania DNA was detected in 5 of 25 specimens (20%). Of the 32 carnivore specimens analysed, Leishmania DNA was detected in both samples studied (spleen and liver) of 4 (12.5%) (2 M. foina, 1 M. vison and 1 F. catus), which were not studied serologically. The data obtained indicate that small mammals, above all wild rodents and carnivores, could act as naturally infected hosts of L. infantum in this endemic area. Among the rodents, M. spretus stands out with the highest prevalence of infection. In E. europaeus, the presence of L. infantum DNA in spleen and skin, and antibodies in heart blood, reported here for the first time, indicates this small mammal could be a possible reservoir. Additionally, S. vulgaris, not previously studied as an L. infantum reservoir, showed non-negligible prevalence values, indicating a potential role in leishmaniasis transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Magdalena Alcover
- Parasitology Section, Department of Biology, Healthcare and Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Av. de Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Alexis Ribas
- Parasitology Section, Department of Biology, Healthcare and Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Av. de Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - M Carmen Guillén
- Parasitology Section, Department of Biology, Healthcare and Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Av. de Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Diana Berenguer
- Parasitology Section, Department of Biology, Healthcare and Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Av. de Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Míriam Tomás-Pérez
- Parasitology Section, Department of Biology, Healthcare and Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Av. de Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Cristina Riera
- Parasitology Section, Department of Biology, Healthcare and Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Av. de Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Roser Fisa
- Parasitology Section, Department of Biology, Healthcare and Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Av. de Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
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17
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Lipatova I, Razanske I, Jurgelevicius V, Paulauskas A. Bartonella washoensis infection in red squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris) and their ectoparasites in Lithuania. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 68:101391. [PMID: 31760364 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2019.101391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This is the first study to investigate the presence of Bartonella infections in different internal organs of red squirrels and their ectoparasites in Lithuania. A total of 39 roadkill red squirrels were collected. Squirrels were infested with Ixodes ricinus ticks (191) and Ceratophyllus sciurorum fleas (36). The presence of Bartonella spp. was screened using 16 S-23 S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region and bacteria were detected in 38.5 % (15/39) samples of squirrels, 1.0 % (2/191) samples of ticks and 55.5 % (20/36) samples of fleas. The infection rate of different internal organs of squirrels varied from 11.1%-47.4%. The 16 S-23 S rRNA ITS region sequences showed that Bartonella washoensis were detected in squirrels and their ectoparasites. The results from this study support the hypothesis that S. vulgaris and their fleas, C.sciurorum, serve as a major reservoir and a vector, respectively, of zoonotic B. washoensis in Lithuania.
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18
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Hardouin EA, Baltazar‐Soares M, Schilling A, Butler H, García‐Rodríguez O, Crowley E, Liang W, Meredith A, Lurz PWW, Forster J, Kenward RE, Hodder KH. Conservation of genetic uniqueness in remaining populations of red squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris L.) in the South of England. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:6547-6558. [PMID: 31236243 PMCID: PMC6580283 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is an emblematic species for conservation, and its decline in the British Isles exemplifies the impact that alien introductions can have on native ecosystems. Indeed, red squirrels in this region have declined dramatically over the last 60 years due to the spread of squirrelpox virus following the introduction of the gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Currently, red squirrel populations in Britain are fragmented and need to be closely monitored in order to assess their viability and the effectiveness of conservation efforts. The situation is even more dramatic in the South of England, where S. vulgaris survives only on islands (Brownsea Island, Furzey Island, and the Isle of Wight). Using the D-loop, we investigated the genetic diversity and putative ancestry of the squirrels from Southern England and compared them to a European dataset composed of 1,016 samples from 54 populations. We found that our three populations were more closely related to other squirrels from the British Isles than squirrels from Europe, showed low genetic diversity, and also harbored several private haplotypes. Our study demonstrates how genetically unique the Southern English populations are in comparison with squirrels from the continental European range. We report the presence of four private haplotypes, suggesting that these populations may potentially harbor distinct genetic lineages. Our results emphasize the importance of preserving these isolated red squirrel populations for the conservation of the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie A. Hardouin
