Ferhat Matur

Phylogeny of species and cytotypes of mole rats (Spalacidae) in Turkey inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences

Abstract. We described the genetic variation of cytochrome b gene sequences of blind mole rats in Turkey. We examined 47 individuals belonging to nine cytotypes of three superspecies Nannospalax leucodon, N. xanthodon and N. ehrenbergi in the 402bp gene sequence of cytochrome b. Phylogenetic analyses showed that relationships between cytotypes were well supported, but deeper divergence between species showed insignificant relationships. Cytotypes of N. xanthodon with low diploid number of chromosomes from western Turkey formed a monophyletic group distinct from the populations with higher number of chromosomes (2n = 56-60). The monophyly of N. xanthodon was supported with respect to N. leucodon (2n = 56) in the Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenies. The divergence between two analyzed cytotypes of N. ehrenbergi (2n = 52, 2n = 56) was 9.4 %, and the Kilis cytotype (2n = 52) appeared as the basal branch of the whole analysed dataset. N. ehrenbergi cytotypes were paraphyletic and they formed unsupported relationships with previously described N. galili (2n = 52), N. golani (2n = 54), N. carmeli (2n = 58) and N. judaei (2n = 60) from Israel. The results of this study showed that the Nannospalax species complex most likely represents more species than currently recognized, especially in N. xanthodon. We suggest that cytotypes of N. xanthodon and N. ehrenbergi from Turkey should be investigated in detail as possible candidates for being separate species.

Chromosome Differentiation of four 2n = 50 Chromosomal Forms of Turkish Mole Rat, Nannospalax nehringi

Nannospalax is a genus of blind rodents adapted to living in underground. The species have numerous chromosomal forms in Turkey, and their taxonomic position is still unknown. In this study, 15 mole rats of four different 2n = 50 forms were used; C- and G- banding processes were applied; and a comparison was made accordingly. Karyological results showed that the 2n = 50S form is a new form for Turkish blind mole rats. 2n = 50S form is determined from Andirin (Kahramanmaraş) and has NF = 70. The 2n = 50W form, on the other hand, differs from the others with NF = 74 form. C-banding results showed that heterochromatin blocks of all 2n = 50 are different, while only the 2n = 50W form has telomeric heterochromatin blocks. G-banding results, however, displayed homologies and differences among the chromosomal forms. After comparison, we determined that Robertsonian fusion is an efficient force on chromosomal evolution in blind mole rats in Turkey, and that telomeric heterochromatin is a distinctive character for the 2n = 50W form. We suggest that the chromosomal changing mechanism should be independent from climatic peculiarities. These results support the theory that ancestral karyotype should have the largest distribution in a chromosomally variable species.

A karyological study on subterrranean mole rats of the Spalax leucodon Nordmann, 1840 (Mammalia: Rodentia) superspecies in northwestern Turkey

Abstract The karyotypes of 35 specimens of the subterranean mole rat of the superspecies Spalax leucodon Nordman, 1840, from 11 localities in the Bilecik area in north-western Turkey were analysed. Two different karyotypes were identified and both show a distinct geographic distribution: The karyotype 2n=52 and NF=70 is confined to the eastern side of the Sakarya River, whereas 2n=60 and NF=78 is found only on the western side of the river. The Sakarya River thus serves as a barrier and separates both forms in this area.

Dobrava-Belgrade Virus in Apodemus flavicollis and A. uralensis Mice, Turkey

In 2009, human Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV) infections were reported on the Black Sea coast of Turkey. Serologic and molecular studies of potential rodent reservoirs demonstrated DOBV infections in Apodemus flavicollis and A. uralensis mice. Phylogenetic analysis of DOBV strains showed their similarity to A. flavicollis mice–borne DOBV in Greece, Slovenia, and Slovakia.

Karyological characteristics, morphological peculiarities, and a new distribution locality for Talpa davidiana (Mammalia: Soricomorpha) in Turkey

Tetralogy of Fallot is a rare congenital heart defect; however, it is the most common cyanotic heart malformation in humans and animals. It consists of a ventricular septal defect, pulmonic stenosis, displacement of the aortic root, and hypertrophy of the right ventricle. At the Department of Internal Medicine Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs, and Cats at the Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, patients with Fallot syndrome constituted 4.44% of all patients with congenital heart diseases. There was no breed predisposition found. The most common clinical signs were exercise intolerance, dyspnea, and cyanosis of the mucous membranes, but it can also be asymptomatic. Echocardiography is considered to be the best method for diagnosing this congenital heart disease. Contrast angiocardiography can be used to confirm the diagnosis or as a complement to diagnosis. Surgery is the only effective method of treatment; however, for animals, we only provide palliative treatment.

