Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Xin Shi, Dejun Zeng, Guijun Zhao, Chenglu Zhang, Xiaolan Feng, Chengli Zheng, Diyan Li, Ming Zhang, Hang Jie
Summary: This study found that muskrat musk extracted from three-year-old muskrats is a relatively good substitute for white musk. It also suggests that the processes of amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and fatty acid biosynthesis are beneficial to the secretion of muskrat musk.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Haimeng Li, Minhui Shi, Qing Wang, Tian Xia, Sunil Kumar Sahu, Yu Zhang, Jiangang Wang, Tianfeng Li, Yue Ma, Tianlu Liu, Huan Liu, Tianming Lan, Suying Bai
Summary: This article reports the first high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of the muskrat using single-tube long fragment read, BGISEQ, and Hi-C sequencing technologies. The assembly has high completeness and contiguity, making it a valuable resource for improving our understanding of muskrat ecology and musk secretion.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laken S. Ganoe, Justin D. Brown, Matthew J. Lovallo, Michael J. Yabsley, Kayla B. Garrett, Alec T. Thompson, Robert H. Poppenga, Mark G. Ruder, W. David Walter
Summary: The study conducted surveillance for a diversity of pathogens, toxicants, and diseases of muskrats between 1977 and 2019 in Kansas and throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, USA. The results identified trauma, Tyzzer's disease, and cysticercosis as the most common causes of mortality in muskrats, as well as found a contradiction in parasite intensity and abundance between younger and older muskrats compared to historic reports.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fengcheng Song, Yishu Xu, Peng Peng, Hongxu Li, Ranxi Zheng, Haolin Zhang, Yingying Han, Qiang Weng, Zhengrong Yuan
Summary: This study conducted a metagenomic analysis of cecum contents from muskrats in the breeding and non-breeding seasons, revealing differences in gut microbiota structure and function. During the breeding season, the muskrat gut microbiota was enriched in beneficial bacteria and metabolism-related pathways and metabolites. This suggests that the muskrat gut microbiota may adjust seasonally to support reproductive activity and meet the metabolic demands of different seasons.
Article
Cell Biology
Wenqian Xie, Shengheng Mu, Jinkun Zhong, Chaoran Zhang, Haolin Zhang, Xiaodong Wang, Qiang Weng
Summary: In this study, the distribution and expression of lipids in the scent glands of muskrats during different reproductive statuses were investigated using imaging mass spectrometry and quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed significant differences in lipid expression and spatial distribution in the scent glands of muskrats during different reproductive statuses. Additionally, the expression levels of certain lipid molecules and lipid synthesis enzymes were higher during the breeding season. The study suggests that seasonal changes in lipid metabolism may affect the function of muskrat scent glands.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Rolf K. Schuster, Peter Specht, Siegfried Rieger
Summary: The knowledge of parasite fauna in a territory is crucial for successful control measures. Studies have shown that muskrats are suitable intermediate hosts for Echinococcus multilocularis, a tapeworm with zoonotic potential. Research in Brandenburg state of Germany revealed that muskrats are final hosts for seven intestinal trematodes and intermediate hosts for four tapeworms of carnivores. No larval stages of E. multilocularis were found in the examined muskrats. The eradication of muskrats as an alien species is recommended due to their detrimental impact on river and canal banks, as well as their role as intermediate hosts for parasitic infections.
Article
Biology
Tianxiang Zhang, Meishan Zhang, Minghui Shi, Weijiang Jin, Shumiao Zhang, Mengyuan Fan, Yimeng Li, Yuping Meng, Xuelin Tian, Shuqiang Liu, Defu Hu
Summary: This study analyzed the main components of muskrat musk and highlighted the key roles of lipid synthesis and metabolism in musk compound synthesis. The findings also emphasized the importance of musk as a communication pheromone between male muskrats and females during the breeding season.
Article
Ecology
Benjamin R. Matykiewicz, Steve K. Windels, Bryce T. Olson, Reid T. Plumb, Tiffany M. Wolf, Adam A. Ahlers
Summary: Muskrats are semiaquatic herbivores experiencing population declines in North America. This study in Voyageurs National Park translocated and monitored muskrats, finding similar post-translocation survival rates and space-use patterns compared to non-translocated individuals. The study suggests that translocation may be effective for establishing or enhancing local muskrat populations.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Wenjing Lu, Qingjing Gao, Jinlan Wei, Wenqian Xie, Haolin Zhang, Zhengrong Yuan, Yingying Han, Qiang Weng
Summary: Studies on muskrats have shown that the ERS/UPR signaling cascades play important roles in ovarian folliculogenesis and oocyte maturation. Seasonal changes in ERS and ovarian steroidogenesis were observed, with higher levels of hormones and differentially expressed genes during the breeding season compared to the non-breeding season. Activation of UPR signaling and the delicate balance in redox regulation are crucial for seasonal reproduction in muskrats.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joseph S. Cannizzaro, Sandra L. Koch, William H. Graser
Summary: In this study, mammalian hair from a muskrat was discovered in the feces of a Blanding's Turtle. This is the first recorded mammalian food item and the second novel prey item documented in the diet of a Blanding's Turtle at this site. Further diet studies on this turtle are suggested in light of this discovery.
