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The Persian Jird, Meriones persicus, is distributed from Eastern Anatolia to Afghanistan and western Pakistan. Six subspecies were described based on skull features and coat colours, but the validity of these subspecies is uncertain, and no molecular work has ever been conducted on this species. Iran appears to be a key geographical region in which to revise the systematic and evolutionary history of this species, because five of the six subspecies are present in this country. To evaluate the phylogeographical history and taxonomy of this species in Iran, we used a combination of genetic (cytochrome b gene sequences of 70 specimens) and geometric morphometric (2D landmarks on the ventral side of skull of 258 specimens) analyses. We also used ecological niche modelling to make inferences about the evolutionary history of these lineages. Our molecular data highlight the existence of four genetic lineages, but they only partly correspond to the previously described subspecies. Our molecular and morphometric data confirm the validity of M. p. rossicus and show that it has a wider geographical range than previously thought. M. p. gurganensis and M. p. baptistae are genetically very close. The skull of M. p. gurganensis is morphologically distinguishable from other subspecies. The subspecies M. p. persicus and M. p. baptistae are genetically distinct, but morphologically close. Meriones p. ambrosius is genetically close to M. p. persicus, and additional analyses with more specimens are needed to validate its subspecific status. The genetic structure observed in Iran seems to fit the topography and biogeography of the country and emphasize the role of the Abarkooh, Central and Lut deserts as barriers to gene flow. All intraspecific divergent events within the Persian Jird occurred during the last 1.4 My, suggesting that climatic changes probably trigger diversification within this species. Our genetic and species niche modelling results suggest that potential refugial areas persisted during glacial periods for this species in north-western Zagros Mountains, north-eastern Alborz Mountains and Kohrud Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rodents have important role as reservoirs of different parasites. The aim of this study was to determine helminth parasites of abundant rodents in Meshkin-Shahr, Ardabil Province northwest Iran. Methods: From April 2014 to March 2015; 205 rodents including 118 Meriones persicus, 63 Mus musculus and 24 Cricetulus migratorius were collected, using live traps. All rodents were dissected and their different tissues examined for infectivity with helminth parasites. Results: Overall, 74.2% of rodents were infected with helminth parasites. The rate of infectivity in M. persicus, M. musculus and C. migratorius was 82.2%, 61.9%, 66.7%, respectively. In general, among all 205 rodents, the species and infection rates of helminthes were as follows: Nematoda: Trichuris sp. (46.8%), Capillaria hepatica (18.1%), Syphacia frederici (14.2%), Aspicularis tetraptera (3.4%), Trichuris rhombomidis (2%), Heligmosomom sp. (2%), Streptopharagus kuntzi (0.5%), Spiruridae gen. sp. (0.5%); Cestoda: Hymenolepis nana fraterna (16.6%) Hymenolepis diminuta (7.3%) tetratiridium of Mesocestoides sp. (1%), Paranoplocephala sp. (0.5%), Cysticercus fasciolaris (0.5%), Taenia endothoracicus larva (0.5%), and Acanthocephala: Moniliformis moniliformis (18.5%). Conclusions: Variable species of helminthes circulate in the rodents of the study area. Presence of several zoonotic species highlights the potential risk of infections for public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of cryptic species in the midday jird ( Meriones meridianus) has been suggested in literature, although based on little empirical data to support this hypothesis. In this study, a two-dimensional landmark-based geometric morphometric approach was used to investigate whether patterns in intraspecific variation in skull shape and size exist, using 110 skull specimens from more than 20 different localities along the distribution range of M. meridianus. This is the first study of morphological differences on such a big sample size and geographical range, and it tries to find whether skull shape variation in this species is best described as being clinal or rather reflecting cryptic diversity. The latter seems to be the case, as a dimorphic skull phenotype was found, reflecting a geographic disparity between the Middle East and the Far East specimens both in shape and in size. Distinct cranial differences were found in the overall cranial size and, also at the level of the inflation of the bulla, the