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and TechnologyBournemouth UniversityDorsetUK
| | - Miguel Baltazar‐Soares
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and TechnologyBournemouth UniversityDorsetUK
| | - Anna‐Katarina Schilling
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, Easter Bush CampusUniversity of EdinburghMidlothianUK
- Moredun Research InstitutePentlands Science ParkPenicuikUK
| | | | - Oxala García‐Rodríguez
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and TechnologyBournemouth UniversityDorsetUK
| | - Eloise Crowley
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and TechnologyBournemouth UniversityDorsetUK
| | - Wei‐Jun Liang
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and TechnologyBournemouth UniversityDorsetUK
| | - Anna Meredith
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, Easter Bush CampusUniversity of EdinburghMidlothianUK
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Parkville CampusThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Peter W. W. Lurz
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, Easter Bush CampusUniversity of EdinburghMidlothianUK
| | - Jane Forster
- WISH Lab, Academic Unit of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
| | | | - Kathy H. Hodder
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and TechnologyBournemouth UniversityDorsetUK
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Wibbelt G, Tausch SH, Dabrowski PW, Kershaw O, Nitsche A, Schrick L. Berlin Squirrelpox Virus, a New Poxvirus in Red Squirrels, Berlin, Germany. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 23:1726-1729. [PMID: 28930029 PMCID: PMC5621524 DOI: 10.3201/eid2310.171008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Near Berlin, Germany, several juvenile red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) were found with moist, crusty skin lesions. Histology, electron microscopy, and cell culture isolation revealed an orthopoxvirus-like infection. Subsequent PCR and genome analysis identified a new poxvirus (Berlin squirrelpox virus) that could not be assigned to any known poxvirus genera.
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Abstract
The mitogenome of the Korean S. vulgaris is a circular molecule of 16,511 bp, consisting of a control region and a conserved set of 37 genes containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes and 2 rRNA genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA). The mitogenome of the Korean S. vulgaris is AT-biased, with a nucleotide composition of 32.0% A, 30.9% T, 12.6% G and 24.5% C. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Korean red squirrel S. vulgaris is well grouped with the European red squirrel S. vulgaris and formed a sister clade to the Old World flying squirrels of the genus Pteromys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Ri Kim
- Ecosystem Research Division, National Park Research Institute, Korea National Park Service, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Young Kim
- Division of Forest Science, College of Forest & Environmental Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Eui Kyeong Kim
- Ecosystem Research Division, National Park Research Institute, Korea National Park Service, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Ju Kim
- International Technology Cooperation Center, Rural Development Administration, Wanju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yung Chul Park
- Division of Forest Science, College of Forest & Environmental Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
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21
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Kapustina S, Brandler O. Species affiliation of the complete mitochondrial genome of Daurian ground squirrel Spermophilus dauricus Brandt, 1843 (Rodentia, Sciuridae). Mitochondrial DNA B Resour 2017; 2:296-297. [PMID: 33473803 PMCID: PMC7799678 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2017.1331324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The complete mitochondrial genome of Daurian ground squirrel (Spermophilus dauricus) (Genbank NCBI KR534854) was tested by comparison with mtDNA markers isolated from Sciurus vulgaris mitochondrial genome and S. dauricus samples with reliable species diagnose. A high similarity between KR534854 and S. vulgaris was found but not with S. dauricus. It seems that the mitochondrion (KR534854) belongs not to S. dauricus but to one of the species of the genus Sciurus. Monophylies of Xerinae and Sciurinae were tested by using mtDNA control region. The monophyly of Xerinae is supported by mtDNA data provided the KR534854 sequence is excluded from an analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Kapustina
- Laboratory of Genome Evolution and Speciation, Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova 26, Moscow, Russia
| | - Oleg Brandler
- Laboratory of Genome Evolution and Speciation, Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova 26, Moscow, Russia
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22
