Evidence of infection by viruses in small British field rodents

Kaplan, C.; Healing, T. D.; Evans, N. R. S.; Healing, Lesley; Prior, Anne

doi:10.1017/s0022172400026784

Cited by 72 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(6 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Ectromelia virus, pneumonia virus of mice, Sendai virus, LCMV and Theiler's mouse encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infect three species of wild British rodents (Kaplan et al, 1980), and infection with TMEV, reovirus type 3, ectromelia, LCMV, mouse adenovirus and mouse hepatitis virus are reported from wild meadow voles (Descô teaux and Mihok, 1986). Interestingly, only antibodies to MCMV were detected in the sera of house mice on Thevenard Island, in contrast to eastern Australia where antibodies were detected to a number of common murine viruses, including MCMV (Smith et al, 1993).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Murine Viruses in an Island Population of Introduced House Mice and Endemic Short-Tailed Mice in Western Australia

Moro

Lloyd

Smith

et al. 1999

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

House mice (Mus domesticus) were recently introduced to Thevenard Island, off the northwest coast of Western Australia. This island is also habitat for an endangered native rodent, the short-tailed mouse (Leggadina lakedownensis). Concerns have been raised that house mice may pose a threat to L. lakedownensis both through competition and as a source of infection. To assess the threat to L. lakedownensis posed by viral pathogens from M. domesticus, a serological survey was conducted from 1994 to 1996 of both species for evidence of infection with 14 common murine viruses (mouse hepatitis virus, murine cytomegalovirus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, ectromelia virus, mouse adenovirus strains FL and K87, minute virus of mice, mouse parvovirus, reovirus type 3, Sendai virus, Theiler's mouse encephalomyelitis virus, polyoma virus, pneumonia virus of mice, and encephalomyocarditis virus) and Mycoplasma pulmonis. Despite previous evidence that populations of free-living M. domesticus from various locations on the Australian mainland were infected with up to eight viruses, M. domesticus on Thevenard Island were seropositive only to murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV). Antibodies to MCMV were detected in this species at all times of sampling, although seroprevalence varied. Infectious MCMV could be isolated in culture of salivary gland homogenates from seropositive mice. In contrast, L. lakedownensis on Thevenard Island showed no serological evidence of infection with MCMV, any of the other murine viruses, or M. pulmonis, and no virus could be isolated in culture from salivary gland homogenates. Although MCMV replicated to high titers in experimentally infected inbred BALB/c laboratory mice as expected, it did not replicate in the target organs of experimentally inoculated L. lakedownensis, indicating that the strict host specificity of MCMV may prevent its infection of L. lakedownensis. These results suggest that native mice on Thevenard Island are not at risk of MCMV infection from introduced house mice, and raise interesting questions about the possible selective survival of MCMV in small isolated populations of M. domesticus.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Murine Viruses in an Island Population of Introduced House Mice and Endemic Short-Tailed Mice in Western Australia

Moro

Lloyd

Smith

et al. 1999

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In Two other studies of seroprevalence of viruses in small mammals have followed demographic changes in the host population for at least a year. Kaplan and colleagues [11 ] reported an epizootic of PV'M in wood mice, Apodentus sylvaticus, in the UK, and Descoteaux and Mihok [13] reported an epizootic of TMEV and possibly reo 3 in meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvaticus, in Canada. Again, neither of these studies were able to document more than an association between increased seroprevalence and decreased host survival.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With a few exceptions [e.g. [10][11][12][13] interest in parasites dwindled as the focus switched to other factors, such as social behaviour and resource availability [see [14][15][16] for reviews]. The reason for the lack of studies of parasites in small mammals is puzzling given the paucity of field data for or against the role that parasites may play in regulating population densities, and the development [17] and application [18] of mathematical models and the existence of well designed laboratory studies [19] which indicate that micro-and macro-parasites have a strong potential to regulate populations of small mammals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of viral antibodies and helminths in field populations of house mice (Mus domesticus) in southeastern Australia

et al. 1993

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A 13-month study of wild mice (MVus domesticus) in wheatlands in southeastern Australia contrasted changes in the seroprevalence of antibody to 13 viruses and the occurrence of helminths with changes in their population dynamics. Mice were seropositive for mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), rotavirus, minute virus of mice (MVM), mouse adenovirus (MAdV), reovirus (reo 3), and murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV). The seroprevalences of all but rotavirus varied significantly with time and increased with host density. Near the end of the study, host density declined rapidly and the seroprevalence of MVM and reo 3 increased significantly. These two viruses had low seroprevalence when host survival was high and high seroprevalence when host survival was low, indicating they may play a role in regulating mouse populations. In the case of MVM, there was evidence of a viral epizootic during the decline in mouse abundance. The prevalence of four helminths (Taenia taeniaeformis, Syphacia obvelata, and Vampirolepis spp.) differed significantly with time but showed no apparent association with host density. These findings highlight the need for further study on the effect of viruses on the population dynamics of mice.

show abstract

“…A survey of the carriage of viruses by small wild British rodents performed between 1975 and 1979 (Kaplan et al 1980) made possible a concomitant search for Salmonella.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%