• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 1985

330 House-Mice (Rattus norvegicus; 288, Rattus rattus; 42) were captured in surveyed areas (Downtown Seoul, Yeom-gok dong, and Sung-nam city) from May 1st, 1983 to April 30, 1984. Total 6170 of their Mites were collected from the above-indicated House-Mice. The survey on the number of species, the average individual number, preference of host, infection rate, and monthly abundance of Mites reached the following results. Seven species of Mites in Rattus norvegicus, and 5 species of Mites in Rattus rattus were respectively found. Accordingly whole Mites were found in 4 families, 6 genera, 9 species including unrecorded Hirstionysssus apodemi and Roadfordia ensifera. The most common species among Mites were Laelaps nuttalli (70.6). In aspect of the average individualnumber of Mites by host, 19.9% of Rattus norvegicus is more excessive than 10.2% of Rattus rattus. Eulaelaps stabularis, Androlaelaps glasgowi, Hirstionys년 apodemi were shown in preference of host in Rattus norvegicus, while Laelaps jettmari and Rodfordia ensifera in Rattus rattus. Rattus norvegicus was much infected by Laelaps nuttalli, while Rattus rattus by Laelaps echidninus. The seasonal development of it in Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus was at peak in July and in September. And Ornithonyssu bacoti was at peak in June, while Laelaps echidninus and Laelaps nuttalli in July.

• 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.

• 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.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2009

Thrombin-induced platelet microbicidal protein (tPMP) is a small cationic peptide that exerts potent in vitro microbicidal activity against a broad spectrum of human pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus rattus BHT. Earlier evidence has suggested that tPMP targets and disrupts the bacterial membrane. However, it is not yet clear whether membrane disruption itself is sufficient to kill the bacteria or whether subsequent, presumably intracellular, events are also involved in this process. In this study, we investigated the microbicidal activity of rabbit tPMP toward S. rattus BHT cells in the presence or absence of a pretreatment with antibiotics that differ in their mechanisms of action. The streptocidal effects of tPMP on control cells (no antibiotic pretreatment) were rapid and concentration-dependent. Pretreatment of S. rattus BHT cells with either penicillin or amoxicillin (inhibitors of bacterial cell wall synthesis) significantly enhanced the anti-S. rattus BHT effects of tPMP compared with the effects against the respective control cells over most tPMP concentration ranges tested. On the other hand, pretreatment of S. rattus BHT cells with tetracycline or doxycycline (30S ribosomal subunit inhibitors) significantly decreased the streptocidal effects of tPMP over a wide peptide concentration range. Furthermore, pretreatment with rifampin (an inhibitor of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase) essentially blocked the killing of S. rattus BHT by tPMP at most concentrations compared with the respective control cells. These results suggest that tPMP exerts anti-S. rattus BHT activity through mechanisms involving both the cell membrane and intracellular targets.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.815-819
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• 1994

Sixty eight wild rats, Rattus norvegicus, were caught from Seoul city, Kyonggi, Kangwon, Cholla, and Kyongsang-provinces. All sera collected from rats were examined by immunofluorescent test to find antibody against murine typhus. The antibody prevalance to murine typhus was 4.4%(3/68). Sero-positive rate was 12.5%(2/16) in Kyonggi province and 12.5%(1/8) in Cholla province. The sero-positive rate difference between sexes of rats was not recognized. Three Rattus norvegicus having antibody to murine typhus were morphologically classified as subadult with 8.3%(1/12), middle-aged adult with 5.9%(1/17), and old adult with 4.8%(1/21), respectively.

• 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.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.257-261
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• 2014

Toxoplasma 3 main clonal lineages are designated as type I, II, and III; however, atypical and mixed genotypes were also reported. This study was conducted for detection of Toxoplasma gondii genotypes in rats (Rattus rattus) in Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia. PCR test on T. gondii B1 gene was conducted on ELISA IgM positive samples for confirmation of the infection. However, genetic analysis of the SAG2 locus was performed to determine T. gondii genotypes using PCR-RFLP technique. PCR test on T. gondii B1gene showed that 22 (81.5%) out of the 27 ELISA IgM positive samples have T. gondii DNA. Genotypic analysis shows that, of the total 22 PCR positive samples, only 13 (59.1%) were of type II, 7 (31.8%) were of type III, and 2 (9.1%) were of an unknown genotype. It is obvious that the prevalence of both type II and III is high in rats. No reports have been available on T. gondii genotypes among rats in Riyadh region, and only little is known about its seroprevalence in rats. Future studies on T. gondii genotypes in rats using multi-locus markers is needed in Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia for better understanding of T. gondii pathogenesis and treatment in humans and animals.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.35-38
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• 1967

A cursory study of small mammals on and near five military compounds where Korean Hemorrhagic Fever patients had been reported indicated that Mus musculus was more closely associated with man than all other mammals ccmbined. Therefore, there is a greater probability that Mus musculus is associated with the disease than any other species. Rattus rattus was common in villages and farm houses but was not abundant on military compounds. The two shrews, Crocidura lasiura and C. suaνeolens were uncommon, but they were often found in close association with hemorrhagic fever patients. Other small mammals were rare or lived in such places as to come in contact with man rarely.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.235-238
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• 1995

We report helminthic infections in the liver and intestine of Rattus norvegicus captured in Chunchon, Korea from April to October 1994. Out of 43 examined rats, eggs of Capillaria hepatica were found in 11, Hymenolepis diminuta in 14 and Taenia taeniaeformis metacestodes in 28. Those rats can be cources of zoonotic infections in the curveyed area.

• 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.