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Choe S, Lee D, Park H, Jeon HK, Lee Y, Na KJ, Lee IY, Eom KS. Catenotaenia dendritica (Cestoda: Catenotaeniidae) and Three Ectoparasite Species in the Red Squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, from Cheongju, Korea. Korean J Parasitol 2016; 54:509-18. [PMID: 27658604 PMCID: PMC5040088 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2016.54.4.509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Revised: 05/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Parasites are recorded from the red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, from Cheongju, the Republic of Korea. A total of 5 road-killed squirrels were thoroughly examined for internal and external parasites from November 2011 to May 2014. Total 4 parasite species, including 1 tapeworm and 3 ectoparasite species were recovered. They were morphologically identified as Catenotaenia dendritica (Cestoda: Catenotaeniidae), Hirstionyssus sciurinus, Leptotrombidium pallidum, and Ceratophyllus (Monopsyllus) indages. Among them, C. dendritica and H. sciurinus are recorded for the first time in the Korean parasite fauna. In addition, the possibility that the red squirrel could act as a reservoir host for a zoonotic disease like tsutsugamushi disease with L. pallidum as its vector has been raised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seongjun Choe
- Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute and Parasite Resource Bank, School of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
| | - Dongmin Lee
- Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute and Parasite Resource Bank, School of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
| | - Hansol Park
- Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute and Parasite Resource Bank, School of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
| | - Hyeong-Kyu Jeon
- Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute and Parasite Resource Bank, School of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
| | - Youngsun Lee
- The Wildlife Center of Chungbuk, Cheongju 28116, Korea
| | - Ki-Jeong Na
- The Wildlife Center of Chungbuk, Cheongju 28116, Korea.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
| | - In-Yong Lee
- Department of Environmental Medical Biology and Institute of Tropical Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Keeseon S Eom
- Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute and Parasite Resource Bank, School of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
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Madsen CL, Vilstrup JT, Fernández R, Marchi N, Håkansson B, Krog M, Asferg T, Baagøe H, Orlando L. Mitochondrial Genetic Diversity of Eurasian Red Squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris) from Denmark. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 106:719-27. [PMID: 26519513 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esv074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 08/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Melanistic Eurasian red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris are commonly found on the Danish island of Funen. They are thought to represent native Danish squirrel types and are presently under threat from admixture with introduced red squirrels. In response, a conservation program was started in 2009 that involves the translocation of melanistic squirrels from Funen to the squirrel-free island of Langeland. Using mitochondrial DNA of 101 historical and modern samples from throughout Denmark, we assess for the first time population structure and mitochondrial genetic diversity of Danish squirrels compared to its larger pan-Eurasian distribution. We find that Danish squirrels have low levels of genetic diversity, especially melanistic individuals. Bayesian skyline reconstructions show that Danish squirrels have most probably experienced a severe bottleneck within the last 200 years. Also, fine-scale genetic structure was found between squirrels from the regions of Funen, Zealand and Jutland, which mimics the insular geography of Denmark. Additional nuclear DNA analyses will be required to determine the precise admixture levels between original Danish and introduced squirrels and to locate unmixed candidate populations for specific conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corrie L Madsen
- From the Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark (Madsen, Vilstrup, Fernández, Marchi, and Orlando); the Eco-Anthropologie et Ethnobiologie, UMR 7206 CNRS, MNHN, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France (Marchi); the Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Masnedøgade 20, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Håkansson); the Naturstyrelsen, Naturstyrelsen på Fyn, Sollerupsvej 22, 5600 Faaborg, Denmark (Krog); Department of BioScience, Aarhus University, Grenåvej 14, 8410 Rønde, Denmark (Asferg); and the Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Baagøe)
| | - Julia T Vilstrup
- From the Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark (Madsen, Vilstrup, Fernández, Marchi, and Orlando); the Eco-Anthropologie et Ethnobiologie, UMR 7206 CNRS, MNHN, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France (Marchi); the Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Masnedøgade 20, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Håkansson); the Naturstyrelsen, Naturstyrelsen på Fyn, Sollerupsvej 22, 5600 Faaborg, Denmark (Krog); Department of BioScience, Aarhus University, Grenåvej 14, 8410 Rønde, Denmark (Asferg); and the Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Baagøe)
| | - Ruth Fernández
- From the Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark (Madsen, Vilstrup, Fernández, Marchi, and Orlando); the Eco-Anthropologie et Ethnobiologie, UMR 7206 CNRS, MNHN, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France (Marchi); the Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Masnedøgade 20, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Håkansson); the Naturstyrelsen, Naturstyrelsen på Fyn, Sollerupsvej 22, 5600 Faaborg, Denmark (Krog); Department of BioScience, Aarhus University, Grenåvej 14, 8410 Rønde, Denmark (Asferg); and the Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Baagøe)
| | - Nina Marchi
