Partitioning space and time by seemingly sympatric rodents, Zapus princeps and Peromyscus maniculatus, were examined as possible mechanisms allowing coexistence. The two populations were studied in Central Utah with an electrically monitored grid. Spatial separation of individuals and the populations minimized confrontations and created local allopatric distribtuions. Temporal partitioning was not used as a mechanism to allow coexistence and was apparently independent of spatial partitioning. The Peromyscus population was composed primarily of males which may have been due to less favorable habitat and/or presence of Zapus. The data show that Peromyscus tend to avoid Zapus, possibly due to deleterious aggressive behavior.

No description available.

Small mammal population dynamics and community structure were studied in three East Central Florida communities. The communities were compared as distinct stages of a sand pine scrub sere. The small mammals live-trapped with greatest frequency in this 3852 trap-night study were all cricetine rodents, Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris (beach mouse), Sigmodon hispidus littoralis (cotton rat), and Peromyscus gossypinus palmarius (cotton mouse). Population numbers, survival, body weights, hind foot lengths, age structure, sex ratios, reproductive cycles, and movements were discussed for each of three species mentioned. These data will serve as a baseline information for ecological monitoring studies associated with NASA Space Shuttle operations. Small mammal community structure was examined with regard to interspecific spatial overlap and body size ratios. Vegetation density was compared within and among the study sites. Within study sites vegetation density appeared to influence mammal microhabitat selection. Among study sites a highly significant correlation was found between small mammal species diversity and vegetation density.

A series of studies was carried out in order to ascertain some of the ecological determinants of the foraging and caching behaviour of heteromyid rodents (kangaroo rats, Dipodomys, and pocket mice, Chaetodipus). The results show that heteromyids are sensitive to cues of predation while they are foraging. They put more effort into foraging under the safety of cover and in the dark of the new moon, when risk of predation from visually hunting predators is low. They also modulate their selectivity in relation to cues of predation risk, requiring a better pay-off(a more valuable food) as risk increases. The kangaroo rats and pocket mice compete for resources, and the pocket mice are at an aggressive disadvantage to the kangaroo rats at primary resource patches. However, the pocket mice compensate at least partially for their loss by engaging in cache pilferage. Finally, a study of the scatter caching decisions made by kangaroo rats demonstrates that they adaptively modulate cache spacing by placing more valuable seeds into caches that are more widely spaGed. This differential spacing leads to decreased probability that pilferers conducting area-localised search after encountering one cache will be able to locate further caches. The results are discussed in relation to current theory and empirical findings. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

No description available.

Torque teno virus (TTV) is a single stranded circular DNA virus and, despite its widespread nature in the human population, its pathogenesis is still unknown. Factors complicating TTV research include its huge genetic diversity, difficulties identifying an uninfected control population, the lack of a small animal model and lack of a good cell culture system for viral propagation. Recently we have identified a TTV homologue (RoTTV) in wild rodents. RoTTV was frequently observed in wood mice and field voles. RoTTV infections were also found in bank voles but not in Mus musculus populations. Analysis of complete genome sequencing shows that several genetic variants are found in wild rodent population with two distinct species containing several diverse genotypes. Furthermore, multiple variants were present in single individuals, consistent with infection patterns seen in humans. RoTTV transcripts in infected wild wood mice have also been detected and fully sequenced. Predicted protein coding regions from these transcripts have been expressed in cell culture and show the different expression patterns. Using cloned genomic DNA it has also been possible to observe the transcription from the virus in vitro and it was shown RoTTV viral titer in the supernatant of culture fluid increased. In addition, RoTTV propagation was observed by using the supernatant of culture fluid. Using cloned genomic DNA and the culture supernatant, an in vivo model system in naïve laboratory wood mice was developed.

