Borna disease virus (BDV) is the causative agent of severe T-cell-mediated meningoencephalitis in horses, sheep, and other animal species in central Europe. Here we report the first unequivocal detection of a BDV reservoir species, the bicolored white-toothed shrew, Crocidura leucodon, in an area in Switzerland with endemic Borna disease.

background: the prevalence and intensity of endo and ectoparasites in shrews inhabiting in the dasht-e razan of hamedan province, iran, were determined in this study. methods: by live traps, 64 shrews belong to species bicoloured white-toothed shrews ( crocidura leucodon ) were trapped during 2010-2012. captured animals were euthanized and their gender recorded. the blood thick and thin smears ...

BACKGROUND The prevalence and intensity of endo and ectoparasites in shrews inhabiting in the Dasht-e Razan of Hamedan Province, Iran, were determined in this study. METHODS By live traps, 64 shrews belong to species bicoloured white-toothed shrews (Crocidura leucodon) were trapped during 2010-2012. Captured animals were euthanized and their gender recorded. The blood thick and thin smears we...

To the Editor: Borna disease (BD) is a fatal neurologic disorder in horses and sheep. The etiologic agent, Borna disease virus (BDV), belongs to the order Mononegavirales, which is composed of many reservoir-bound, highly pathogenic, and zoonotic viruses. To investigate whether small mammals, especially bicolored white-toothed shrews (Crocidura leucodon), which act as BDV reservoirs in Swit-zer...

The bicolored shrew Crocidura leucodon so far has not been reported in Hamburg with certainty. Some plausible historical records before 1920 are present; turn, two more recent doubtful for different reasons. Hence, the Red List status of species to be considered uncertain (either present, or extinct). A citizen scientist provided a specimen an unknown shrew, accidental catch by snap trap, Centr...

Insects use various types of behaviour, chemical defences, mimetic, aposematic or cryptic appearances as anti-predatory strategies. Among insects, carabid beetles of the genus Brachinus are distasteful prey because they discharge an irritating "cloud" of quinones when threatened. These beetles live in aggregations and adopt warning (conspicuous pattern) colours and chemicals to create a templat...

We sequenced 1077 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and 511 bp of the nuclear Apolipoprotein B gene in bicoloured shrew (Crocidura leucodon, Soricidae) populations ranging from France to Georgia. The aims of the study were to identify the main genetic clades within this species and the influence of Pleistocene climatic variations on the respective clades. The mitochondrial analyses reve...