Bank Voles Research Articles

Evidence for magnetic orientation in Clethrionomys glareolus in a water maze assay (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

A long-term issue when studying magnetic orientation is the replicability of the experiments conducted in different laboratories. Attempts to replicate experiments have failed many times. After our previous study where we successfully found magnetoreception in the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) we decided to replicate the water maze experiment. The bank voles were trained and tested in a four-arm “plus” maze in different magnetic conditions – natural magnetic field and three magnetic fields with shifted position of magnetic north (+90°, +180°, and +270°). The tested bank voles showed learned directional preference in the water maze therefore we can consider this species magnetoreceptive, able to use magnetic field for orientation. However, the results were more scattered than in the study with C57BL/6J mice. This difference probably corresponds with the absence of the protection against disturbing radio frequency magnetic fields during experiment, as well as, with the behavioural differences of free-living voles and laboratory mice.

Environmental Preferences of the Bank Vole (Clethrionomys Glareolus Schreber, 1780) under Different Biotopical Conditions in the Protected Territory of the Middle Urals

The environmental preferences of the bank vole were studied in the protected area of the Middle Urals in different biotope conditions formed as a result of the consequences of natural catastrophic events. According to the abundance of the population, the “success” of the existence of the species in four biotopes with varying degrees of disturbance by wind and pyrogenic effects was assessed. A statistically highly significant level of differences between the compared biotopes was shown for six microenvironmental variables that assess the food-protective conditions of animal habitats. In general, the biotopic variability turned out to be higher than the chronographic (interannual) variability. Over the long period of the study, the bank vole prevailed in numbers in the undisturbed biotope, which was distinguished among the studied biotopes by high values of microenvironmental indicators that assess mainly the food resources of animal habitats: the coverage of areas by shrubs and herbaceous vegetation. Habitat conditions in the biotope undisturbed by natural catastrophic factors are most consistent with the environmental preferences of the bank vole.

No expression of magnetic compass orientation in Clethrionomys glareolus in total darkness (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

Our knowledge about magnetoreception in mammals remains limited. Among rodents, magnetic compass orientation has been documented in four subterranean mole-rats and four epigeic (i.e., active above ground) species. While it is well established that the magnetic compass of mole-rats is light-independent and magnetite-mediated, recent evidence suggests that a radical pair-based mechanism may underlie magnetic orientation in epigeic rodents. To determine whether the magnetic compass of epigeic rodents is light-dependent, which is thought to be an inherent feature of radical pair-based magnetoreception, we investigated the ability of the bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus (Cricetidae) to use magnetic compass orientation in total darkness. The voles, which were allowed to explore/build a nest overnight in a circular arena, did not exhibit any directional preference in the initial stage of the experiments; later they tended to prefer the southern sector of the arena irrespective of magnetic field direction, implying that they relied on nonmagnetic orientation cues. Previous tests (Oliveriusová et al. 2014) in the same environment, but under lighting, showed a significant reaction to a change in the orientation of the magnetic field. On the basis of the presented study in comparison with the previous one, it can be concluded that bank voles do not use the magnetic compass for near-space orientation in darkness and thus support evidence for light-dependent magnetoreception in a mammal.

Small mammals in the diet of the tawny owl Strix aluco in selected sites of the Biebrza Basin and Knyszyn Forest in north-eastern Poland.

The analysis of pellets of the tawny owl Strix aluco collected in the years 2009–2023 in 22 sites (ten in the Biebrza Basin and twelve in Knyszyn Forest) allowed for finding four species of Soricomorpha, nine species of Chiroptera and fifteen species of Rodentia (4, 5 and 12 in the Biebrza Basin and 4, 7 and 13 in Knyszyn Forest, respectively). Most common and most frequently caught by owls were: the bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus, the yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis and the common shrew Sorex araneus. Valuable species of bats included the pond bat Myotis dasycneme and the western barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus noted in Knyszyn Forest. Rare rodents found in both study areas were: the northern birch mouse Sicista betulina and the common dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius while the forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula was noted only in Knyszyn Forest. The European water vole Arvicola amphibius commonly noted in the Biebrza Basin was not found in Knyszyn Forest. On the contrary, the common pine vole Microtus subterraneus was reecorded only in Knyszyn Forest.

