• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.71-74
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• 2017

The first case of liver infection caused by Sphingomonas sp. and Bacillus sp. in a wild rodent is reported. A captured wild rodent, Apodemus agrarius (A. agrarius), presented with multiple liver abscess-like nodules (diameter 0.7~2.4 mm) in which Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacilli were detected simultaneously. These were grown in aerobic and anaerobic cultures, respectively, and were identified as Sphingomonas sp. and Bacillus sp., respectively, according to 16S rRNA sequencing.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.233-236
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• 2015

A total 7 outbreaks of trichinellosis have occurred in Korea, mostly as a result of consumption of raw wild boar (Sus scrofa) meat. Since only 1 serological survey on wild boars had yet been performed in Korea, the present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of trichinellosis in wild boars and some species of rodents by artificial digestion and serological examinations in Yanggu-gun, Gangwon-do, the endemic area of trichinellosis. Both the wild boar and rodent muscle samples revealed no Trichinella larvae by direct examination and artificial digestion method. However, serological examinations revealed that 4 wild boar sera samples out of 118 (3.4%) were positive to Trichinella antigen. Although the recovery of Trichinella larvae ended in a failure, it is proved for the first time that the sylvatic cycle of Trichinella has been maintained in wild boars of Gangwon-do, Korea.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1.1-1.4
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• 2020

Tumor incidence in wild mammals is reportedly very low. Wild nutria, a large rodent, is known to carry many infectious diseases, but rarely exhibits neoplastic diseases. We necropsied a male wild nutria and found a large nodular mass in the left inguinal region, adjacent to the penis. Histopathologically, the mass was diagnosed as preputial gland adenoma. Spontaneous preputial gland adenomas are extremely rare in all animals. Moreover, reports of tumors in nutrias have been limited to adenocarcinomas of the lungs and uterus, as well as subcutaneous fibromas. Here, we describe preputial gland adenoma in a wild nutria.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1999

Hantaan virus is widely distributed among rodent populations in Korea. Two antigenically distinct hantaviruses were isolated from Apodemus agrarius in 1976 and Rattus norvegicus in 1980 in Korea. This study was designed to investigate the serological evidence of hantavirus infection among indegenous wild rodents, which were captured in 11 mountains located in Kyunggi, Kangwon, Chungnam, Chunbug and Kyungnam province of South Korea. A total 252 wild rodents of 3 species were trapped from Myungsung Mt., Chumbong Mt., Kali Mt., Hansuk Mt., Chachil peak, Kyebang Mt., Odae Mt., Kyerong Mt., Kaya Mt., Togju Mtand Chiri Mtin 1997. Serologic test for hantavirus infection was performed using hantavirus antigens by indirect immunofluorescent antibody techniqueAmong 122 Apodemus agrarius, 88 Apodemus peninsulae and 42 Eothenomys regulus; 18 A. agrarius (14.8%), 12 A. peninsulae (13.6%) and 4 E. regulus (9.5%) were immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) positive against hantaan virus. IFA titers 3 Eothenomys regulus sera were higher against puumalavirus than hantaan virus. These data imply that above three species of rodent might be natural reservoirs of hantaviruses in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.553-559
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• 2019

The Alataw Pass, near the Ebinur Lake Wetland (northwest of China) and Taldykorgan (east of Kazakhstan), is a natural habitat for wild rodents. To date, little has been done on the surveillance of Bartonella spp. and Wolbachia spp. from fleas in the region. Here we molecularly detected Bartonella spp. and Wolbachia spp. in wild rodent fleas during January and October of 2016 along the Alataw Pass-Kazakhstan border. A total of 1,706 fleas belonging to 10 species were collected from 6 rodent species. Among the 10 flea species, 4 were found to be positive for Wolbachia, and 5 flea species were positive for Bartonella. Molecular analysis indicated that i) B. rochalimae was firstly identified in Xenopsylla gerbilli minax and X. conforms conforms, ii) B. grahamii was firstly identified in X. gerbilli minax, and iii) B. elizabethae was firstly detected in Coptopsylla lamellifer ardua, Paradoxopsyllus repandus, and Nosopsyllus laeviceps laeviceps. Additionally, 3 Wolbachia endosymbionts were firstly found in X. gerbilli minax, X. conforms conforms, P. repandus, and N. laeviceps laeviceps. BLASTn analysis indicated 3 Bartonella species showed genotypic variation. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 3 Wolbachia endosymbionts were clustered into the non-Siphonaptera Wolbachia group. These findings extend our knowledge of the geographical distribution and carriers of B. rochalimae, B. grahamii, B. elizabethae, and Wolbachia spp. In the future, there is a need for China-Kazakhstan cooperation to strengthen the surveillance of flea-borne pathogens in wildlife.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 1997