Dobrava hantavirus variants found in Apodemus flavicollis mice in Kırklareli Province, Turkey

Hantaviruses infect humans via inhalation of viral particles within secretions of infected rodents or rarely through direct contact with infected rodents. Determining the prevalence of hantavirus infections among rodent populations is of vital importance to obtain information on hantavirus‐related cases and to predict possible outbreaks. We hypothesized that DOBV strains circulating in the Thrace Region in Turkey would be related to other Balkan DOBV strains. In this study, hantavirus infections in the rodent population of the Kırklareli‐İğneada Region (north‐western Turkey, near the Bulgarian border) were investigated. This region is of particular importance, as it is located in the south‐eastern margin of the European continent and was used as an entrance point of Asian faunal elements into Europe. DOBV infection was detected in eight of 73 rodents; all were of the Apodemus flavicollis species. Partial sequences of the viral S‐, M‐, and L‐genome segments were recovered and compared with previously reported DOBV sequences. The newly characterized Turkish strains were similar to other DOBV variants. Silent nucleotide mutations were dominant. The hantavirus prevalence in the İğneada region was similar to what has been reported in Greece and Bulgaria. For the first time, the M‐segment sequences of DOBV from Turkey were recovered and genetic data of hantaviruses from Thrace region of Turkey were obtained.

Two new cytotypes and additional karyological records for blind mole rats, Nannospalax xanthodon and N. ehrenbergi (Mammalia, Rodentia) in Turkey

Abstract. Blind mole rats are model organisms for studies of chromosomal evolution, and have a variety of chromosomal forms in Turkey. This study was performed on subterranean mole rats of Nannospalax xanthodon (Satunin, 1898) and N. ehrenbergi (Nehring, 1898) in Turkey. Karyotypes of 63 specimens originating from 30 localities were analysed. Two new cytotypes with 2n = 54 from Adana and 2n = 56 from Karaman, two different populations of the cytotypes 2n = 54C and 2n = 58S, and four different chromosomal arm numbers of the 2n = 60 cytotype (NF = 74, 76, 78 and 80) were determined in N. xanthodon. The cytotypes characterized by 2n = 54, NF = 74 from Tufanbeyli and Saimbeyli in the Adana province (54S), and by 2n = 56, NF = 70 from Karaman (56K) are new for N. xanthodon in Turkey. A population of N. ehrenbergi from the Osmaniye province in southern Anatolia had a complement with 2n = 56, NF = 70. Additional karyological records for other cytotypes have extended their known distribution areas, and filled most karyological gaps in Turkey.

A cytogenetic study on the Taurus Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus taurensis Gündüz et al., 2007 (Mammalia: Rodentia), in Turkey

The genus Spermophilus comprises about 40 species (WILSON & REEDER 2005, HERRON et al. 2004), of which three species occur in the Middle East: Spermophilus citellus (Linnaeus, 1766) and S. xanthoprymnus (Bennet, 1835) live in Turkey, and S. fulvus (Lichtenstein, 1823) in Iran. S. citellus which is found in Thrace has 2n=40 chromosomes, and S. xanthoprymnus which occurs in Anatolia has 2n= 42 chromosomes (DOGRAMACI et al. 1994, ZIMA & KRÂL 1984). However, ÖZKURT et al. (2002) found a Ground Squirrel population with 2n=40 chromosomes at Akseki, southern Anatolia, similar to S. citellus populations from Thrace. ÇOLAK & ÖZKURT (2002) examined blood-serum proteins of a few populations of both S. citellus and S. xanthoprymnus (including the Akseki population) and found only slight differences which do not support the separation of these groups at the species level. GÜNDÜZ et al. (2007a) described the Akseki population as S. taurensis on the grounds of morphomertric differences. At the same time, ÖZKURT et al. (2007) compared several ground squirrel populations from Turkey and Iran and were able to group them into four distinct groups. One group, which includes the Akseki population and specimens from five more localiities, was described on the basis of morphometrics, coat colouration, a brush-shaped tail, and a NFa value of 72 as S. torosensis. GÜNDÜZ et al. (2007b) showed that S. torosensis is synonymous with S. taurensis. While the specific status of S. taurensis has been established, more information on its characteristics are required in order to understand better the evolution of this mountain-dwelling ground squirrel. For this purpose, I compared the banding of karyotypes of S. taurensis with those of S. citellus from Europe (BELCHEVA & PESHEV 1985, ZIMA 1987, MITSAINAS et al. 2008) and S. xanthoprymnus from Anatolia (ARSLAN 2005). I used a male Taurus Ground Squirrel which was caught in 2008 in the E ekçukuru area on the Salamut Plateau of Çalt l çukur village near the town of Akseki. This is the type locality of S. torosensis. Karyotypes were prepared according to standard techniques, and G banding (SEABRIGHT 1971) and C banding (SUMNER 1972) techniques were applied. The karyotype preparations and the skins were deposited at

Karyology of three bat species of the genus Myotis (M. myotis, M. bechsteinii, M. brandtii) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Turkey

Abstract The karyotypes of three vespertilionid bat species from Turkey were examined. The karyotypes of these species were found as 2n=44, NF=54 and NFa=50 for Myotis myotis; 2n=42, NF=50, and NFa=46 for Myotis bechsteinii; 2n=44, NF=54, and NFa=50 for Myotis brand- tii. The M. brandtii karyotype of was studied for the first time for Turkey. Further details on the karyotype of M. bechsteinii, which had been described previously, are given.