Small mammals in natural and agricultural lands of Slobozhanshchyna (eastern Ukraine): results of a five-year-long survey

The study of the species composition, biological and ecological features of small mammals was carried out for five years (2018–2022) in the surroundings of the village of Rozsohuvata (Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine). During the study period, nine species of mouse-like rodents and three species of insectivorans were detected. The re-search area is represented by a ravine-beam system, agrocoenoses, field-protecting forest strips, riparian vege-tation around artificial reservoirs and streams, dry meadows, and pastures. Trappings of small mammals were carried out on thirty lines of traps. During the entire period of trapping, the dominant species was Sylvaemus uralensis and in some seasons Sylvaemus sylvaticus dominated. Starting from 2018, the relative abundance increased in autumn, reached a peak in 2020 and declined in the following years. In general, 2019 was the year of maximum abundance and most species were recorded in the summer of this year. The greatest number of species was found in the ecotone between riparian vegetation and field (10 species), as well as in the area of the multi-grass steppe in the beam (8 species). The eurytopic species include Sylvaemus uralensis and Syl-vaemus sylvaticus, whereas the stenotopic species is Mus spicilegus. According to the obtained abundance scores, only one species—Myodes glareolus—occurs randomly, whereas the rare species here are Mus spicile-gus, Sorex minutus, and Crocidura suaveolens. Six species are non-abundant: Apodemus agrarius, Sylvaemus tauricus, Mus musculus, Microtus levis, Cricetulus migratorius, and Sorex araneus. Only Sylvaemus sylvaticus belongs to common species, and only Sylvaemus uralensis is abundant. It should be mentioned that Cri-cetulus migratorius, which usually belongs to the category of random or rare species, turned out to be non-abundant in the study region, and it was recorded regularly in almost half of the studied biotopes. Myodes glareolus, which usually prefers oak forest, was extremely rare. The abundance of Apodemus agrarius, which usually belongs to common species in river valleys, was also low. Sylvaemus showed greater ecological valence, dominated in abundance and inhabited most biotopes, except for Sylvaemus tauricus, which began to occur only in the last two years and mainly in forest strips.

Terrestrial and Subterranean Mammals as Reservoirs of Zoonotic Diseases in the Central Part of European Russia

Russia has a number of historical foci of zoonotic anthropogenic diseases. In Central Russia, the Republic of Mordovia is one of such areas, a region being known to have foci of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and tularemia. It therefore requires continuous monitoring. The role of small terrestrial mammals as reservoirs of zoonoses has been previously proven for the region. The aim of this work is to take an integrated approach to assess the role of terrestrial and subterranean small mammals. Subterranean mammals are often not considered important reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens that cause human morbidity. Among small mammals in the wild environment, the bank vole, the yellow-necked mouse and the house mouse play important roles as vectors of zoonoses. Among wild subterranean mammals, the greater mole rat is important as a vector of tularemia and HFRS. We analyzed homogenized internal organs of these animals (lungs, spleen, kidneys). Of all samples from the greater mole rat, 83% were positive for tularemia antigens and 17% were positive forHFRS. None of the analyzed European moles had antigens of tularemia and HFRS. No double infection with both tularemia and hantavirus was detected in the subterranean mammals. Double infection was found among terrestrial mammals in the bank vole and the forest dormouse.

Distribution of Rodent Species (Mammalia: Rodentia) in Zonguldak Province, Turkey

To know rodent species in an area is important in wildlife management studies, forestry applications, conservation purposes, and public health studies because of some rodent-borne diseases. To determine rodent species and their distribution in Zonguldak was aimed to supply a detailed inventory data and distribution maps for further studies in future. Samples were collected mostly by Sherman traps, and rarely conventional cage-like traps, phototraps, or visually from 33 localities that represent different habitat types, between 2009 and 2016. A total of 427 specimens from 15 species were evaluated. These species are: Sciurus anomalus, Myodes glareolus, Microtus subterraneus, M. levis, Apodemus flavicollis, A. sylvaticus, A. uralensis, A. witherbyi, A. mystacinus, Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus, Mus domesticus, M. macedonicus, Glis glis and Muscardinus avellanarius. Of them S. anomalus, M. levis, A. uralensis, M. macedonicus and M. avellanarius were recorded by primary data for the first time from Zonguldak. According to the results, Sciurus anomalus, Apodemus flavicollis and Glis glis are the most common species by being recorded from 13, 12 and 9 localities, respectively. Among the 33 localities trapped, Kurtköy and Beldibi areas have highest number of rodent species by each having 7 species. Trap Night Index (TNI) was calculated to find the most caught rodent species, the overall trap success for rodents caught and the localities where the majority of rodent samples were caught. TNI was calculated as 21.43 for seven of the localities studied. Skull and pelage morphology (pectoral spot expressions, the posterior end of the palatal bone, pterygoid process, fronto-parietal suture and upper molar crown patterns) were used to identify Apodemus species. Morphological evaluations of Apodemus specimens verified the occurrence of A. sylvaticus in Asiatic Turkey.

