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Although Borneo has received more attention from biologists than most other islands in the Malay Archipelago, many questions regarding the systematic relationships of Bornean mammals remain. Using next-generation sequencing technology, we obtained mitochondrial DNA sequences from the holotype of Suncus ater, the only known specimen of this shrew. Several shrews collected recently in Sarawak are closely aligned, both morphologically and mitochondrially, with the holotype of S. ater. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial sequences indicate that the S. ater holotype and new Sarawak specimens do not belong to the genus Suncus, but instead are most closely related to Palawanosorex muscorum. Until now Palawanosorex has been known only from the neighboring Philippine island of Palawan. Additional sequences from nuclear ultra-conserved elements from the new Sarawak specimens strongly support a sister relationship to P. muscorum. We therefore transfer ater to Palawanosorex. The new specimens demonstrate that P. ater is more widespread in northern Borneo than previously recorded. Continued sampling of Bornean mammal diversity and reexamination of type material are critical in understanding the evolutionary history of the biologically rich Malay Archipelago.

Suncus murinus (Linnaeus, 1766) Asian house shrew—Cencurut rumah Polyplax reclinata (Nitzsch, 1864), Published as part of Kazim, Abdul-Rahman, Houssaini, Jamal, Tappe, Dennis & Heo, Chong-Chin, 2022, An annotated checklist of sucking lice (Phthiraptera: Anoplura) from domestic and wild mammals in Malaysia, with lists of hosts and pathogens, pp. 301-336 in Zootaxa 5214 (3) on page 325, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5214.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7389119, {"references":["Nitzsch, C. L. (1864) Beobachtungen der Arten von Pediculus. Zeitschrift fur die gesammten Naturwissenschaften, Halle, 23, 21 - 32."]}

RATIONALE The fatty acid amide oleoyl glycine (OlGly) and its more stable methylated form oleoyl alanine (OlAla) reduce naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal (MWD)-induced conditioned gaping (nausea) responses in rats. In addition, OlGly has been shown to reduce lithium chloride (LiCl)-induced conditioned gaping in rats and vomiting in Suncus murinus (house musk shrews). OBJECTIVES Here, we compared the potential of these fatty acid amides to maintain their anti-nausea/anti-emetic effect over a delay. The following experiments examined the potential of a wider dose range of OlGly and OlAla to interfere with (1) LiCl-induced conditioned gaping in rats and (2) LiCl-induced vomiting in shrews, when administered 20 or 70 min prior to illness. RESULTS OlAla (1, 5, 20 mg/kg) reduced LiCl-induced conditioned gaping, with OlGly only effective at the high dose (20 mg/kg), with no effect of pretreatment delay time. At the high dose of 20 mg/kg, OlGly increased passive drips during conditioning suggesting a sedative effect. In shrews, both OlGly and OlAla (1, 5 mg/kg) suppressed LiCl-induced vomiting, with no effect of pretreatment delay. OlAla more effectively suppressed vomiting, with OlAla (5 mg/kg) also increasing the latency to the first vomiting reaction. CONCLUSIONS OlAla was more effective than OlGly in reducing both LiCl-induced gaping in rats and LiCl-induced vomiting in shrews. These findings provide further evidence that these fatty acid amides may be useful treatments for nausea and vomiting, with OlAla demonstrating superior efficacy.

Zoonotic parasitic infections is one of the global public health issues. The complex parasite transmission allows for the relationship between people, animals, vectors, and the environment. The existence of rat in the environment has an important role as a host and reservoir for various types of ecto and endoparasites. This study was conducted to collect informative data on the parasitic infection of wild rats in Blimbing sub-district, Malang city, East Java. A total number of eight wild rat were captured using live-traps from landfills during 4 days. They were classified by sex, weight and body length. The rats were anesthetized, collecting for any ectoparasites and then their carcasses were dissected for examinations of endoparasites. The result of this study show succesfull live-trap of rodents including Rattus norvegicus (87.5%) and Suncus murinus (12.5%). 50% of sampled rodents were male, 37.5% were female, and 12.5% of female the musk shrew. The presence of helminthes infection in all wild rats, namely Hymenolopis nana, Syphacia obvelata, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Furthermore, the ectoparasites identification were Xenopsylla cheopis, Echinolaelap echidninus, and blood protozoa identifications Trypanosoma lewisi. Based on the results show 100% of wild rats positive infections of endo-ectoparasites. This study indicates to continuous study among rodents’ parasites in wild rats in different urban areas and analysis of their potential impact on public health.

Monocytes are important cells in innate immunity. The early stage of the innate immunity is regulated by various cytokines produced by monocytes. We conducted a preliminary study to investigate TNFα expression by stimulating THP-1 cells with several bacterial species. The TNFα mRNA levels significantly varied, with the most potent stimulatory effects observed with P. gingivalis. In the present study, we focused on P. gingivalis and compared differences in cytokine expression profiles after the stimulation of THP-1 with E. coli. Bacterial antigen stimulation increased various cytokine gene expressions in THP-1. P. gingivalis had significantly more potent effects on the mRNA expressions of TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-10, but not of IL-12p40, than E. coli. This result suggests the potent ability of P. gingivalis to induce inflammation. THP-1 stimulated with LPS derived from both bacterial species showed that E. coli had significantly more potent effects on the expressions of TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-12p40 than P. gingivalis. The differences in the bacterial antigens and the LPS stimulation effects suggest involvements of different receptors, such as TLR-2 and -4, which recognize bacterial components. The present results suggest that the P. gingivalis somatic cell antigen stimulates a number of pattern recognition receptors at the same time as the synthesis of bacterial components, except LPS. The potent virulence of P. gingivalis and persistence of infection might be affected by differences in cytokine production. Pro-inflammatory responses are dependent not only on the bacterial type, but also bacterial components.

