• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.505-513
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• 1995

Seventy wild rats were caught from Seoul city, Kyonggi, Kangwon, Honam, and yongnam provinces. All of them were in same species, Rattus norvegicus, except two R rattus from Kyonggi province. Seventy sera from wild rats were studied by immunofluorescent antibody assay for evidence of infection by spotted fever group rickettsia. The antidody prevalance was 37.14%(26/70) for spotted fever group rickettsia. The sero-prevalence rates for spotted fever group rickettsia antibody was the hightest in Kyonggi province with 55.56%(10/18), yongnam province with 50.00%(10/20), Kangwon province with 25.00%(2/8), Seoul city with 18.75%(3/16), and Honam province with 12.50%(1/8). The sero-positive rates difference between sexes were higher in female with 46.15%(12/26) than in male with 31.81%(14/44) for spotted fever group rickettsia. Twenty six of 68 Rattus norvegicus with antibody for spotted fever group rickettsia were in subadult with 50.00%(6/12), young adult with 38.89%(7/18), middle-aged adult with 35.29%(6/17), and old adult with 33.33%(7/21). No antibody was detected from R rattus.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.773-782
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• 1996

Sixty wild rate (fifty eight of Rattus norvegicus and two R rattus) were caught from Seoul, Kyonggi, Kangwon, Honam, and Yongnam areas between August and October 1992. From liver homogenates of the wild rats, isoenzyme patterns were analysed by starch gel electrophoresis. Using 9 enzyme systems, eight electrophoretic types were identified among wild rats with genetic diversity per locus between 0.00 and 0.49 (Mean 0.15). R rattus from Kyonggi (Kanghwa) and Kangwon (Cholwon) were distinct from R norvegicus from nine regions with 0.581 in genetic divergence. Therefore genetic divergence was different not only in interspecies(0.581) but also in intraspecies(0.111~0.375). These data suggested that isoenzyme electrophoresis could be used as a potential application in taxonomic studies of wild rats.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.550-560
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• 2013

This study was investigated the morphological characters, secondary sexual dimorphism, and habitat patterns of Korean Rattus animals collected on Jeju Island from April 2005 to October 2012. Two wild rat species, namely R. norvegicus and R. tanezumi were identified on Jeju Island based on morphological characteristics and molecular data; however, R. rattus, which had recorded formerly, was not found in this study. Individuals of R. norvegicus were captured from urban, rural, and natural habitats, while those of R. tanezumi were specially found in animal farms and the surrounding areas. Comparing of morphological characters of two species, R. norvegicus had a shorter tail and ears than R. tanezumi (p<0.05), and the ratios of tail length and ear length to those of head-body length showed significantly differences between two species (p<0.05). The body weights (BW) of urban populations of R. norvegicus were significantly heavier than those of rural populations (p<0.05). No secondary sexual dimorphism was found in R. norvegicus, but females of R. tanezumi showed heavier BW than those of males (p<0.05). These findings suggest that it is necessary to revise the records for the existence of R. tanezumi and to confirm the animal fauna and elucidate the distribution and ecological characteristics from further studies using extensive sampling and detailed investigations on Jeju Island and also on the Korean Peninsula.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.231-242
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• 1992

Samples of two species of genus Ratts(black rat, Rattus rasttus Linnaeus; common rat, Rattus norvegicus Berkenhaut) in Korea were trapped and their 31 morphometric charcters were analyzed statistically in order to determine the range of geographic variation within each species and the interspecific differences. In addition, chromosomal G-bands and C-bands were compared and the fragment patterns of mtDNA resulted from the digestion with restriction enzymes were also analyzed. Samples of black rats from six localities in Korea were similar with one another in their morphometric characters: in head and body length, length of tail vertebrae, conventional karyotype and C-bands, they are comparable to Rattus rattus tanezumi in Japan. Specimens of common rats from seven localities in Korea were similar with one another in their morphometric characters: in conventional karyotype, they are comparable to Rattus norvegicus caraco in eastern Asia. Common rats differ from black rats in their morphometric characteris, chromosomal karyotypes and mtDNA. It is confirmed that correct species name of black rat in Korea is Rattus rattus tanezumi Tempminck: species name of common rat in Korea is Rattus norvegicus caraco Pallas: the common rat is a species, which is distinct from the black rat.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 1982

G- and C-banding pattern analyses of striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius coreae) using 17 specimens from four localities in Korea revealed that centromeric heterochromatin results in the variation of No. 1 chromosome pair (telocentri $c_telocentric), i.e., centromeric heterochromatin sometimes appeared to be recognized as short arm. G- and C-banding patterns of four black rats (R. rattus rufescens) from two localities in Korea showed that No. 1 chromosome polymorphism (telocentri $c_telocentric) is due to pericentric inversion. In addition, G- and C-banding patterns of black rats mentioned above are idiogrammed.ammed.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.377-392
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• 2021

This paper is to illustrate the infestation and related ecological characteristics of chigger mites on the Asian house rat (Rattus tanezumi). A total of 17,221 chigger mites were collected from 2,761 R. tanezumi rats, and then identified as 131 species and 19 genera in 2 families. Leptotrombidium deliense, the most powerful vector of scrub typhus in China, was the first major dominant species on R. tanezumi. All the dominant mite species were of an aggregated distribution among different individuals of R. tanezumi. The species composition and infestations of chiggers on R. tanezumi varied along different geographical regions, habitats and altitudes. The species-abundance distribution of the chigger mite community was successfully fitted and the theoretical curve equation was ${\hat{S}}(R)={37e^{-(0.28R)}}^2$. The total chigger species on R. tanezumi were estimated to be 199 species or 234 species, and this further suggested that R. tanezumi has a great potential to harbor abundant species of chigger mites. The results of the species-plot relationship indicated that the chig-ger mite community on R. tanezumi in Yunnan was an uneven community with very high heterogeneity. Wide geographi-cal regions with large host samples are recommended in the investigations of chigger mites.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.93-100
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• 2018

