• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 1985

330 House-Mice (Rattus norvegicus; 288, Rattus rattus; 42) were captured in surveyed areas (Downtown Seoul, Yeom-gok dong, and Sung-nam city) from May 1st, 1983 to April 30, 1984. Total 6170 of their Mites were collected from the above-indicated House-Mice. The survey on the number of species, the average individual number, preference of host, infection rate, and monthly abundance of Mites reached the following results. Seven species of Mites in Rattus norvegicus, and 5 species of Mites in Rattus rattus were respectively found. Accordingly whole Mites were found in 4 families, 6 genera, 9 species including unrecorded Hirstionysssus apodemi and Roadfordia ensifera. The most common species among Mites were Laelaps nuttalli (70.6). In aspect of the average individualnumber of Mites by host, 19.9% of Rattus norvegicus is more excessive than 10.2% of Rattus rattus. Eulaelaps stabularis, Androlaelaps glasgowi, Hirstionys년 apodemi were shown in preference of host in Rattus norvegicus, while Laelaps jettmari and Rodfordia ensifera in Rattus rattus. Rattus norvegicus was much infected by Laelaps nuttalli, while Rattus rattus by Laelaps echidninus. The seasonal development of it in Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus was at peak in July and in September. And Ornithonyssu bacoti was at peak in June, while Laelaps echidninus and Laelaps nuttalli in July.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.231-242
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• 1992

Samples of two species of genus Ratts(black rat, Rattus rasttus Linnaeus; common rat, Rattus norvegicus Berkenhaut) in Korea were trapped and their 31 morphometric charcters were analyzed statistically in order to determine the range of geographic variation within each species and the interspecific differences. In addition, chromosomal G-bands and C-bands were compared and the fragment patterns of mtDNA resulted from the digestion with restriction enzymes were also analyzed. Samples of black rats from six localities in Korea were similar with one another in their morphometric characters: in head and body length, length of tail vertebrae, conventional karyotype and C-bands, they are comparable to Rattus rattus tanezumi in Japan. Specimens of common rats from seven localities in Korea were similar with one another in their morphometric characters: in conventional karyotype, they are comparable to Rattus norvegicus caraco in eastern Asia. Common rats differ from black rats in their morphometric characteris, chromosomal karyotypes and mtDNA. It is confirmed that correct species name of black rat in Korea is Rattus rattus tanezumi Tempminck: species name of common rat in Korea is Rattus norvegicus caraco Pallas: the common rat is a species, which is distinct from the black rat.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.815-819
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• 1994

Sixty eight wild rats, Rattus norvegicus, were caught from Seoul city, Kyonggi, Kangwon, Cholla, and Kyongsang-provinces. All sera collected from rats were examined by immunofluorescent test to find antibody against murine typhus. The antibody prevalance to murine typhus was 4.4%(3/68). Sero-positive rate was 12.5%(2/16) in Kyonggi province and 12.5%(1/8) in Cholla province. The sero-positive rate difference between sexes of rats was not recognized. Three Rattus norvegicus having antibody to murine typhus were morphologically classified as subadult with 8.3%(1/12), middle-aged adult with 5.9%(1/17), and old adult with 4.8%(1/21), respectively.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.235-238
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• 1995

We report helminthic infections in the liver and intestine of Rattus norvegicus captured in Chunchon, Korea from April to October 1994. Out of 43 examined rats, eggs of Capillaria hepatica were found in 11, Hymenolepis diminuta in 14 and Taenia taeniaeformis metacestodes in 28. Those rats can be cources of zoonotic infections in the curveyed area.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.505-513
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• 1995

Seventy wild rats were caught from Seoul city, Kyonggi, Kangwon, Honam, and yongnam provinces. All of them were in same species, Rattus norvegicus, except two R rattus from Kyonggi province. Seventy sera from wild rats were studied by immunofluorescent antibody assay for evidence of infection by spotted fever group rickettsia. The antidody prevalance was 37.14%(26/70) for spotted fever group rickettsia. The sero-prevalence rates for spotted fever group rickettsia antibody was the hightest in Kyonggi province with 55.56%(10/18), yongnam province with 50.00%(10/20), Kangwon province with 25.00%(2/8), Seoul city with 18.75%(3/16), and Honam province with 12.50%(1/8). The sero-positive rates difference between sexes were higher in female with 46.15%(12/26) than in male with 31.81%(14/44) for spotted fever group rickettsia. Twenty six of 68 Rattus norvegicus with antibody for spotted fever group rickettsia were in subadult with 50.00%(6/12), young adult with 38.89%(7/18), middle-aged adult with 35.29%(6/17), and old adult with 33.33%(7/21). No antibody was detected from R rattus.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.773-782
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• 1996