The number of shrew species in Israel has been and still is the subject of debate. In this work we used for the first time a molecular marker, the cytochrome b gene, to investigate the number and identity of shrew species in Israel. Our molecular results confirmed the presence of four species: Crocidura leucodon, Crocidura suaveolens gueldenstaedtii, Crocidura ramona, and Suncus etruscus. The C. ramona sequences were found to differ from all other Crocidura species sequenced to date, supporting its status as a distinct species. Whether it is conspecific with Crocidura portali (described in 1920 from Israel and usually synonymized with C. suaveolens), will require additional study. The sequences of Israeli C. suaveolens were found to be very similar to those of Iran, Turkey, and Georgia (i.e., C. suaveolens gueldenstaedtii), in agreement with previous studies. The Israeli C. leucodon sequences, however, formed a distinct clade among C. leucodon. Finally, the S. etruscus sequences clustered with sequences from France, Italy, and Iran.

Rodent-borne pegiviruses were initially identified in serum samples from desert wood-rats in 2013, and subsequently in serum samples from commensal rats in 2014. However, the prevalence and phylogenetic characteristics of rodent pegiviruses in China are poorly understood. In this study, we screened serum samples collected from wild rats in southern China between 2015 and 2016 for the presence of rat pegivirus (RPgV) by PCR. Among the 314 serum samples from murine rodents (Rattus norvegicus, Rattus tanezumi, and Rattus losea) and house shrews (Suncus murinus), 21.66% (68/314) tested positive for RPgV. Out of these, 23.81% (62/219) of samples from R. norvegicus tested positive, which was significantly higher than that for the other species: 7.69% (1/13), 5.88% (2/34), and 6.25% (3/48) for R. tanezumi, R. losea, and S. murinus, respectively (χ2=18.91, P

When acutely administered intraperitoneally, the non-psychoactive cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD), its acidic precursor cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and a stable methyl ester of CBDA (HU-580) reduce lithium chloride (LiCl)–induced conditioned gaping in male rats (a selective preclinical model of acute nausea) via activation of the serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptor. To utilise these compounds to manage nausea in the clinic, we must determine if their effectiveness is maintained when injected subcutaneously (s.c) and when repeatedly administered. First, we compared the effectiveness of each of these compounds to reduce conditioned gaping following repeated (7-day) and acute (1-day) pretreatments and whether these anti-nausea effects were mediated by the 5-HT1A receptor. Next, we assessed whether the effectiveness of these compounds can be maintained when administered prior to each of 4 conditioning trials (once per week). We also evaluated the ability of repeated CBD (7 days) to reduce LiCl-induced vomiting in Suncus murinus. Finally, we examined whether acute CBD was equally effective in male and female rats. Both acute and repeated (7 day) s.c. administrations of CBD (5 mg/kg), CBDA (1 μg/kg) and HU-580 (1 μg/kg) similarly reduced LiCl-induced conditioned gaping, and these effects were blocked by 5HT1A receptor antagonism. When administered over 4 weekly conditioning trials, the anti-nausea effectiveness of each of these compounds was also maintained. Repeated CBD (5 mg/kg, s.c.) maintained its anti-emetic efficacy in S. murinus. Acute CBD (5 and 20 mg/kg, s.c.) administration reduced LiCl-induced conditioned gaping similarly in male and female rats. When administered repeatedly (7 days), CBD, CBDA and HU-580 did not lose efficacy in reducing nausea and continued to act via agonism of the 5-HT1A receptor. When administered across 4 weekly conditioning trials, they maintained their effectiveness in reducing LiCl-induced nausea. Repeated CBD also reduced vomiting in shrews. Finally, CBD’s anti-nausea effects were similar in male and female rats. This suggests that these cannabinoids may be useful anti-nausea and anti-emetic treatments for chronic conditions, without the development of tolerance.

Gastric contractions show two specific patterns in many species, migrating motor contractions (MMC) and postprandial contractions (PPCs), that occur in the fasted and fed states, respectively. In this study, we examined the role of somatostatin (SST) in gastric motility both in vivo and in vitro using the Asian house shrew (Suncus murinus). We performed in vivo recordings of gastric motility and in vitro organ bath experiments using S. murinus, which was recently established as a small laboratory animal for use in tests of gastrointestinal motility. SST (1.65 µg kg-1 min-1) was intravenously administered during phase II of MMC and PPCs. Next, the effect of SST on motilin-induced gastric contractions at phase I of MMC was measured. Cyclosomatostatin (CSST), an SST receptor antagonist, was administered at the peak of phase III of MMC. In addition, the effect of SST (10-11-10-9 M) on motilin-induced gastric contractions was evaluated using an organ bath experiment in vitro. In conscious, free-moving S. murinus, the administration of SST decreased the occurrence of the spontaneous phase II of MMC and PPCs. Pretreatment with SST and octreotide suppressed the induction of motilin-induced gastric contractions both in vivo and in vitro. Administration of CSST before the peak of spontaneous phase III contractions had no effect on gastric contractions. Endogenous SST is not involved in the regulation of gastric MMC and PPCs, but exogenous SST suppresses spontaneous gastric contractions. Thus, SST would be good for treating abnormal gastrointestinal motility disorders.

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the fundamental mechanisms of colonic motility in the house musk suncus (Suncus murinus) as an established animal model of gut motility. Methods To measure gut motility in free-moving conscious suncus, strain gauge force transducers were implanted on the serosa of the colon and gastric body. Key results We recorded diurnal changes in colonic motility and observed the relationship between feeding and colonic motility. Giant migrating contractions (GMCs) of the colon were invariably detected during defecation and tended to increase during the dark period, thereby indicating that colonic motility has a circadian rhythm. Given that GMCs in the suncus were observed immediately after feeding during the dark period, we assume the occurrence of a gastrocolic reflex in suncus, similar to that observed in humans and dogs. We also examined the factors that regulate suncus GMCs. Intravenous administration of 5-HT (100 µg/kg), substance P (10 and 100 µg/kg), calcitonin gene-related peptide (10 µg/kg), and α2 adrenergic receptor antagonist yohimbine (0.5, 1, and 3 mg/kg) induced GMC-like contractions, as did intragastric and intracolonic administration of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 agonist, capsaicin (1 mg/kg). Conclusions & inferences These results indicate that the fundamental mechanisms of colonic motility in suncus are similar to those in humans and dogs, and we thus propose that suncus could serve as a novel small animal model for studying colonic motility.