- From the Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark (Madsen, Vilstrup, Fernández, Marchi, and Orlando); the Eco-Anthropologie et Ethnobiologie, UMR 7206 CNRS, MNHN, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France (Marchi); the Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Masnedøgade 20, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Håkansson); the Naturstyrelsen, Naturstyrelsen på Fyn, Sollerupsvej 22, 5600 Faaborg, Denmark (Krog); Department of BioScience, Aarhus University, Grenåvej 14, 8410 Rønde, Denmark (Asferg); and the Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Baagøe)
| | - Bo Håkansson
- From the Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark (Madsen, Vilstrup, Fernández, Marchi, and Orlando); the Eco-Anthropologie et Ethnobiologie, UMR 7206 CNRS, MNHN, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France (Marchi); the Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Masnedøgade 20, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Håkansson); the Naturstyrelsen, Naturstyrelsen på Fyn, Sollerupsvej 22, 5600 Faaborg, Denmark (Krog); Department of BioScience, Aarhus University, Grenåvej 14, 8410 Rønde, Denmark (Asferg); and the Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Baagøe)
| | - Mogens Krog
- From the Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark (Madsen, Vilstrup, Fernández, Marchi, and Orlando); the Eco-Anthropologie et Ethnobiologie, UMR 7206 CNRS, MNHN, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France (Marchi); the Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Masnedøgade 20, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Håkansson); the Naturstyrelsen, Naturstyrelsen på Fyn, Sollerupsvej 22, 5600 Faaborg, Denmark (Krog); Department of BioScience, Aarhus University, Grenåvej 14, 8410 Rønde, Denmark (Asferg); and the Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Baagøe)
| | - Tommy Asferg
- From the Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark (Madsen, Vilstrup, Fernández, Marchi, and Orlando); the Eco-Anthropologie et Ethnobiologie, UMR 7206 CNRS, MNHN, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France (Marchi); the Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Masnedøgade 20, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Håkansson); the Naturstyrelsen, Naturstyrelsen på Fyn, Sollerupsvej 22, 5600 Faaborg, Denmark (Krog); Department of BioScience, Aarhus University, Grenåvej 14, 8410 Rønde, Denmark (Asferg); and the Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Baagøe)
| | - Hans Baagøe
- From the Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark (Madsen, Vilstrup, Fernández, Marchi, and Orlando); the Eco-Anthropologie et Ethnobiologie, UMR 7206 CNRS, MNHN, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France (Marchi); the Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Masnedøgade 20, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Håkansson); the Naturstyrelsen, Naturstyrelsen på Fyn, Sollerupsvej 22, 5600 Faaborg, Denmark (Krog); Department of BioScience, Aarhus University, Grenåvej 14, 8410 Rønde, Denmark (Asferg); and the Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Baagøe)
| | - Ludovic Orlando
- From the Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark (Madsen, Vilstrup, Fernández, Marchi, and Orlando); the Eco-Anthropologie et Ethnobiologie, UMR 7206 CNRS, MNHN, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France (Marchi); the Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Masnedøgade 20, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Håkansson); the Naturstyrelsen, Naturstyrelsen på Fyn, Sollerupsvej 22, 5600 Faaborg, Denmark (Krog); Department of BioScience, Aarhus University, Grenåvej 14, 8410 Rønde, Denmark (Asferg); and the Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Baagøe).
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McRobie HR, King LM, Fanutti C, Coussons PJ, Moncrief ND, Thomas APM. Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene sequence variation and melanism in the gray (Sciurus carolinensis), fox (Sciurus niger), and red ( Sciurus vulgaris) squirrel. J Hered 2014; 105:423-8. [PMID: 24534267 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esu006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sequence variations in the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene are associated with melanism in many different species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. The gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), found in the British Isles, was introduced from North America in the late 19th century. Melanism in the British gray squirrel is associated with a 24-bp deletion in the MC1R. To investigate the origin of this mutation, we sequenced the MC1R of 95 individuals including 44 melanic gray squirrels from both the British Isles and North America. Melanic gray squirrels of both populations had the same 24-bp deletion associated with melanism. Given the significant deletion associated with melanism in the gray squirrel, we sequenced the MC1R of both wild-type and melanic fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) (9 individuals) and red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) (39 individuals). Unlike the gray squirrel, no association between sequence variation in the MC1R and melanism was found in these 2 species. We conclude that the melanic gray squirrel found in the British Isles originated from one or more introductions of melanic gray squirrels from North America. We also conclude that variations in the MC1R are not associated with melanism in the fox and red squirrels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen R McRobie
- the Department of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
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