Sixty wild rate (fifty eight of Rattus norvegicus and two R rattus) were caught from Seoul, Kyonggi, Kangwon, Honam, and Yongnam areas between August and October 1992. From liver homogenates of the wild rats, isoenzyme patterns were analysed by starch gel electrophoresis. Using 9 enzyme systems, eight electrophoretic types were identified among wild rats with genetic diversity per locus between 0.00 and 0.49 (Mean 0.15). R rattus from Kyonggi (Kanghwa) and Kangwon (Cholwon) were distinct from R norvegicus from nine regions with 0.581 in genetic divergence. Therefore genetic divergence was different not only in interspecies(0.581) but also in intraspecies(0.111~0.375). These data suggested that isoenzyme electrophoresis could be used as a potential application in taxonomic studies of wild rats.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.550-560
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• 2013

This study was investigated the morphological characters, secondary sexual dimorphism, and habitat patterns of Korean Rattus animals collected on Jeju Island from April 2005 to October 2012. Two wild rat species, namely R. norvegicus and R. tanezumi were identified on Jeju Island based on morphological characteristics and molecular data; however, R. rattus, which had recorded formerly, was not found in this study. Individuals of R. norvegicus were captured from urban, rural, and natural habitats, while those of R. tanezumi were specially found in animal farms and the surrounding areas. Comparing of morphological characters of two species, R. norvegicus had a shorter tail and ears than R. tanezumi (p<0.05), and the ratios of tail length and ear length to those of head-body length showed significantly differences between two species (p<0.05). The body weights (BW) of urban populations of R. norvegicus were significantly heavier than those of rural populations (p<0.05). No secondary sexual dimorphism was found in R. norvegicus, but females of R. tanezumi showed heavier BW than those of males (p<0.05). These findings suggest that it is necessary to revise the records for the existence of R. tanezumi and to confirm the animal fauna and elucidate the distribution and ecological characteristics from further studies using extensive sampling and detailed investigations on Jeju Island and also on the Korean Peninsula.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.409-416
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• 1995

Forty samples of common rats (Rattus norvegicus caraco) from Cheongu, Korea, were used for the analyses of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragment patterns resulted from the digestion with eight restriction enzymes. A total of 36 fragments were recognized and six mtDNA clones were revealed . The nucleotide-sequence divergences (p) among six mtDNA clones ranged from 0.35% to 2.73%. moreover, the six clones were grouped into three major subgroups ; the first, second , and third subgroup were composed of 29 samples of three clones, ten samples of two clones, and one sample of one clone, respectively. The second and third subgroups were different in their mtDNa genotype of Pvu II from the first subgroup, and the third subgroup differed in the genotype of Dra I from other two subgroups. Futhermore, the maximum divergence among common rats from Korea in this study is greater than that among common rats from the United States and Japan by Brown and Simpson (1981). Further analyses with additional sample from other localities in Korea appeared to be necessary in order to clarify the taxnomic status of the distinct mtDNA subgroups.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.575-581
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• 2022

Brown rats (Rattus norvegicusBerkenhout, 1769) were eradicated from Sasudo Island (33°55'13.04" N, 126°38'19.98" E), an uninhabited island designated as Natural Monument No. 333 and the largest breeding site for the streaked shearwater (Calonectris leucomelasTemminck, 1835) in South Korea. Twelve eradication studies were conducted from November 2015 to February 2021. The survey was conducted using a line census method that entailed slow wandering throughout the island and identifying starting and returning points. Capture traps were installed around traces of Rattus norvegicus,such as excrement and identified holes. As a result, 2 to 6 individuals were captured at each instance, except for the last time, when no individuals were captured. It is hypothesized that brown rats arrived at Sasudo Island via vessels arriving at the island for leisure and fishing. After the damage to streaked shearwater caused by brown rats was confirmed in 2006, entry to Sasudo Island was strictly prohibited through security measures, and marine clean-up programs that began in 2013 and continuous capturing since 2015 have been successful in eradicating brown rats. To maintain and manage the condition in Sasudo Island, preservation and management measures, such as strict visitor control, are necessary to prevent the inflow of new brown rats in the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Service Conference
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• 1995.04a
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• pp.84.2-84
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• 1995