Sorex capensis É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1811 (Fig. 157) Sorex capensis É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1811: 184. COMMON NAME. — Asian House Shrew. CURRENT NAME. — Suncus murinus Linnaeus, 1766. See Hutterer (2005: 260). COLLECTOR/S. — Charles-Alexandre Lesueur, contra É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (1811: 185) who mentioned both Péron and Lesueur as its collectors. COLLECTION LOCALITY. — Île de France (Mauritius). I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (1827: 326) noted that Sorex capensis, the only individual owned by the Museum, was reported by Péron and Lesueur, as from the Île de France (Mauritius), not Cape Town. COLLECTION DATE. — Between 7 August and 16 December 1803. SPECIMEN NUMBER/S. — No data. Referred to by Girard (1856: 105). COMMENTS. — Status of this taxon is unclear as I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (1827: 326) suggested that the type had originated from Île de France (Mauritius) and that S. capensis É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1811 is a synonym of Sorex indicus É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1811: 183 (synonyme of Suncus murinus (Linnaeus 1766; Hutterer 2005). Cabrera (1925: 143) placed Sorex capensis É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1811 as a synonym of Sorex caeruleus Kerr, 1792, which is currently a synonym of Suncus murinus (Hutterer 2005: 260). This placement is tentative given the Asian distribution of Suncus murinus, but possibly reflects an early introduction to Cape Town as it is known to have been widely introduced to other locations including Madagascar, parts of eastern Africa, Comoros, Île de France (Mauritius) and Réunion Islands (Long 2003: 50-51; Hutterer 2005: 260; Cheke & Hume 2008: 95). Trouessart (1897: 199) and Meester (1961: 561). Hutterer (2005: 260) did not recognise capensis É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1811. ILLUSTRATIONS. — Illustrated by Charles-Alexandre Lesueur – Muséum d’Histoire naturelle du Havre, Inv. no. 80109 (Fig. 157; two living animals) (Baglione & Crémière 2009: 363)., Published as part of Jackson, Stephen M., Jansen, Justin J. F. J., Baglione, Gabrielle & Callou, Cécile, 2021, Mammals collected and illustrated by the Baudin Expedition to Australia and Timor (1800 - 1804): A review of the current taxonomy of specimens in the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle de Paris and the illustrations in the Muséum d'Histoire naturelle du Havre, pp. 387-548 in Zoosystema 43 (21) on page 426, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2021v43a21, http://zenodo.org/record/5142972, {"references":["LINNAEUS C. 1766. - Systema naturae per regna tria naturae. Editio duodecima, reformata. Regnum Animale. Stockholm: Laurentii Salvii. Volume 1. https: // www. biodiversitylibrary. org / page / 42946197","HUTTERER R. 2005. - Order Soricomorpha, in WILSON D. E. & REEDER D. M. (eds) Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. Third Edition: 220 - 311.","GIRARD M. 1856. - F. Peron, naturaliste, voyageur aux Terres Australes; sa vie, appreciation de ses travaux, analyse raisonnee de ses recherches sur les animaux vertebres et invertebres d'apres ses collections depos e es au Museum d'Histoire naturelle. J. - B. Bailliere, Paris. https: // www. biodiversitylibrary. org / page / 46101762","GEOFFROY SAINT- HILAIRE I. 1827. - Musaraigne. Pp. 313 - 329, in Audouin J. V. & Bory De Saint-Vincent J. B. G. M. (eds) Dictionnaire Classique d'Histoire Naturelle. Rey et Gravier, Paris. Volume 11. MO-NSO. https: // www. biodiversitylibrary. org / page / 25395885","CABRERA A. 1925. - Genera Mammalium. Insectivora Galeopithecia. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, 232 p.","KERR R. 1792. - The Animal Kingdom, or zoological system, of the celebrated Sir Charles Linnaeus; Class 1. Mammalia: containing a complete systematic description, arrangement, and nomenclature, of all the known species and varieties of the Mammalia, or animals which give suck to their young; being a translation of that part of the Systema Naturae, as lately published, with great improvements, by Professor Gmelin of Goettingen. Together with numerous additions from more recent zoological writers, and illustrated with copper plates. J. Murray & R. Faulder, London. Volume 1. https: // www. biodiversitylibrary. org / page / 38664031","LONG J. L. 2003. - Introduced Mammals of the World: The History, Distribution and Influence. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, 589 p.","CHEKE A. & HUME J. P. 2008. - Lost Land of the Dodo. An ecological History of Mauritius, Reunion & Rodrigues. Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 480 p.","TROUESSART E. - L. 1897. - Catalogus Mammalium tam Viventium quam Fossilium. Nova Editio (Prima Completa). Tomus I. Fasciculus 1. pp. 1 - 218; Fasciculus 2. Pp. 219 - 452. Fasciculus 3, 45 - 664. [Primates Prosimiae, Chiroptera, Insectivora, Rodentia, Pinnipedia. R. Friedlander & Sohn, Berolini.] https: // www. biodiversitylibrary. org / page / 40404723","MEESTER J. 1961. - A taxonomic revision of southern Africa Crocidura (Mammalia: Insectivora). Annals and Magazine of Natural History 4 (45): 561 - 571.","BAGLIONE G. & CREMIERE C. 2009. - Charles-Alexandre Lesueur. Peintre voyageur, un tresor oublie. Editions de Conti, Paris."]}

Shrews are small animals found in many different habitats. Like other mammals, adult neurogenesis occurs in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle (SVZ) and the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampal formation. We asked whether the number of new generated cells in shrews depends on their brain size. We examined Crocidura russula and Neomys fodiens, weighing 10–22 g, and Crocidura olivieri and Suncus murinus that weigh three times more. We found that the density of proliferated cells in the SVZ was approximately at the same level in all species. These cells migrated from the SVZ through the rostral migratory stream to the olfactory bulb (OB). In this pathway, a low level of neurogenesis occurred in C. olivieri compared to three other species of shrews. In the DG, the rate of adult neurogenesis was regulated differently. Specifically, the lowest density of newly generated neurons was observed in C. russula, which had a substantial number of new neurons in the OB compared with C. olivieri. We suggest that the number of newly generated neurons in an adult shrew’s brain is independent of the brain size, and molecular mechanisms of neurogenesis appeared to be different in two neurogenic structures.