A single protective polymorphism in the prion protein blocks cross-species prion replication in cultured cells.

The bank vole (BV) prion protein (PrP) can function as a universal acceptor of prions. However, the molecular details of BVPrP's promiscuity for replicating a diverse range of prion strains remain obscure. To develop a cultured cell paradigm capable of interrogating the unique properties of BVPrP, we generated monoclonal lines of CAD5 cells lacking endogenous PrP but stably expressing either hamster (Ha), mouse (Mo), or BVPrP (M109 or I109 polymorphic variants) and then challenged them with various strains of mouse or hamster prions. Cells expressing BVPrP were susceptible to both mouse and hamster prions, whereas cells expressing MoPrP or HaPrP could only be infected with species-matched prions. Propagation of mouse and hamster prions in cells expressing BVPrP resulted in strain adaptation in several instances, as evidenced by alterations in conformational stability, glycosylation, susceptibility to anti-prion small molecules, and the inability of BVPrP-adapted mouse prion strains to infect cells expressing MoPrP. Interestingly, cells expressing BVPrP containing the G127V prion gene variant, identified in individuals resistant to kuru, were unable to become infected with prions. Moreover, the G127V polymorphic variant impeded the spontaneous aggregation of recombinant BVPrP. These results demonstrate that BVPrP can facilitate cross-species prion replication in cultured cells and that a single amino acid change can override the prion-permissive nature of BVPrP. This cellular paradigm will be useful for dissecting the molecular features of BVPrP that allow it to function as a universal prion acceptor.

Idiosyncratic effects of coinfection on the association between systemic pathogens and the gut microbiota of a wild rodent, the bank vole Myodes glareolus.

The effects of systemic pathogens on gut microbiota of wild animals are poorly understood. Furthermore, coinfections are the norm in nature, yet most studies of pathogen-microbiota interactions focus on effects of single pathogen infections on gut microbiota. We examined the effects of four systemic pathogens (bacteria Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, apicomplexan protozoa Babesia microti and Puumala orthohantavirus) and coinfections among them on the (bacterial) gut microbiota of wild bank voles Myodes glareolus. We hypothesized that: (1) the effects of coinfection on gut microbiota generally differ from those of a single pathogen infection, (2) systemic pathogens have individual (i.e. distinct) associations with gut microbiota, which are modified by coinfection and (3) the effects of coinfection (compared with those of single infection) are idiosyncratic (i.e. pathogen-specific). The gut microbiota of coinfected bank voles differed from that of single pathogen infected individuals, although, as predicted, the effects of coinfections were unique for each pathogen. After accounting for coinfections, only Puumala orthohantavirus was associated with higher α-diversity; however, all pathogens affected gut microbiota ß-diversity in a pathogen-specific way, affecting both rare and abundant gut bacteria. Our results showed that the effects of systemic pathogens on host's gut microbiota vary depending on the pathogen species, resulting in idiosyncratic signatures of coinfection. Furthermore, our results emphasize that neglecting the impact of coinfections can mask patterns of pathogen-microbiota associations.

Habitat and Season Effects on Small Mammal Bycatch in Live Trapping.