elongation of the nasal, the length of the teeth row and the incisive foramen, as well as the distance in between the latter two. It thus seems that M. meridianus from Middle East is morphologically distinct from that of the Far East. Furthermore, our results also demonstrate that clinal variation could explain variation within Middle East populations, whereas a more heterogenous pattern is found for those of the Far East. The hypothesis that the observed phenotypic variation may reflect cryptic species is discussed, with the recommendation for a thorough taxonomical revision of the genus in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In order to verify the infectivity of rodents with endoparasites in Germi (Dashte-Mogan, Ardabil Province) the current study was undertaken. Methods: Using live traps, 177 rodents were trapped during 2005-2007. In field laboratory, all rodents were bled prior to autopsy, frozen at -20°C, and shipped to the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. In parasitological laboratory, every rodent was dissected and its different organs were examined for the presence of any parasite. Blood thick and thin smears as well as impression smears of liver and spleen were stained with Geimsa and examined microscopically. Results: Two species of rodents were trapped; Meriones persicus (90.4%) and Microtus socialis (9.6%). The species of parasites found in M. persicus and their prevalences were as follows: Hymenolepis diminuta (38.8%), Hymenolepis nana (2.5%), Trichuris sp.(40.6), Mesocestoides larva (=tetrathyridium) (3.1%), Capillaria hepatica (6.9%), Moniliformis moniliformis (11.3%), Syphacia obvelata (2.5%), Taenia endothoracicus larva (0.6%), Physaloptera sp. (0.6%), Dentostomella translucida (0.6%), Heligmosomum mixtum (0.6%), Strobilocercus fasciolaris (0.6%),and Aspiculuris tetraptera (0.6%). The species of parasites found in M. socialis and their prevalences were as follows: H. diminuta (17.6%), Trichuris sp. (5.9%), Mesocestoides larva (5.9%), S. obvelata (11.8%), S. syphacia (11.8%), H. mixtum (17.6%), and Aspiculuris tetraptera (11.8%). There were no statistical differences between male and female for infectivity with parasites in either M. persicus or M. socialis. No blood or tissue protozoan parasite was found in any of the rodents examined. Conclusion: Among different species identified, some had zoonotic importance. Therefore, the potential health hazard of these species needs to be considered to prevent infectivity of humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a field excursion in eastern Turkey and the Zanjan province of Iran, 9 rodent species were captured, and the diploid number of chromosomes (2n), the number of autosomal arms (FNa) and the fundamental number (FN) were determined for these species. Microtus schidlovskiiwith 2n = 60 and FNa = 58 was recorded for the first time from Özalp (Van) and Yüksekova (Hakkari). The karyological record of Meriones vinogradovi in Turkey was also given for the first time. The karyological results were determined as follows: Spermophilus xanthophrymnus (2n = 42, FNa = 78, FN = 82 in Turkey), Mesocricetus brandti (2n = 42, FNa = 78, FN = 82 in Iran), Microtus socialis(2n = 62, FNa = 60 FN = 62 in Iran, 2n = 60, FNa = 58 FN = 60 in Turkey), Meriones tristrami (2n = 72, FNa = 78, FN = 80 in Iran, 2n = 72, FNa = 82, FN = 84 in Turkey), M. vinogradovi (2n = 44, FNa = 74, FN = 77 in Turkey), Meriones libycus(2n = 44, FNa = 76, FN = 80 in Iran), Apodemus iconicus(2n = 48, FNa = 46, FN = 48 in Iran), and Mus domesticus(2n = 40, FNa = 38, FN = 40 in Iran and Turkey). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Persian jird Meriones persicus is a widespread species in Iranian plateau and is one of the commonest jirds in desert rodents of Iran. We studied architecture of Persian jird''s burrow systems in the central part of its geographic range in Iran for the first time in south of Shah-Reza in Isfahan Province. Three types burrow were detected for this jird including temporary burrow, shelter burrow and breeding-nest burrow. The burrows of M. persicus were restricted to areas including cover and located mostly on flat and slightly sloping areas with clay-lome soil type. Design of burrows demonstrated M. persicus do not hibernate in the study area. Because we observed this species in winter and in cold temperature in study area in active burrow systems. Also, the structure of nest chambers can be seen as an adaptation to adverse weather conditions in the central part of the Iranian Plateau, since they are likely to provide a stable microclimate that buffers conditions outside. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]