Geographical clines in the size of the herb field mouse (Apodemus uralensis).

Patterns of body size variation along geographical gradients have long been searched for and generalized into eco-geographical rules. However, no rodent species has yet been analyzed in relation to the 3 dimensions of latitude, longitude and altitude. We analyzed geographical clines and dimorphism of body and skull size in the herb field mouse (Apodemus uralensis) across the species range, based on field data and on data from the literature.

Impact of Flag Texture on Tick Sampling Efficiency.

Background: There is a strong interest in tick-borne diseases worldwide due to their negative impact on both human and animal health. Epidemiological studies of tick-borne diseases depend on reliable data on tick population dynamics and activity patterns. Such data are essentially based on tick sampling in the field.

Cross-Genera PCR Amplification of DNA from Apicomplexan Parasites.

Background: The discovery of an unexpected genetic sequence raised doubts about the specificity of a primer pair targeting spp. and spp. This study aimed to check the specificity of this primer pair.

Isolation and molecular characterization of a tick-borne encephalitis virus strain from a new tick-borne encephalitis focus with severe cases in Bavaria, Germany.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most important viral infection transmitted by ticks in Central Europe. In Germany, where TBE was classified as a notifiable disease in 2001, a highly variable number of clinically apparent human cases was reported in the last few years, ranging from the lowest number of 238 in 2007 to a maximum of 546 in 2006. The dynamics of the virus and its vector tick remain poorly understood.