title: Distribution and ecology of small mammals in Albania.
abstract: In order to gain an insight into the population dynamics and habitat preferences of rodents in Albania, small mammals were collected during 2006-2009 in various districts of the country. Of the 15 species of small mammals captured (12 in Rodentia and 3 in Insectivora order), the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) was the most frequently collected, representing 50% of the 325 small mammals captured, followed by the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) (20.62%). Apodemus flavicollis is the primary reservoir for Dobrava-Belgrade virus which causes to humans hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome; the places with A. flavicollis abundance were those with records of the human disease. Knowledge of the reservoir ecology in a country facilitates risk assessments for rodent-borne diseases.
authors.affiliation: Control of Infectious Diseases Department, Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania.
authors.forename: Elton
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rogozi
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bego
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.forename: Kujtim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mersini
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bino
mesh_terms: D000415:Albania; D000818:Animals; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D017753:Ecosystem; D007312:Eulipotyphla; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012377:Rodentia