published_or_final_version / Medicine / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Estudos de placentação foram desenvolvidos em quatorze fêmeas de mocós em diferentes fases de gestação. As fêmeas foram pré-anestesiadas associando-se cloridrato de quetamina (15mg/kg) e midazolan (1mg/kg). Em seguida anestesiadas com isoflurano em associação com oxigênio com 100% de saturação. Após a anestesia realizou-se a cirurgia para a exposição das estruturas fetais e a coleta de dados. Macroscopicamente, identificou-se uma placenta discoidal, o saco vitelínico e o âmnio de aspecto transparente e avascular. Microscopicamente, o cordão umbilical apresentou duas artérias, uma veia e o ducto alantoideano, além de uma artéria e uma veia vitelínicas. A placenta mostrou uma relação mesometrial com o útero e apresentou-se constituída por lóbulos delimitados por regiões de interlóbulo e, perifericamente, uma região de sincício marginal contendo locais com espongiotrofoblasto e células trofoblásticas gigantes. A subplacenta esteve composta por lóbulos e por trofoblasto de natureza sincicial e celular. O saco vitelínico apresentou uma porção parietal sustentada pela membrana de Reichert´s e uma porção visceral muito vascularizada. Os estudos de placentação em mocós indicaram a presença de um útero bicórneo, uma placenta corioalantoídea discoidal e labiríntica, com barreira placentária hemocorial de subtipo hemomonocorial separando um fluxo sangüíneo materno-fetal do tipo contracorrente. / Placentation studies of fourteen rock cavy females in different gestation phases were conducted. Females were pre-anesthetized associating ketamine chloridrate (15mg/kg) and midazolan (1mg/kg). Soon afterwards, they were anesthetized by isoflurane inhalation in association with oxygen at 100% saturation. After anesthesia, the surgery allowed to exhibit fetal structures and then data collection was performed. Macroscopically, a discoidal placenta, vitelline sack and the amnion of a transparent aspect and avascular, were identified. Microscopically, the umbilical cord presented two arteries, a vein and the allantoid duct, besides an artery and a vitelline vein. The placenta showed a relationship between the mesometrium and the uterus and was constituted by lobes delimited by interlobular areas and, peripherically, by an area of marginal syncytium containing places with spongiotrophoblast and gigantic trophoblastic cells. The subplacenta was composed by lobules and by a trophoblast of syncytium and cellular nature. The vitelline sack showed a parietal portion sustained by the Reichert´s membrane and a well-vascularized visceral portion. The placentation studies in rock cavies indicated the presence of a bicornuate uterus, a chorioallantoid discoidal and labirynthic placenta, with a hemochorial placental barrier of hemomonochorial subtype separating the maternal-fetal countercurrent sanguine flow.