Trapping small mammals is frequently used to study the dynamics, demography, behavior and presence of pathogens. When only particular small mammal species are in the focus of interest, all other species are unnecessary bycatch. We analyzed data from extensive live trapping campaigns conducted over the last decade in Germany, following a consistent standard trapping protocol that resulted in about 18,500 captures of small mammals. Animals were trapped with Ugglan multiple capture traps in grassland, forest and margin habitat. Trap success and the proportion of bycatch were about 30% when target species were common voles (Microtus arvalis) in grassland and common voles and bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) in margins and forests. This was more pronounced in spring and along margins. Species mentioned in the early warning list according to the Red List Germany were higher in numbers and proportion in spring and in grassland. The results will help to avoid periods with enhanced presence of bycatch, including endangered species (if the purpose of the study allows) or to pay particular attention in certain seasons and habitats when the occurrence of bycatch is most likely.

Bona fide atypical scrapie faithfully reproduced for the first time in a rodent model

Atypical Scrapie, which is not linked to epidemics, is assumed to be an idiopathic spontaneous prion disease in small ruminants. Therefore, its occurrence is unlikely to be controlled through selective breeding or other strategies as it is done for classical scrapie outbreaks. Its spontaneous nature and its sporadic incidence worldwide is reminiscent of the incidence of idiopathic spontaneous prion diseases in humans, which account for more than 85% of the cases in humans. Hence, developing animal models that consistently reproduce this phenomenon of spontaneous PrP misfolding, is of importance to study the pathobiology of idiopathic spontaneous prion disorders. Transgenic mice overexpressing sheep PrPC with I112 polymorphism (TgShI112, 1–2 × PrP levels compared to sheep brain) manifest clinical signs of a spongiform encephalopathy spontaneously as early as 380 days of age. The brains of these animals show the neuropathological hallmarks of prion disease and biochemical analyses of the misfolded prion protein show a ladder-like PrPres pattern with a predominant 7–10 kDa band. Brain homogenates from spontaneously diseased transgenic mice were inoculated in several models to assess their transmissibility and characterize the prion strain generated: TgShI112 (ovine I112 ARQ PrPC), Tg338 (ovine VRQ PrPC), Tg501 (ovine ARQ PrPC), Tg340 (human M129 PrPC), Tg361 (human V129 PrPC), TgVole (bank vole I109 PrPC), bank vole (I109I PrPC), and sheep (AHQ/ARR and AHQ/AHQ churra-tensina breeds). Our analysis of the results of these bioassays concludes that the strain generated in this model is indistinguishable to that causing atypical scrapie (Nor98). Thus, we present the first faithful model for a bona fide, transmissible, ovine, atypical scrapie prion disease.

Susceptibility of SARS Coronavirus-2 infection in domestic and wild animals: a systematic review.

Animals and viruses have constantly been co-evolving under natural circumstances and pandemic like situations. They harbour harmful viruses which can spread easily. In the recent times we have seen pandemic like situations being created as a result of the spread of deadly and fatal viruses. Coronaviruses (CoVs) are one of the wellrecognized groups of viruses. There are four known genera of Coronavirus family namely, alpha (α), beta (β), gamma (γ), and delta (δ). Animals have been infected with CoVs belonging to all four genera. In the last few decades the world has witnessed an emergence of severe acute respiratory syndromes which had created a pandemic like situation such as SARS CoV, MERS-CoV. We are currently in another pandemic like situation created due to the uncontrolled spread of a similar coronavirus namely SARSCoV-2. These findings are based on a small number of animals and do not indicate whether animals can transmit disease to humans. Several mammals, including cats, dogs, bank voles, ferrets, fruit bats, hamsters, mink, pigs, rabbits, racoon dogs, and white-tailed deer, have been found to be infected naturally by the virus. Certain laboratory discoveries revealed that animals such as cats, ferrets, fruit bats, hamsters, racoon dogs, and white-tailed deer can spread the illness to other animals of the same species. This review article gives insights on the current knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 infection and development in animals on the farm and in domestic community and their impact on society.

Accumulation of Macro- and Trace Elements in the “Mother–Placenta–Fetus” System in Bank Voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) in the Area of a Large Copper Smelter

Accumulation of Macro- and Trace Elements in the “Mother–Placenta–Fetus” System in Bank Voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) in the Area of a Large Copper Smelter

The Ratio of Biotopic and Interannual Variability of Bank Voles in Windfall- and Fire-Transformed Forest Biotopes of the Middle Urals

The Ratio of Biotopic and Interannual Variability of Bank Voles in Windfall- and Fire-Transformed Forest Biotopes of the Middle Urals

Seasonal dynamics of the wild rodent faecal virome.