Some small mammals occur as household pests and harbour a number of parasites that could be of public health importance. This study profiled the helminth and protozoan parasites in trapped small mammals within and around human dwelling places (houses) located across 4 major towns (Auchi, Benin, Ekpoma, and Uromi) and environs in Edo state, Nigeria. Six genera (Apodemus sp., Crocidura sp., Mastomys natalensis, Mus musculus, Rattus sp., and Sorex sp.) were identified from 502 trapped small mammals. Overall, M. musculus (71.9%) and Rattus rattus (20.1%) were the most frequently trapped. In total, on examination of blood, gastrointestinal contents, and brain tissues, 12 helminth taxa (Angiostrongylus sp., Aspicularis sp., Capillaria sp., Gongylonema sp., Heterakis spumosa, Hymenolepis diminuta, Hymenolepis nana, Mastophorus muris, Moniliformis moniliformis, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Strongyloides sp., Trichosomoides sp., and Trichuris sp.), and 6 protozoan parasites (Babesia sp., Trypanosoma lewisi, Plasmodium sp., Eimeria sp., Isospora sp., and Toxoplasma gondii) were isolated. Most prevalent helminths with relatively heavy mean intensity were Strongyloides sp. and Heterakis spumosa, while Plasmodium, Eimeria, and Isospora were the most prevalent protozoan parasites. Generally, intrinsic factors like sex and age had marginal influence on the rate and burden of infection in M. musculus and R. rattus. Although the infection rate and prevalence of zoonotic parasites were low, they were largely recovered in rodents from Ekpoma. This study elucidates the public health implication of the presence of zoonotic parasites in these small mammals.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 1989

The parasitic mites were collected from a total of 2,691 house rats in four areas of Seoul, Seongnam, Incheon and Yangsuri of Korea from January, 1983 to December, 1986, Infestation rates, the species composition of the mites. species diversity, evenness, dominance, similarity of the mites among the areas and monthly abundance were studied as follows: Among twenty-one species of mites identified from two species of house rats in the areas, 12 species belonged to Mesostigmata, 8 species to prostigmata and 1 species to Metastigmata. Out of twenty-one species, ten including Androlaelaps casalis were commonly found only on Rattus norvegicus, however, two including Haemogamsus serdjukovae only on Rattus rattus, and all the trombiculid mites were found in particular on R norvegicus. The highest infestation rates of the mites on the rats ranged from June to August in all the areas throughout the year. The species diversity of the mites was the highest (0.6280) in Yangsuri with the highest evenness value (0.5770) observed in Incheon. The seasonal species diversities in Seoul, Seongnam and Yangsuri were higher in April, October and March respectively than the other time of the year. The highest similarity value was calculated between Yangsuri and Seoul areas, compared with the lowest combination in Seoul and Seongnam areas. The seasonal indices of mites showed that the most abundant number of mites was observed in spring and summer in Seoul and Seongnam, in summer and autumn in Incheon and in the winter season in Yangsuri. The mesostigmatid and metastigmatid mites were collected abundantly in July and September from R. norvegicus and R rattus in Seoul with the highest number of the above mites found from R. norvegicus in June in Seongnam. Particularly in Yangsuri, a large number of the mites were collected all the year round.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.17-28
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• 1988

Five hundrad and eight rats were caught in Shiheung-dong and Mt. Kwan-ak from 1986 to 1987 in this survey. Ectoparasites were got from these rats and classified. The results were as follows: 9,191 mites (16 genera, 30 species), 408 fleas (4 genera, 4 species), and 521 lice (3 genera, 5 species) were observed in this survey. In the residential area, Rattus norvesicus(71.74%) was dominant species and in Mt. Kwan-ak Apodemus agrarius(93.62%). In these areas, the mites belonging to suborder Mesostigmata were dominant (Laelaps nuttli, 52.61%; Ornithonyssus bacoti, 36.05%). In Mt. Kwan-ak, family Frombiculidae belonging to suborder Prostigmata were dominant (Leptotromibidium orientalis, 31.04%; Leptotrombidium palpalis, 30.00%). In this way, it was discovered that the difference between the two regions in dominant species was noticeable. As for the hosts parasitized by mites, L. nuttalli in R. norvegicus (54.85%), L. nuttalli in R. rattus (32.90%), and L. orientalis in A. agrarius (31.27%) were dominant species, respectively. In the mites parasitizing on A. agrarius in each altitude, the species were more varied as the region was lower and the dominant species were more concentrated as it was higher.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2010

The subfamily Murinae is a very controversial group concerning their phylogenetic relationship. Previous studies could not resolve phylogeny among four genera Apodemus, Micromys, Mus and Rattus of the Muridae. In the present study, eight rodent species resident in South Korea were collected and phylogenetically analyzed based on sequence data of five mitochondrial and nuclear DNA regions: 12S rRNA, cytochrome b gene (cyt b), cytochrome oxidase II (COII), control region of mitochondrial DNA, and a thyroglobulin (Tg) of nuclear DNA. According to the phylogeny of the concatenated data, M. musculus separated early in Murinae (ML 100%; BA 1.00 pp) and the genus Rattus grouped with the harvest mouse, M. minutes; these were separated from the genus Apodemus with relatively strong support (ML 74%; BA 0.76 pp). The Siberian chipmunk population was also examined using the five genes to obtain better resolution. The phylogeny for Korean rodents determined using the 12S rRNA, cyt b, COII and control regions discriminated the Siberian chipmunk populations from Korea, Russia, and China.