Cryptosporidium spp são protozoários cosmopolita que acometem peixes, répteis, anfíbios, aves e mamíferos. Mais de 20 espécies são reconhecidas dentro deste gênero. Os roedores, grupos de organismos abundantes e ubíquos, têm sido considerados reservatórios de Cryptosporidium para humanos e animais de produção. As seqüências codificadoras da menor unidade ribossômica (18S rRNA) de Cryptosporidium spp caracterizam-se por intercalações entre regiões conservadas e polimórficas ao longo dos seus 1700 pares de bases. O objetivo deste estudo foi desenhar primers específicos para o gene 18S rRNA, potencialmente capazes de amplificar qualquer espécie ou genótipo de Cryptosporidium spp. e avaliar os atributos diagnósticos da nested-PCR baseadas em tais sondas. O desenho dos primers foi realizado de forma a amplificar um segmento de menor dimensão possível para se maximizar a sensibilidade do ensaio molecular e preservando o potencial discriminatório das seqüências amplificadas. A nestedPCR padronizada neste estudo (nPCR-SH) foi comparada com outro ensaio similar que vem sendo largamente utilizado para detecção e identificação de Cryptosporidium spp. no mundo todo (nPCR-XIAO). Também se objetivou caracterizar molecularmente amostras de Cryptosporidum spp. isoladas de roedores sinantrópicos, empregando-se estas sondas e sondas moleculares direcionadas. Foram capturados 45 roedores em áreas públicas da região urbana da cidade de Umuarama, Paraná. As amostras foram submetidas a três provas moleculares, sendo duas direcionadas ao gene18S rRNA (nPCR-SH e nPCR-XIAO) e outra, ao gene codificador da actina. A nPCR-SH foi testada com as amostras de Cryptosporidum parvum, Cryptosporidum andersoni, Cryptosporidum meleagridis, Cryptosporidum hominis, Cryptosporidum canis, Cryptosporidum serpentis e todas foram positivas. Dezesseis amostras de roedores foram positivas para a nPCR-SH, seis pela nPCR-XIAO e cinco pela nPCR dirigida ao gene codificador da actina. O sequenciamento dos fragmentos amplificados possibilitou a identificação de Cryptosporidum muris em três amostras de Rattus rattus, e dois novos genótipos de Cryptosporidium, os genótipos rato II e III. Genótipo rato II foi encontrado em uma amostra de Mus musculus e o genótipo III em doze amostras, sendo cinco Rattus rattus e sete Mus musculus. Os resultados deste estudo demonstraram que os primers desenhados para detecção do Cryptosporidium spp em amostras de fezes foram mais eficientes em amplificar regiões que permitem a distinção entre as espécies do parasito do que aqueles usados na PCR-XIAO. Nas amostras estudadas não foram encontrados genótipos ou espécies de Cryptosporidium que podem ser transmitidos a outras espécies como os zoonóticos, o que sugere que a importância destes animais na transmissão zoonótica de criptosporidiose é pouco relevante. / Cryptosporidium spp are cosmopolitan protozoan that infect fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals. More than 20 species are recognized within this genus. Rodents are groups of abundant and ubiquitous organisms that have been considered reservoirs of Cryptosporidium for infection of humans and livestock. The coding sequences of the smallest unit ribosomal (18S rRNA) of Cryptosporidium spp are characterized by intercalations amongst polymorphic and conserved regions along its 1700 base pairs. The aim of this study was to design primers specific for the 18S rRNA gene, potentially capable of amplifying any species or genotype of Cryptosporidium spp., and evaluate the attributes of the nested-PCR diagnosis based on such probes. The design of primers was performed to amplify a smaller segment as possible to maximize the sensitivity of molecular testing and preserving the discriminatory potential of the sequences amplified. The nested-PCR standardized in this study (nPCR-SH) was compared with another similar assay that has been widely used for detection and identification of Cryptosporidium spp. worldwide (nPCR-XIAO). It also aimed to characterize molecularly Cryptosporidum spp. isolated from synanthropic rodents, using these probes and targeted molecular probes. Forty five rodents were captured in public areas of the urban area of Umuarama, Paraná. The samples were subjected to three molecular tests, two targeted to gene18S rRNA (nPCR-SH and nPCR-XIAO) and another targeted to the gene encoding actin. The nPCR-SH was tested with strains of Cryptosporidum parvum, Cryptosporidum andersoni, Cryptosporidum meleagridis, Cryptosporidum hominis Cryptosporidum canis, Cryptosporidum serpentis and all were positive. Sixteen samples of rodents were positive by nPCR-SH, six by nPCR-XIAO and five by nPCR targeted to the gene encoding actin. The sequencing of the amplified fragments allowed the identification of Cryptosporidum Muris in three samples of Rattus rattus, and two new genotypes of Cryptosporidium rat genotype II and III. It was found rat genotype II in a sample of Mus musculus and genotype III in twelve samples, five from Rattus rattus and seven from Mus Musculus.The results showed that the primers designed for detection of Cryptosporidium spp in fecal samples were more efficient in amplifying regions that allow the distinction amongst the parasite species than those used in the PCR-XIAO. Cryptosporidium species or genotypes transmitted to other species such as zoonotic were not found in the studied samples, which suggest that the importance of these animals in the zoonotic transmission of cryptosporidiosis is very limited.