Viral discovery studies in wild animals often rely on cross-sectional surveys at a single time point. As a result, our understanding of the temporal stability of wild animal viromes remains poorly resolved. While studies of single host-virus systems indicate that host and environmental factors influence seasonal virus transmission dynamics, comparable insights for whole viral communities in multiple hosts are lacking. Utilizing noninvasive faecal samples from a long-term wild rodent study, we characterized viral communities of three common European rodent species (Apodemus sylvaticus, A. flavicollis and Myodes glareolus) living in temperate woodland over a single year. Our findings indicate that a substantial fraction of the rodent virome is seasonally transient and associated with vertebrate or bacteria hosts. Further analyses of one of the most common virus families, Picornaviridae, show pronounced temporal changes in viral richness and evenness, which were associated with concurrent and up to ~3-month lags in host density, ambient temperature, rainfall and humidity, suggesting complex feedbacks from the host and environmental factors on virus transmission and shedding in seasonal habitats. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of understanding the seasonal dynamics of wild animal viromes in order to better predict and mitigate zoonotic risks.

The genetic structure and connectivity in two sympatric rodent species with different life histories are similarly affected by land use disturbances

The negative impact of habitat fragmentation due to human activities may be different in different species that co-exist in the same area, with consequences on the development of environmental protection plans. Here we aim at understanding the effects produced by different natural and anthropic landscape features on gene flow patterns in two sympatric species with different specializations, one generalist and one specialist, sampled in the same locations. We collected and genotyped 194 wood mice (generalist species) and 199 bank voles (specialist species) from 15 woodlands in a fragmented landscape characterized by different potential barriers to dispersal. Genetic variation and structure were analyzed in the two species, respectively. Effective migration surfaces, isolation-by-resistance (IBR) analysis, and regression with randomization were used to investigate isolation-by-distance (IBD) and the relative importance of land cover elements on gene flow. We observed similar patterns of heterozygosity and IBD for both species, but the bank vole showed higher genetic differences among geographic areas. The IBR analysis suggests that (i) connectivity is reduced in both species by urban areas but more strongly in the specialist bank vole; (ii) cultivated areas act as dispersal corridors in both species; (iii) woodlands appear to be an important factor in increasing connectivity in the bank vole, and less so in the wood mouse. The difference in dispersal abilities between a generalist and specialist species was reflected in the difference in genetic structure, despite extensive habitat changes due to human activities. The negative effects of fragmentation due to the process of urbanization were, at least partially, mitigated by another human product, i.e., cultivated terrains subdivided by hedgerows, and this was true for both species.

Bank Voles Show More Impulsivity in IntelliCage Learning Tasks than Wood Mice

Impulsivity is a personality trait of healthy individuals, but in extreme forms common in mental disorders. Previous behavioral testing of wild-caught bank voles and wood mice suggested impulsiveness in bank voles. Here, we compared behavioral performance of bank voles and wood mice in tests for response control in the IntelliCage. In the reaction time task, a test similar to the five-choice serial-reaction time task (5CSRTT), bank voles made more premature responses. Impulsivity in the reaction time task was associated with smaller medial habenular nucleus in bank voles. Additional tests revealed reduced behavioral flexibility in the self-paced flexibility task in bank voles, but equal spatial and reversal learning in the chaining/reversal task in both species. Expression of immediate early gene Arc after behavioral testing was low in medial prefrontal cortex, but high in hypothalamic supraoptic and paraventricular nucleus in bank voles. Wood mice showed the opposite pattern. Numbers of Arc-positive cells in the dorsal hippocampus were higher in bank voles than wood mice. Due to continuous behavioral testing (24/7), associations between behavioral performance and Arc were rare. Corticosterone measurements at the end of experiments suggested that IntelliCage testing did not elicit a stress response in these wild rodents. In summary, habenular size differences and altered activation of brain areas after testing might indicate differently balanced activations of cortico-limbic and cortico-hypothalamic circuits in bank voles compared to wood mice. Behavioral performance of bank voles suggest that these rodents could be a natural animal model for investigating impulsive and perseverative behaviors.