Background and Aim: Determining reference values for hematological and biochemical parameters of Asian house shrew (Suncus murinus) is important for wildlife research to protect human health in surrounding communities. This study aimed to establish the reference values for selected hematology and serum clinical chemistry analyses that may contribute to research on shrew in future. Materials and Methods: Blood samples (n=51) were collected from shrews between July and December 2015, Bangladesh, to estimate the levels of hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), total leukocyte count (TLC), total erythrocyte count (TEC), lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil, calcium, phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), urea, glucose, total protein (TP), creatinine, and alanine transaminase (ALT). Results: Although the values did not differ significantly among sexes, age was found to be a significant factor. Hb, PCV, TEC, glucose, and P were higher in males; eosinophil, Na, Cl, TP, and ALT were higher among females. Adults had significantly greater urea and glucose (p

Motilin, a 22-amino-acid peptide produced in the upper small intestine, induces strong gastric contraction in fasted state. In many rodents, motilin and its cognate receptors exist as pseudogenes, which has delayed motilin research in the past decades. Recently, the house musk shrew (Suncus murinus) was developed as a useful model for studying motilin and gastrointestinal motility. However, due to a lack of motilin-producing cell lines and difficulties in culturing small intestinal cells, the regulatory mechanisms of motilin secretion and its messenger RNA (mRNA) transcription have remained largely unclear. In this study, we generated small intestinal organoids from S. murinus for the first time. Using methods similar to mouse organoid generation, we found crypt-like budding structures 3 days after isolating intestinal tissues. The organoids grew gradually with time. In addition, the generated organoids were able to be passaged and maintained for 6 months or longer. Motilin messenger RNA (mRNA) and immunopositive cells were observed in both S. murinus intestinal organoids and primary tissues. This is the first report of intestinal organoids in S. murinus, and our results suggest that S. murinus intestinal organoids could be useful for analyzing motilin secretion and transcription.

Background The rhythmic contraction and relaxation of smooth muscles in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is governed by pacemaker electrical potentials, also termed slow waves, which are calcium currents generated by interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs). Malfunction of pacemaker rhythms contributes to a number of clinically challenging gastrointestinal motility disorders. Method A microelectrode array (MEA) was used to record slow waves in vitro from intact GI tissues freshly isolated from the ICR mouse and Suncus murinus. The effects of temperature, extracellular calcium and potassium concentrations on pacemaker potentials were quantified using spatiotemporal metrics. Results Pacemaker frequency decreased from the duodenum to the ileum in the mouse, but this phenomenon was less significant in Suncus murinus. In both the mouse and Suncus murinus, the stomach had a much lower pacemaker frequency than the intestine. Propagation velocity and amplitude were highest in the proximal intestine. Temperature significantly increased pacemaker frequency in the intestinal tissues of both species. Removal of Ca2+ from the medium inhibited pacemaker potential and increasing the Ca2+ concentration increased pacemaker frequency in the mouse ileum. Increasing K+ concentration decreased pacemaker frequency in the absence of nifedipine. Conclusions The MEA allows efficient investigation of gut pacemaker frequency and propagation.

Lysozyme is one of the most prominent antimicrobial peptides and has been identified from many mammalian species. However, this enzyme has not been studied in the order Insectivora, which includes the most primitive placental mammals. Here, we done the lysozyme cDNA from Suncus murinus (referred to as suncus, its laboratory name) and compare the predicted amino acid sequence to those from other mammalian species. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed a relatively higher expression of this gene in the spleen and gastrointestinal tract of suncus. The lysozyme-immunopositive (ip) cells were found mainly in the red pulp of the spleen and in the mucosa of the whole small intestine, including the follicle-associated epithelium and subepithelial dome of Peyer's patches. The lysozyme-ip cells in the small intestine were mostly distributed in the intestinal crypt, although lysozyme-expressing cells were found not only in the crypt but also in the villi. On the other hand, only a few lysozyme-ip cells were found in the villi and some granules showing intense fluorescence were located toward the lumen. As reported for other mammals, Ki67-ip cells were localized in the crypt and did not co-localize with the lysozyme-ip cells. Moreover, fasting induced a decrease in the mRNA levels of lysozyme in the intestine of suncus. In conclusion, we firstly identified the lysozyme mRNA sequence, clarified expression profile of lysozyme transcripts in suncus and found a unique distribution of lysozyme-producing cells in the suncus intestine.

The Asian house shrew, Suncus murinus, is an insectivore (Eulipotyphla, Mammalia) and an important laboratory animal for life-science studies. The gastrointestinal tract of Suncus is simple: the length of the entire intestine is very short relative to body size, the large intestine is quite short, and there are no fermentative chambers such as the forestomach or cecum. These features imply that Suncus has a different nutritional physiology from those of humans and mice, but little is known about whether Suncus utilizes microbial fermentation in the large (LI) or small (SI) intestine. In addition, domestication may affect the gastrointestinal microbial diversity of Suncus. Therefore, we compared the gastrointestinal microbial diversity of Suncus between laboratory and wild Suncus and between the SI and LI (i.e., four groups: Lab-LI, Lab-SI, Wild-LI, and Wild-SI) using bacterial 16S rRNA gene library sequencing analyses with a sub-cloning method. We obtained 759 cloned sequences (176, 174, 195, and 214 from the Lab-LI, Lab-SI, Wild-LI, and Wild-SI samples, respectively), which revealed that the gastrointestinal microbiota of Suncus is rich in Firmicutes (mostly lactic acid bacteria), with few Bacteroidetes. We observed different bacterial communities according to intestinal region in laboratory Suncus, but not in wild Suncus. Furthermore, the gastrointestinal microbial diversity estimates were lower in laboratory Suncus than in wild Suncus. These results imply that Suncus uses lactic acid fermentation in the gut, and that the domestication process altered the gastrointestinal bacterial diversity.

