We present the molecular identification of Apodemus agrarius (striped field mouse) as reservoir host of the Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV) lineage DOBV-Aa in 3 federal states of Germany. Phylogenetic analyses provided evidence for multiple spillover of DOBV-Aa to A. flavicollis, a crucial prerequisite for host switch and genetic reassortment.

Hantavirus infections are known in Germany since the 1980s. While the overall antibody prevalence against hantaviruses in the general human population was estimated to be about 1-2%, an average of 100-200 clinical cases are recorded annually. In the years 2005 and 2007 in particular, a large increase of the number of human hantavirus infections in Germany was observed. The most affected regions were located in the federal states of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine Westphalia, and Lower Saxony. In contrast to the well-documented situation in humans, the knowledge of the geographical distribution and frequency of hantavirus infections in their rodent reservoirs as well as any changes thereof was very limited. Hence, the network "Rodent-borne pathogens" was established in Germany allowing synergistic investigations of the rodent population dynamics, the prevalence and evolution of hantaviruses and other rodent-associated pathogens as well as their underlying mechanisms in order to understand their impact on the frequency of human infections. A monitoring of hantaviruses in rodents from endemic regions (Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine Westphalia, Lower Saxony) and regions with a low number of human cases (Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt) was initiated. Within outbreak regions, a high prevalence of Puumala virus (PUUV) was detected in bank voles. Initial longitudinal studies in North Rhine Westphalia (city of Cologne), Bavaria (Lower Bavaria), and Lower Saxony (rural region close to Osnabrück) demonstrated a continuing presence of PUUV in the bank vole populations. These longitudinal studies will allow conclusions about the evolution of hantaviruses and other rodent-borne pathogens and changes in their distribution, which can be used for a risk assessment of human infections. This may become very important in order to evaluate changes in the epidemiology of rodent-borne pathogens in the light of expected global climate changes in the future.

This study investigated habitat availability and its selection and preference by adult, resident raccoon dogs inhabiting the countryside in north-eastern Germany. Habitat composition within home ranges and within the whole study area was almost equal. Although percentage share of farmland and meadow was 16.35% smaller and 12.06% higher within the home ranges, respectively. All nine habitat types (farmland, forest, settlement, water, meadows, maize fields, small woods, reeds and hedges) were used opportunistically by raccoon dogs. No significant, recognisable difference for habitat preferences between seasons was detected. Male and female raccoon dog showed equal habitat preference pattern. A comparison of active and inactive locations in different habitats found no remarkable differences.Habitat composition of individual home ranges was used to classify animals. If the percentage of forest within a home range exceeded 50% the individual was classified as a 'forest type' raccoon dog. If the percentage of forest habitats within a home range was less than 5%, the share of pastureland was mean 81.82%716.92 SD. Consequently the individual was classified as a 'agrarian type' raccoon dog. Neither habitat preference nor habitat selection process differed between the two 'types'. Habitat use and preference is discussed with relation to the ability of the raccoon dog to expand its range towards Western Europe.

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In order to understand dispersal behaviour and its population consequences, we captured 136 raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides pups (i.e. < 1 year old) in northeastern Germany (Mecklenburg‐Western Pomerania). We ear‐tagged all animals and additionally fitted 48 of them with radio‐collars. There were findings of 59 (43.4%) animals and the mean distance from the marking point was 13.5 km ± 20.1 (SD). Dispersal mortality rate was 69.5% among young raccoon dogs. Most animals (55.9%) were recovered < 5 km from the marking place, whereas only 8.5% of the records were > 50 km from the marking point. The distances of the dispersal did not differ between sexes. Most (53.7%) records of ear‐tagged young raccoon dogs were made in August and September, and only 34.1% were recorded during October‐April. Hunting (55%) and traffic (27%) were the major mortality criteria. Most radio‐collared young raccoon dogs dispersed between July and September. The mean natal home‐range size (MCP 100) with and without excursion was 502.6 ha ± 66.4 (SD; N = 9) and 92.1 ha ± 66.4 (N = 17). There were no differences between males and females in the month of dispersal. Raccoon dogs dispersed into all directions with distances varying between 0.5 km and 91.2 km. Radio‐collared, dispersing animals showed a variety of movement patterns and the impression of flexible migration behaviour was confirmed. The fact that males and females showed equal dispersing behaviour is supposed to be one of the factors contributing to the high expansion and the success of the species.