Effects of chronic exposure to toxic metals on haematological parameters in free-ranging small mammals

Blood circulates through the vascular system to carry oxygen, nutrients and metabolites to and away from tissues, and as such is a key-component of animal physiology. The impacts of metal pollution on blood, however, are poorly documented in free-ranging vertebrates. While the counteracting effect of selenium on mercury toxicity is well known in marine mammals, its potential role against the toxicity of other metals is less studied, especially on terrestrial wildlife. We explored the consequences of chronic exposure to two non-essential metals (cadmium and lead) along a pollution gradient in Northern France, on eleven haematological parameters in two free ranging small mammals, the wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus and the bank vole Myodes glareolus. We hypothesized that haematology was related to metal concentrations in tissues, and that selenium might exert modulating effects. Concentrations of cadmium and lead in the tissues indicated an increased chronic exposure to and accumulation of metals along the gradient. Some haematological parameters were not explained by any measured variables while some others varied only with gender or age. Red blood cells, red blood cells distribution width, and blood iron concentration, however, decreased with increasing cadmium in the tissues in wood mice. Red blood cells and haemoglobin decreased with increasing renal lead and hepatic cadmium, respectively, in bank voles. Red blood cells distribution width in wood mice increased with cadmium concentrations in the liver but this was counteracted by high selenium levels in the same organ. An interaction of selenium and lead on red blood cells was also observed in bank voles. Further, selenium concentrations were associated with an increase of monocytes in wood mice. The present results show that toxic metals were related to haematology changes, particularly erythrocyte indicators, and that some essential elements like selenium should be measured as well since they may counteract toxic effects.

Helminth fauna of mouse-like rodents in the territory of Moscow City

Conditions of the urban environment have a significant impact on the ecology of animals, including helminth communities. The response of the helminth community to ecological imbalance and their adaptation to life in the urban environment remain an urgent problem in parasitology. In this study, we aimed to compare the species diversity and distribution of helminths in urban forest parks with varying degrees of anthropogenic pressure. In urbanized territories of 5 locations of the city of Moscow, the infestation parameters of model rodent species were assessed in comparison with a natural, slightly disturbed territory (the scientific and experimental base “Chernogolovka”). In the four most common rodent species (n = 158), Apodemus agrarius, Sylvaemus uralensis, Microtus arvalis, and Clethrionomys glareolus, caught by Hero's traps, the gastrointestinal tract was removed, the number and species of parasites were determined, and the infestation was assessed by 3 parameters. The species composition of helminths and the presence of three parasite classes in the composition of the helminth fauna of the studied species expectedly corresponded to the characteristics of disturbed areas. In addition, a change in the dominant helminth species (H. polygyrus to H. Spumosa) was noted, which indicated a significant influence of the helminth fauna of synanthropic species on the composition of the parasite communities of wild species living in the city. Our study contributes to the accumulation of information on the species composition of endoparasite communities of murine rodents in the city of Moscow, which is important for compiling an up-to-date epidemiological picture of the city.

Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker Disease with F198S Mutation Induces Independent Tau and Prion Protein Pathologies in Bank Voles.

Gerstmann–Sträussler–Scheinker disease (GSS) is a rare genetic prion disease. A large GSS kindred linked to the serine-for-phenylalanine substitution at codon 198 of the prion protein gene (GSS-F198S) is characterized by conspicuous accumulation of prion protein (PrP)-amyloid deposits and neurofibrillary tangles. Recently, we demonstrated the transmissibility of GSS-F198S prions to bank vole carrying isoleucine at 109 PrP codon (BvI). Here we investigated: (i) the transmissibility of GSS-F198S prions to voles carrying methionine at codon 109 (BvM); (ii) the induction of hyperphosphorylated Tau (pTau) in two vole lines, and (iii) compared the phenotype of GSS-F198S-induced pTau with pTau induced in BvM following intracerebral inoculation of a familial Alzheimer’s disease case carrying Presenilin 1 mutation (fAD-PS1). We did not detect prion transmission to BvM, despite the high susceptibility of BvI previously observed. Immunohistochemistry established the presence of induced pTau depositions in vole brains that were not affected by prions. Furthermore, the phenotype of pTau deposits in vole brains was similar in GSS-F198S and fAD-PS1. Overall, results suggest that, regardless of the cause of pTau deposition and its relationship with PrPSc in GSS-F198S human-affected brains, the two components possess their own seeding properties, and that pTau deposition is similarly induced by GSS-F198S and fAD-PS1.