Background: This study aimed to determine the presence and species of the rats and shrews that can potentially cause leptospirosis in West Jakarta, Indonesia, and the species of ectoparasites found in them. Methods: The research was a descriptive study employing a cross-sectional approach. The study population was all species of rats and shrews in the region and the sample collection technique used was purposive sampling. The traps were installed in the homes of respondents who had suffered from leptospirosis and their closest neighbors, with a total of 521 traps. Leptospirosis data based on secondary data was obtained from West Jakarta Health Office (2016-August 2019). The technique for catching rats involved using humane live traps, while the identification of the rats and ectoparasites was done in the laboratory. Results: It was found that more rats were caught in Cengkareng Timur sub-district, Cengkareng District, with a percentage of 14.8%, while the least in Duri Kepa, Kapuk, Kedaung Kali Angke and Kedoya Utara with a percentage of 3.7%. The rats were mostly found in East Cengkareng Sub-District, with the most common type being Rattus rattus (74.1 %) and the least Suncus murinus (11.1%); more male rats were caught (66.7%) than female (33.3%). The type of ectoparasite found in the rats was fleas. Xenopsylla cheopis was the most common type, at 83.3% and more fleas were male, at 66.7%. The most common rat species was Rattus rattus. The ectoparasite most commonly found in them was the female flea Xenopsylla cheopis. Conclusions: Rattus rattus and Xenopsylla cheopis were found in an East Cengkareng sub-district. Surveys, monitoring, and control of rats and ectoparasites are essential for the preparedness and development of an early warning system of possible diseases that they can cause.

We describe two new species of white-toothed shrews from south-western and central Ethiopia, based on recent collections and an application of morphological and genetic methods, Crocidura similiturba sp. nov. and Crocidura makeda sp. nov. Comparisons are provided with other Crocidura species known to occur in the country. Both new species are currently known only from the Ethiopian Highlands. Furthermore, we provide new geographical records and discuss biogeographical patterns in the country. New molecular data, even if based primarily on mitochondrial cytochrome b, suggests substantial divergence within afrotropical Suncus megalura, suggesting that the East African lineage might be considered separated at the species level – Suncus sorella (Thomas, 1897), stat. nov. Molecular data support a monophyly of the clade, grouping most Crocidura species endemic to Ethiopia (the East African subclade of the Old World clade), but also indicates additional colonisations of Ethiopian Plateau from East and Central Africa in the past. The remarkable number of endemics shows that Ethiopia is an important centre for the Crocidura radiation, as is the case for other groups of non-flying terrestrial vertebrates.

Background Rattus norvegicus and Suncus murinus are important reservoirs of zoonotic bacterial diseases. An understanding of the composition of gut and oropharynx bacteria in these animals is important for monitoring and preventing such diseases. We therefore examined gut and oropharynx bacterial composition in these animals in China. Results Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the most abundant phyla in faecal and throat swab samples of both animals. However, the composition of the bacterial community differed significantly between sample types and animal species. Firmicutes exhibited the highest relative abundance in throat swab samples of R. norvegicus, followed by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. In throat swab specimens of S. murinus, Proteobacteria was the predominant phylum, followed by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Firmicutes showed the highest relative abundance in faecal specimens of R. norvegicus, followed by Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria had almost equal abundance in faecal specimens of S. murinus, with Bacteroidetes accounting for only 3.07%. The family Streptococcaceae was most common in throat swab samples of R. norvegicus, while Prevotellaceae was most common in its faecal samples. Pseudomonadaceae was the predominant family in throat swab samples of S. murinus, while Enterobacteriaceae was most common in faecal samples. We annotated 33.28% sequences from faecal samples of S. murinus as potential human pathogenic bacteria, approximately 3.06-fold those in R. norvegicus. Potential pathogenic bacteria annotated in throat swab samples of S. murinus were 1.35-fold those in R. norvegicus. Conclusions Bacterial composition of throat swabs and faecal samples from R. norvegicus differed from those of S. murinus. Both species carried various pathogenic bacteria, therefore both should be closely monitored in the future, especially for S. murinus.

Murid and cricetid rodents were previously believed to be the principal reservoir hosts of hantaviruses. Recently, however, multiple newfound hantaviruses have been discovered in shrews, moles, and bats, suggesting a complex evolutionary history. Little is known about the genetic diversity and geographic distribution of the prototype shrew-borne hantavirus, Thottapalayam thottimvirus (TPMV), carried by the Asian house shrew (Suncus murinus), which is widespread in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Comparison of TPMV genomic sequences from two Asian house shrews captured in Myanmar and Pakistan with TPMV strains in GenBank revealed that the Myanmar TPMV strain (H2763) was closely related to the prototype TPMV strain (VRC66412) from India. In the L-segment tree, on the other hand, the Pakistan TPMV strain (PK3629) appeared to be the most divergent, followed by TPMV strains from Nepal, then the Indian-Myanmar strains, and finally TPMV strains from China. The Myanmar strain of TPMV showed sequence similarity of 79.3–96.1% at the nucleotide level, but the deduced amino acid sequences showed a high degree of conservation of more than 94% with TPMV strains from Nepal, India, Pakistan, and China. Cophylogenetic analysis of host cytochrome b and TPMV strains suggested that the Pakistan TPMV strain was mismatched. Phylogenetic trees, based on host cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genes of mitochondrial DNA, and on host recombination activating gene 1 of nuclear DNA, suggested that the Asian house shrew and Asian highland shrew (Suncus montanus) comprised a species complex. Overall, the geographic-specific clustering of TPMV strains in Asian countries suggested local host-specific adaptation. Additional in-depth studies are warranted to ascertain if TPMV originated in Asian house shrews on the Indian subcontinent.