Cryptosporidium spp são protozoários cosmopolita que acometem peixes, répteis, anfíbios, aves e mamíferos. Mais de 20 espécies são reconhecidas dentro deste gênero. Os roedores, grupos de organismos abundantes e ubíquos, têm sido considerados reservatórios de Cryptosporidium para humanos e animais de produção. As seqüências codificadoras da menor unidade ribossômica (18S rRNA) de Cryptosporidium spp caracterizam-se por intercalações entre regiões conservadas e polimórficas ao longo dos seus 1700 pares de bases. O objetivo deste estudo foi desenhar primers específicos para o gene 18S rRNA, potencialmente capazes de amplificar qualquer espécie ou genótipo de Cryptosporidium spp. e avaliar os atributos diagnósticos da nested-PCR baseadas em tais sondas. O desenho dos primers foi realizado de forma a amplificar um segmento de menor dimensão possível para se maximizar a sensibilidade do ensaio molecular e preservando o potencial discriminatório das seqüências amplificadas. A nestedPCR padronizada neste estudo (nPCR-SH) foi comparada com outro ensaio similar que vem sendo largamente utilizado para detecção e identificação de Cryptosporidium spp. no mundo todo (nPCR-XIAO). Também se objetivou caracterizar molecularmente amostras de Cryptosporidum spp. isoladas de roedores sinantrópicos, empregando-se estas sondas e sondas moleculares direcionadas. Foram capturados 45 roedores em áreas públicas da região urbana da cidade de Umuarama, Paraná. As amostras foram submetidas a três provas moleculares, sendo duas direcionadas ao gene18S rRNA (nPCR-SH e nPCR-XIAO) e outra, ao gene codificador da actina. A nPCR-SH foi testada com as amostras de Cryptosporidum parvum, Cryptosporidum andersoni, Cryptosporidum meleagridis, Cryptosporidum hominis, Cryptosporidum canis, Cryptosporidum serpentis e todas foram positivas. Dezesseis amostras de roedores foram positivas para a nPCR-SH, seis pela nPCR-XIAO e cinco pela nPCR dirigida ao gene codificador da actina. O sequenciamento dos fragmentos amplificados possibilitou a identificação de Cryptosporidum muris em três amostras de Rattus rattus, e dois novos genótipos de Cryptosporidium, os genótipos rato II e III. Genótipo rato II foi encontrado em uma amostra de Mus musculus e o genótipo III em doze amostras, sendo cinco Rattus rattus e sete Mus musculus. Os resultados deste estudo demonstraram que os primers desenhados para detecção do Cryptosporidium spp em amostras de fezes foram mais eficientes em amplificar regiões que permitem a distinção entre as espécies do parasito do que aqueles usados na PCR-XIAO. Nas amostras estudadas não foram encontrados genótipos ou espécies de Cryptosporidium que podem ser transmitidos a outras espécies como os zoonóticos, o que sugere que a importância destes animais na transmissão zoonótica de criptosporidiose é pouco relevante. / Cryptosporidium spp are cosmopolitan protozoan that infect fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals. More than 20 species are recognized within this genus. Rodents are groups of abundant and ubiquitous organisms that have been considered reservoirs of Cryptosporidium for infection of humans and livestock. The coding sequences of the smallest unit ribosomal (18S rRNA) of Cryptosporidium spp are characterized by intercalations amongst polymorphic and conserved regions along its 1700 base pairs. The aim of this study was to design primers specific for the 18S rRNA gene, potentially capable of amplifying any species or genotype of Cryptosporidium spp., and evaluate the attributes of the nested-PCR diagnosis based on such probes. The design of primers was performed to amplify a smaller segment as possible to maximize the sensitivity of molecular testing and preserving the discriminatory potential of the sequences amplified. The nested-PCR standardized in this study (nPCR-SH) was compared with another similar assay that has been widely used for detection and identification of Cryptosporidium spp. worldwide (nPCR-XIAO). It also aimed to characterize molecularly Cryptosporidum spp. isolated from synanthropic rodents, using these probes and targeted molecular probes. Forty five rodents were captured in public areas of the urban area of Umuarama, Paraná. The samples were subjected to three molecular tests, two targeted to gene18S rRNA (nPCR-SH and nPCR-XIAO) and another targeted to the gene encoding actin. The nPCR-SH was tested with strains of Cryptosporidum parvum, Cryptosporidum andersoni, Cryptosporidum meleagridis, Cryptosporidum hominis Cryptosporidum canis, Cryptosporidum serpentis and all were positive. Sixteen samples of rodents were positive by nPCR-SH, six by nPCR-XIAO and five by nPCR targeted to the gene encoding actin. The sequencing of the amplified fragments allowed the identification of Cryptosporidum Muris in three samples of Rattus rattus, and two new genotypes of Cryptosporidium rat genotype II and III. It was found rat genotype II in a sample of Mus musculus and genotype III in twelve samples, five from Rattus rattus and seven from Mus Musculus.The results showed that the primers designed for detection of Cryptosporidium spp in fecal samples were more efficient in amplifying regions that allow the distinction amongst the parasite species than those used in the PCR-XIAO. Cryptosporidium species or genotypes transmitted to other species such as zoonotic were not found in the studied samples, which suggest that the importance of these animals in the zoonotic transmission of cryptosporidiosis is very limited.