Multiple species of muridae and arvicolidae rodents serve as the natural reserviors of hantaviruses. Hantaviruses are distributed in rodent populations world-widely even in geographical areas where hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) has not been reported. Serologic diagnosis of infection, using hantaviral antigen, indicates that hantaviruses are widey distributed in wild rodents. This study was designed to intended the hantavirus infection among wild rodents captured in Kyebang mountain, Kangwon-do in Korea. A total of 216 wild rodents in 3 species were trapped in July and September in 1995. Serological evidence for hantaviruses infection were tested against five hantavirus antigens by indirect immunofluorescent antibody technique (IFA). Among 100 Eothenomys regulus, 78 Apodemus peninsulae and 38 Apodemus agrarius; 12 C. regulus, 15 A. peninsulae and 6 A. agrarius were IF antibody positive against hantaviruses. This data suggest that Eothenomys regulus and Apodemus peninsulae would be a natural reservoir of hantaviruses.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.591-594
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• 1999

Leptospirosis has been known as endemic disease in Korea since 1984. Wild rodent, mostly Apodemus agrarius, has been known as an important source of leptospiral infection especially in rainy circumstances in harvest reason of rural area. The infection rates of Leptospira interrogans in field rodents, Apodemus agrarius, was investigated by culture and PCR detection of leptospiral DNA, and compared with previous data. Furthermore, the serogroup and serovar were investigated. Two hundred twenty two Apodemus agrarius were captured during October to December 1996. Spirohaetes were isolated from 22 (9.9%) and leptospiral DNA was detected in an additional six rodents (12.6%). Subsequent cross-agglutinin absorption test, monoclonal antibody reactivity classified 21 cultures among 22 isolates as Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohemorrhagiae serovar lai. The above data did not differ from previous survey in 1984 to 1987. There was no significant change of Leptospira interrogans infection in field rodents in Korea.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.287-293
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• 1998

Hantaan virus are widely distributed in rodents populations in Korea. Two antigenically distinct hantaviruses have been isolated from Apodemus agrarius in 1976 and Rattus norvegicus in 1980 in Korea. This study was designed to find the serological evidence of hantavirus infection among indigenous wild rodents captured in 7 Mountains located in Kangwon province of south Korea. A total 191 wild rodents of 3 species were trapped in Chumbong mountain, Kali mountain, Hansuk mounatin, Chachil peak, Bukam ridge, Kyebang mountain and Odae mountain in 1997. Serologic evidence for hantavirus infection were tested using hantavirus antigens by indirect immunofluorescent antibody technique (IFA). Among 85 Apodemus agrarius, 77 Apodemus peninsulae and 29 Eothenomys regulus; 8 A. agrarius (9.4%), 11 A. peninsulae (14.3%) and 4 E. regulus (13.8%) were immunofluorescent antibody positive against hantaan virus. IF antibody titers against Puumala virus of 3 E. regulus sera were higher than against hantaan virus. This data suggest that several antigenically distinct hantaviruses have been circulated in rodent populations in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.344-350
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• 2019

We investigated the distribution of chigger mites in Seogwipo, Jeju Island to conduct surveillance for the presence of Orientia tsutsugamushi. Using a total of 20 samplers, chigger mite larvas were sampled weekly from September to November in Rice field, Field, Waterway, and Glass field (4 locations), and we found up to 51 larvas of 3 different species of chigger mites. 64 field mice were captured when sampling for chigger mite-infested rodents in rice fields, waterways, fields, reservoirs and hills (5 locations) for 9 months from March, 2018 to November, using 100 Sherman traps with placing 20 traps in each location, and in each location the trap index was 0.08. Only back-striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius) were captured one at a time. They were most frequently captured in April with 15 mice, and then 436 chigger mites were collected from the total of 64 captured wild rodent, showing a chigger index of 6.8. The chigger index was the highest in November at 46.0, followed by 6.8 in July and 4.6 in June. PCR was performed to investigate if there were any O. tsutsugamushi hosts among the 487 chigger mites sampled from the captured rodents and this turned out to be negative.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.301-304
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• 2018

Rodents are important reservoirs of diseases affecting people and livestock, and are major sources of parasite contamination of agricultural products. We surveyed the infection status of intestinal helminths in 2 species of field mice, Apodemus agrarius and A. peninsulae, captured in the agricultural fields of Gangwon-do and Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. Total 83 mice (57 A. agrarius and 26 A. peninsulae) were collected in 2 surveyed areas, and the intestines of each mouse were opened with scissors, and then intestinal contents were examined with microscope. Total 6 species of intestinal helminth were detected in 61 (73.5%) out of 83 mice examined. Four species of nematode, i.e., Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Aspiculuris tetraptera, Heterakis spp. and ascarid, were found in 40 (48.2%), 14 (16.9%), 11 (13.3%) and 13 (15.7%) mice respectively. One species of cestode, Hymenolepis diminuta and 1 unidentified egg were also detected in the intestines of 14 (16.9%) and 1 (1.2%) mice, respectively. Conclusively, this study identified 5 helminth species in the gastrointestinal tracts of wild rodents captured in some areas in central and northern Korea, and N. brasiliensis was the most prevalent (dominant) species rather than zoonotic ones.