4.4 Suncus etruscus The Israeli S. etruscus sequences appear to be closely related to the European ones and one Iranian sequence. The differences between the Israeli sequences and those of other western clade members are very small and comparable to the distances observed within the C. suaveolens gueldenstaedtii clade. This suggests that the western clade encompasses individuals from France in the west to Iran in the east and Israel in the south. However, this species has been poorly sampled in molecular studies to date. As a case in point, only a few S. etruscus specimens have been sequenced from Iran where members of both the western and eastern clade are present (Darvish et al. 2017; Ohdachi et al. 2016). More data are needed in order to decipher the population structure of this species., Published as part of Shpirer, Erez, Haddas-Sasson, Michal, Spivak-Glater, Maya, Feldstein, Tamar, Meiri, Shai & Huchon, Dorothée, 2021, Molecular relationships of the Israeli shrews (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae) based on cytochrome b sequences, pp. 79-89 in Mammalia (Warsaw, Poland) (Warsaw, Poland) 85 (1) on page 87, DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2019-0143, http://zenodo.org/record/7837749, {"references":["Darvish, J., Mahmoudi, A., Pehpuri, A., and Saeidzadeh, S. (2017). New data on distribution and taxonomy of the genus Suncus (Mammalia: Soricidae) in Iran; molecular evidence. Iran. J. Anim. Biosyst. 13: 229 - 235.","Ohdachi, S. D., Kinoshita, G., Oda, S. - i., Motokawa, M., Jogahara, T., Arai, S., Nguyen, S. T., Suzuki, H., Katakura, K., Bawm, S., et al. (2016). Intraspeci fi c phylogeny of the house shrews, Suncus murinus-S. montanus species complex, based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Mamm. Stud. 41: 229 - 238."]}

Our previous study, demonstrated the obesity-resistant phenomenon in the House musk shrew, Suncus murinus (S. murinus). In order to go further to explore the mechanism of the phenomenon of natural obesity resistance in S. murinus, we focused on the effects of diet on fat accumulation and metabolism. In this study, four-week-old male S. murinus were assigned to 1 of 2 experimental groups (n = 6 per group) and fed either a high-fat diet (HFD) or a normal trout diet (NTD) for 24 weeks. Body weight, food ingestion, visceral fat distribution, blood biochemistry and fecal lipids were monitored and analyzed in the HFD and NTD groups. It was found no differences in the average final body weight or body fat change between the two groups. Although animals fed HFD had similar serum triglyceride concentration to animals fed NTD, they had significantly higher phospholipid and total cholesterol concentrations than the NTD group. Furthermore, fecal lipid levels in the HFD group was significantly higher than those in the NTD group, suggesting that diet composition or energy density of the diet affects blood biochemistry. Although NTD-fed S. murinus had higher food ingestion than HFD-fed S. murinus, caloric intake remained almost the same. We speculated S. murinus may suppress obesity and control fat accumulation by controlling calorie intake. These results suggest that the obesity characteristics of S. murinus are not primarily due to dietary factors but to other mechanisms of regulation. Keywords: High fat diet; Mesenteric fat; Obesity-resistant; Suncus murinus

GLP-1 receptor agonists are used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes but they may reduce appetite and cause nausea and emesis. We investigated if GLP-1 (7–36) amide can modulate glucose homoeostasis, emesis and feeding via an exendin (9–39)-sensitive mechanism in Suncus murinus. The effect of GLP-1 (7–36) amide on glucose homeostasis was examined using an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. In conscious fasted animals, food and water consumption and behavior were measured for 1 h following drug administration. c-Fos expression in the brain was measured using immunohistochemistry. GLP-1 (7–36) amide reduced blood glucose levels dose-dependently. Exendin (9–39) did not modify blood glucose levels but suppressed the glucose-lowering effect of GLP-1 (7–36) amide. GLP-1 (7–36) amide inhibited food and water intake, induced emesis and elevated c-Fos expression in the brainstem and hypothalamic nuclei in the brain. Exendin (9–39) antagonised the inhibition of food and water intake and emesis induced by GLP-1 (7–36) amide and the effects on c-Fos expression in the hypothalamus and brainstem, excepting for the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. These data suggest that the action of GLP-1 (7–36) amide to modulate blood glucose, suppress food and water intake and induce emesis involve GLP-1 receptors in the hypothalamus and brainstem.

Outbreaks of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) with high fatality and disability, are reported every year in the Gorakhpur region of Uttar Pradesh, India, with the etiology of60% of the cases being attributed to scrub typhus. In the present study, the prevalence of Orientia tsutsugamushi, the etiological agent of scrub typhus, was investigated among animal hosts and their ectoparasitic trombiculid mites prevalent in AES-reported areas of Gorakhpur. A total of 154 rodents/shrews were collected using 777 Sherman traps set in 12 study villages, and the overall trap rate was 19.8%. In total, 2726 trombiculid mites belonging to 12 species were collected from 154 rodents/shrews trapped. The shrew mouse Suncus murinus was the predominant animal species (78.6%) collected. The principal vector mite Leptotrombidium deliense was the predominant species (82.7%), and its index was 14.6 per animal. Of 114 rodent/shrew sera samples screened through the Weil-Felix test, 57% were positive for antibodies against O. tsutsugamushi. Of 128 blood samples tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), one rodent sample was positive for the gene encoding 56 kDa protein and 25 for 60 kDa. Among 2726 mite samples tested as 315 pools through nested PCR, seven pools were positive for 56 kDa gene. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed circulation of Gilliam, Karp, and TA678 serotypes of O. tsutsugamushi in Gorakhpur. The study clearly demonstrated natural infection of O. tsutsugamushi in both small-animal hosts and vector mites in the AES-reporting villages of Gorakhpur, which confirms transmission of the scrub typhus pathogen in this region. The high infestation rate of L. deliense with O. tsutsugamushi infection indicates that the people living in the rural villages of Gorakhpur are at risk of infection with scrub typhus, which might lead to AES.

