Genus of mammals
Peromyscus is a genus of rodents. They are commonly referred to as deer mice or deermice, not to be confused with the chevrotain or "mouse deer". They are New World mice only distantly related to the common house and laboratory mouse, "Mus musculus". From this relative, "Peromyscus" species are distinguished by relatively larger eyes, and also often two-tone coloring, with darker colors over the dorsum (back), and white abdominal and limb hair-coloring. In reference to the coloring, the word "Peromyscus" comes from Greek words meaning "booted mouse". They are also accomplished jumpers and runners by comparison to house mice, and their common name of "deer mouse" (coined in 1833) is in reference to this agility.
The most common species of deer mice in the continental United States are two closely related species, "P. maniculatus" and "P. leucopus". In the United States, "Peromyscus" is the most populous mammalian genus overall, and has become notorious in the western United States as a carrier of hantaviruses.
Reservoir of human disease.
Hantavirus.
The deer mouse came to the attention of the public when it was discovered to be the primary reservoir species for Sin Nombre hantavirus.
Lyme disease.
A recent study in British Columbia of 218 deer mice showed 30% (66) were seropositive for "Borrelia burgdorferi", the agent of Lyme disease.
Other diseases.
Ehrlichiosis and babesiosis are also carried by the deer mouse.
Use as a laboratory animal.
While wild populations are sometimes studied, "Peromyscus" species are also easy to breed and keep in captivity, although they are more energetic and difficult to handle than the relatively more tame "M. musculus". For certain studies, they are also favored over the laboratory mouse ("M. musculus") and the laboratory rat ("Rattus norvegicus"). Apart from their importance in studying infectious diseases, "Peromyscus" species are useful for studying phylogeography, speciation, chromosomes, genetics, ecology, population genetics, conservation and evolution in general. They are also useful for researching repetitive-movement disorders. Their use in aging research is because "Peromyscus" spp., despite being of similar size to the standard laboratory mouse, have maximum lifespans of 5–7 years, compared to the 3-year maximum lifespan of "ad libitum"-fed laboratory strains or wild-caught "M. musculus".
The Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center at the University of South Carolina was established by Professor Wallace Dawson in 1985 to raise animals of the peromyscine species for research and educational use. This institute maintains populations of several different species (including "Peromyscus californicus", "Peromyscus maniculatus", "Peromyscus melanophrys", "Peromyscus eremicus", and "Peromyscus aztecus"). A variety of mutations affecting their behavior, biochemistry, and the color of their coats is exhibited in these genetic lines.
References.
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