NORTHEASTERN NATURALIST
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
David W. Shanafelt
Summary: Historical data sets are valuable for learning and developing new tools for understanding and predicting species spread and dispersal. By updating and converting the classic Ulbrich map into GIS maps, we are able to illustrate the rate of species spread and show the limitations of the traditional radial assumption using finer-scale data. We believe that our version of the Ulbrich data is a valuable tool for pedagogy and a digital playground for the design and development of new tools for estimating species spread and dispersal.
BIOINVASIONS RECORDS
(2023)
Article
Pathology
Tanja Thiele, Nadja Morf, Felix Grimm, Anja Kipar, Udo Hetzel
Summary: This article presents a complex case in forensic veterinary pathology where a wild muskrat was killed by a domestic dog in a putative bite attack. While privately owned dogs attacking wild animals violate Swiss laws and are generally punished with fines, the post-mortem examination of the muskrat revealed not only bite attack injuries but also infestation with Echinococcus multilocularis. As an intermediate host of the parasite, the muskrat could have further spread the severe helminthic zoonosis if not killed by the dog. Additionally, muskrats are considered pests and invasive species, and preventive programs are established to restrict their spread and endangerment of native wildlife in Switzerland and other European countries. The role of forensic veterinary pathologists in such cases is to objectively determine the cause of death, identify the suspect, detect any underlying diseases, and consider animal welfare issues.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wenqian Xie, Xinyu Zhao, Li Guo, Yingying Han, Zhengrong Yuan, Haolin Zhang, Qiang Weng
Summary: The study investigated the seasonal expressions of key factors related to muskrat scent glands, indicating that the EGFR signaling pathway may coordinate with ERs signaling to regulate the seasonal changes of the scent gland functions.
JOURNAL OF STEROID BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Noor Akbar, Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Mazhar Iqbal, Kuppusamy Sagathevan, Kwang Sik Kim, Fazal Habib, Naveed Ahmed Khan
Summary: The gut bacteria isolated from rats showed antibacterial activities against various pathogenic bacteria, maintaining their efficacy even after heat treatment. Additionally, the conditioned media exhibited minimal cytotoxic effects on human keratinocyte cells. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of a large repertoire of lipopeptides from the conditioned media.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
He Yu, Alexandra Jamieson, Ardern Hulme-Beaman, Chris J. Conroy, Becky Knight, Camilla Speller, Hiba Al-Jarah, Heidi Eager, Alexandra Trinks, Gamini Adikari, Henriette Baron, Beate Boehlendorf-Arslan, Wijerathne Bohingamuwa, Alison Crowther, Thomas Cucchi, Kinie Esser, Jeffrey Fleisher, Louisa Gidney, Elena Gladilina, Pavel Gol'din, Steven M. Goodman, Sheila Hamilton-Dyer, Richard Helm, Chris Hillman, Nabil Kallala, Hanna Kivikero, Zsofia E. Kovacs, Guenther Karl Kunst, Rene Kysely, Anna Linderholm, Boutheina Maraoui-Telmini, Nemanja Markovic, Arturo Morales-Muniz, Mariana Nabais, Terry O'Connor, Tarek Oueslati, Erendira M. Quintana Morales, Kerstin Pasda, Jude Perera, Nimal Perera, Silvia Radbauer, Joan Ramon, Eve Rannamae, Joan Sanmarti Grego, Edward Treasure, Silvia Valenzuela-Lamas, Inge van der Jagt, Wim Van Neer, Jean-Denis Vigne, Thomas Walker, Stephanie Wynne-Jones, Jorn Zeiler, Keith Dobney, Nicole Boivin, Jeremy B. Searle, Ben Krause-Kyora, Johannes Krause, Greger Larson, David Orton
Summary: The distribution of black rats in Europe was influenced by human association. Research shows that black rats were introduced into Europe twice during the Roman and medieval periods, and there was a population turnover in temperate Europe between the 6th and 10th centuries CE.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)