Bocaparvovirus infections of humans and both wild and domestic animals have been widely reported around the world. In this study, we detected and genetically characterized porcine bocavirus (PBoV) carried by murine rodents (Rattus norvegicus, Rattus tanezumi, and Rattus losea) and house shrews (Suncus murinus) in China. Between May 2015 and May 2017, 496 murine rodents and 23 house shrews were captured in four Chinese provinces. Nested polymerase chain reaction was used to investigate the prevalence of PBoV in throat swab, faecal and serum samples. A total of 7.5% (39/519) throat swab samples, 60.5% (309/511) faecal samples, and 22.9% (52/227) serum samples were PBoV-positive. The prevalence among R. norvegicus and R. tanezumi was higher than that among R. losea and house shrews. PBoV-positive samples were found in all four provinces. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial viral capsid protein 1/2 (VP1/VP2) showed that sequences obtained in this study formed a novel group (PBoV G4). In addition, five near full-length PBoV genomes (4,715-4,798 nt) were acquired. These genomes encoded two non-structural proteins, NS1 (1,908 nt in four genomes and 1,923 nt in the remaining genome) and NP1 (600 nt), and the structural proteins, VP1/VP2 (1,851 nt). Phylogenetic analysis showed that PBoV G4 is distinct from rodent, human, and other bocaviruses. In conclusion, PBoV G4 prevalence was high among two common murine rodents in China, and the pathogenecity of PBoV G4 need to be further clarified.

A 2007 survey of small mammals on Mt. Mantalingahan (2,086 m elevation), southern Palawan Island, Philippines, obtained specimens of a distinctive, previously unknown shrew (Soricidae). We describe these specimens as representing a new, monotypic genus and species, Palawanosorex muscorum. The new species was common on Mt. Mantalingahan from 1,550 to 1,950 m (near the peak) but was not detected from 700 to 1,300 m elevation. The previously known native, syntopic shrew, Crocidura palawanensis, has a slender body, slender fore and hind feet, and a long, thin tail with a few long bristles. In contrast, the new species has a stout body, broad fore feet, long claws, and a short tail covered by short, dense fur but no bristles. The dental formula traditionally used would result in assignment of the new species to Suncus, but several distinctive external and cranial features are present, and phylogenetic analyses of thousands of ultraconserved elements suggest P. muscorum is sister to most other Crocidurinae, a clade represented throughout Southeast Asia but numerically dominated by African species. The new species is a distant relative of Suncus murinus (the type species of Suncus) and all other known Southeast Asian species, including the only other shrew known to occur on Palawan (Crocidura batakorum). A time-calibrated phylogenetic analysis estimates divergence between Palawanosorex and its closest known relatives at approximately 10 Ma.

5-HT receptors are implicated in many gastrointestinal disorders. However, the precise role of 5-HT in mediating GI responses in Suncus murnius is still unclear. Therefore in this study, the effects of 5-HT and its agonists were investigated in Suncus. The involvement of 5-HT2C receptors in mediating emesis was also investigated. The ability of 5-HT and its agonists/antagonists at 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 to modify GI motility was investigated in vitro and in vivo. WAY100635 (a 5-HT1A antagonist) inhibited the contraction response to 5-HT in the proximal segments without affecting the maximum response; whilst enhancing the contraction to 5-HT (>30.0 nM) in the distal intestine. The selective 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptor antagonists MDL-100907 and RS-127445 attenuated 5-HT-induced contractions ( 3.0 nM) in the proximal and central but not the distal regions. 8-OH-DPAT-induced relaxation was resistant to the antagonism by 5-HT1A/7 antagonists. DOI in the presence of 5-HT1A/2A/2B/2C antagonists induced greater contraction responses ( > 1.0 µM) in most tissues, whilst RS-127445, or SB-242084, reduced the responses to DOI ( 1.0 µM) in some tissues. SB-242084 also suppressed emesis-induced by motion and intragastric CuSO4. In conclusion, within different regions of intestine, 5-HT2 receptors are differently involved in contraction and emetic responses and that 8-OH-DPAT induces relaxation via non-5-HT1A/7 receptors. Suncus could provide a model to investigate these diverse actions of 5-HT.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of the adeno-associated virus (AAV) in murine rodents and house shrews in 4 provinces of China. Methods: A total of 469 murine rodents and 19 house shrews were captured between May 2015 and May 2017. Cap gene of AAV sequences was obtained to evaluate the genetic characteristics of rat AAV. Results: Rat AAVs were found in 54.7% (267/488) of throat swabs, 14.3% (70/488) of fecal samples, and 18.4% (41/223) of serum samples. Rat AAVs were detected in 3 species of murine rodents including Rattus norvegicus (34.8%), R. tanezumi (43.0%), and R. losea (2.3%), and house shrews (Suncus murinus) (26.1%) from the selected sampling sites. Fourteen near-full-length Cap gene sequences, ranging in length from 2,156 to 2,169 nt, were isolated from the fecal samples of R. norvegicus and R. tanezumi. These 14 sequences shared a high identity of 97.4% at the nucleotide level and 99.1% at the amino acid level. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the rat AAV formed a distinct clade, distinguishable from the AAV discovered in humans and in other animals. Conclusions: A high prevalence of rat AAV that was highly conserved within the Cap gene was found in 3 common murine rodents and house shrews in China.

Gastric contractions exhibit characteristic motor patterns in the fasted state, known as migrating motor contractions (MMC). MMC consist of three periodically repeated phases (phase I, II and III) and are known to be regulated by hormones and the autonomic and enteric nervous systems. However, the central regulation of gastric contractions in the fasted state is not completely understood. Here, we have examined the central effects of motilin, ghrelin, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and L-glutamate signaling on gastric MMC by using suncus (Suncus murinus) as an animal model, because of their similar gastric motor patterns to those observed in humans and dogs. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of motilin and ghrelin had no effect on phase I and II contractions, respectively. Conversely, i.c.v. administration of GABAA receptor antagonist, during phase I of the MMC, evoked phase II-like contractions and significantly increased the motility index (MI). This was compared with the i.c.v. administration of GABA which inhibited spontaneous phase II contractions with a significantly decreased MI. In addition, i.c.v. administration of L-glutamate during phase I also induced phase II-like irregular contractions with a significant increase in the MI. Taken together with previous findings, these results suggest that central GABAergic and glutamatergic signaling, with the coordination of both peripheral motilin and ghrelin, regulate phase II contractions of MMC in the fasted state.

The regenerating islet-derived protein (Reg) 3 family of C-type lectins is primarily produced in the intestinal epithelial cells and exert several different physiological functions including as antimicrobial agents. The Reg3 family includes Reg3α, Reg3β, Reg3γ, and Reg3δ in mice, while only Reg3α and Reg3γ are found in humans. Accumulating evidence suggests that Reg3 proteins play several critical roles in maintaining host-bacterial homeostasis in the mammalian intestine, but little information is available on the mechanism regulating their expression in other organisms. In an effort to gain some insight into the evolutionary features of Reg3 proteins in mammals, we cloned Reg3α from suncus (Suncus murinus), which belongs to the Insectivora, and examined the tissue specific gene expression of Reg3α. Although suncus Reg3α lacks the bacterial binding/killing motifs, the deduced peptide of Reg3α do exhibit the other characteristic features of Reg3 family members, including several disulfide bonds and trypsin-dependent proteolytic processing, suggesting their functionality. Reg3α mRNA was found to be most abundant in the pancreas and highly expressed in the intestine. Reg3α function is not limited to its bactericidal effect; it is also known to attenuate intestinal inflammation. Given that the expression of Reg3α mRNA in DSS-treated suncus was significantly greater than that in the control, we hypothesized that it plays a protective role during inflammation. This study provides a basis for further investigation of the expression and physiological role of Reg proteins in other mammals and broadens our understanding of the divergence and evolutionary conservation of Reg proteins in various mammalian species.

Background 3,3'-diaminobenzidine tetrazolium (DAB)-based methods have been developed to detect the localization of peroxidase (PO) activity. Histochemically, endogenous PO activity has been localized to acini of human and rodent salivary glands. This suggests that the enzyme may be used as a convenient marker of differentiated acinar cells to study factors that influence the development of the rat submandibular gland. We also investigated endogenous PO localization differences between rodent and insectivora ( Suncus murinus) major salivary glands by light and electron microscopy. Moreover, ectopic sublingual gland-like tissue was found in the resin-embedded semi-thin sections of DAB-reacted hamster submandibular gland by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Highlight Reflectance-mode confocal laser scanning microscopy was employed to visualize sites of PO activity in ectopic sublingual gland-like tissue of the hamster submandibular gland. Conclusion The technique proposed here may result in novel applications for DAB-based histochemistry.

Leptospirosis in Sukoharjo was discovered in 2014. Examination with RDT (Rapid Diagnostic Test) leptotek supported by clinical symptoms showed 6 positive cases of Leptospira, and until March 2015 one person was found to be Leptospira positive. The aim of this study was to identify rats as the main reservoir of leptospirosis, calculate the catching rate of rats and to detect the presence of pathogenic Leptospira in rats. This study was a cross-sectional survey, and was conducted in Pabelan village Kartasura Sukoharjo on May 2015. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay was conducted in Bacteriology Laboratory Balai Litbang P2B2 Banjarnegara to detect leptospira in the kidney of the rats. Data were analyzed descriptively. Results of rats and shrew catching obtained Rattus tanezumi, Rattus norvegicus and Suncus murinus. The species most commonly found was balanced between R. tanezumi and S.murinus (46%). The trap success rate inside and outside the house are 1.50% and 5%, respectively. Result of laboratory test showed from 13 rats kidneys, two kidneys were found to be Leptospira positive and was from R.tanezumi and R.norvegicus.

Diverse species of rodents and shrews, which are abundant worldwide, harbor a variety of viruses; some of these are closely related to human viruses and possess zoonotic potential. Previously studies have demonstrated that the mammarenavirus and hantavirus carried by rodents or shrews could cause diseases in human population. To determine the distribution of zoonotic viruses in Shenzhen city, the major city in southern China with a high population density, we analyzed 225 rodents (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus flavipectus) and 196 shrews (Suncus murinus) from urban and rural districts for the presence of mammarenavirus, hantavirus, and hepatitis E virus (HEV) by RT-PCR targeting the conserved regions. The infection rates for mammarenavirus, hantaviruses, and HEV in rodents and shrews were 3.56%, 6.89%, and 1.66%, respectively. Partial genome fragment analysis indicated that mammarenavirus and hantavirus strains had more than 90% and 99% nucleic acid identity with Cardamones virus and Seoul virus, respectively, which cause diseases in humans. Although the present HEV strains identified are typically found worldwide, phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a divergence of 16%. To our knowledge, the present work is the first report of the prevalence of mammarenavirus, hantaviruses, and rat HEV strains in rodents and shrews from Shenzhen city, China. Our findings highlight the zoonotic potential of rodent- and shrew-borne mammarenavirus and hantavirus, and the biodiversity of rat HEV isolates in Shenzhen city. The present work suggests that utilization of good hygiene habits is important to minimize the risk of zoonosis.