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 for HFRS. 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.
Andreychev A., Boyarova E., Brandler O., Tukhbatullin A., Kapustina S. Terrestrial and subterranean mammals as reservoirs of zoonotic diseases in the central part of European Russia // Diversity. 2023. V. 15. № 1. P. 39

Long-term dynamics analysis of small mammals in the Republic of Mordovia is given in this paper. Ecological studies on the small mammals at Republic of Mordovia were made during the years 2006-2019.There are altogether 17 species. Among the 23,780 captures. A 3-4-year cycle in population fluctuations was revealed for the conditions of this region. It is shown that in unfavorable years under the conditions of temperature and humidity (2010 and 2012), small mammals recovered their population numbers by the end of the growing season due to the existing areas of settlement and concentration centers. The sex ratio of most species over the research average period is almost always biased in the direction of males.
ANDREYCHEV, A. (2021). Population structure and dynamics of small rodents and insectivorous mammals in a region of the Middle Volga, Russia. Biharean Biologist, 15(1), 33-38.

Small mammals are important reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens that cause significant morbidity in humans. Of these, tularemia and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) are among of the most widespread zoonotic diseases worldwide. Despite the fact that both pathogens have great epidemiological significance in Russia, epizootological data for urbanized areas are still scarce. This study was conducted to investigate the occurrence and prevalence of tularemia and hantaviruses in small mammals living in close proximity to humans. Altogether, 425 small mammals (278 from urban environment and 147 from natural environment) representing nine species (Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, Cricetus cricetus, Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus uralensis, Mus musculus, Sorex araneus and Neomys fodiens) were captured in the Russian Republic of Mordovia and screened for pathogens using different serological and bacteriological methods. Red bank vole (M. glareolus) and yellow-necked wood mouse (A. flavicollis) are among species in the forest zone of the city of Saransk and are the source of a number of zoonotic diseases. In the non-urban environment, the main role as carriers of zoonotic diseases was played by house (M. musculus) and striped field (A. agrarius) mice. A total of 23 % of the small mammals sampled in Saransk were positive for tularemia, whereas 9.7 % were positive for HFRS. Furthermore, dual infections with both tularemia and hantaviruses were shown in 1.4 % of animals, suggesting that the same small mammal host can be infected with several pathogens at the same time, therefore representing a serious threat to public health. Small mammal ecology is a primary determinant of zoonotic pathogens dynamics in rodent populations and the risk of pathogen transmission to people.
Maydanov, M., Andreychev, A., Boyarova, E., Kuznetsov, V., & Ilykaeva, E. SMALL MAMMALS AS RESERVOIRS OF TULAREMIA AND HFRS IN THE FOREST ZONE OF SARANSK. Forestry Ideas. 2021. V. 27. № 1. P. 128–135

A list of 40 species is presented of the rodents and insectivores collected during a 15-year period from the Republic of Mordovia. The dataset contains more than 24,000 records of rodent and insectivore species from 23 districts, including Saransk. A major part of the data set was obtained during expedition research and at the biological station. The work is based on the materials of our surveys of rodents and insectivo-rous mammals conducted in Mordovia using both trap lines and pitfall arrays using traditional methods.
Andreychev A., Kuznetsov V. Checklist of rodents and insectivores of the Mordovia, Russia // ZooKeys. 2020. № 1004. P. 129–139.

n one natural area, animals may have different distribution. In some areas they inhabit, and in other areas, they do not inhabit. Scientists have been working on this issue for a long time. In this study reports that the species composition and distribution of species varies depending on geoecological districts. Twenty-eight rodent species have been recorded in the territory of Mordovia. The largest number of species in the region belongs to those living in coniferous and broad-leaved forests (42.9%). In the second place in terms of representation are species widely distributed in several natural areas (28.5%). They are slightly inferior to the types of steppe fauna (25%). The taiga type of fauna is represented by only 3.6% of the total number of registered species. For each geoecological district, the features of the rodent fauna are given and rare species are identified. The forest-steppe region of Mordovia is compared in rodent fauna with other regions of Russia with different typical faunal assemblages.
Andreychev A. Proportion faunal assemblage of rodents in geoecological districts of Mordovia, Russia // Biodiversitas. 2020. V. 21. № 9. P. 3961–3968.

Republic of Mordovia in Russia is a historical focus for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and tularemia. This study aimed at assessing the current status of these foci by studying their rodent reservoirs. Among the small rodents in Mordovia, the red bank vole, the common vole and the house mouse play an important role as carriers of zoonotic diseases. However, it is necessary to take into account the role of such а small species as forest dormouse (Dryomys nitedula), which has a high percentage of infection. Of all examined dormice, 66.7 % were found to have antigens of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome viral pathogen, and 33.3 % - to have antigens of tularemia pathogen. Only one specimen (16.7 %) was found to have no antigens of zoonotic diseases. Our study concluded that the forest dormouse in the Republic of Mordovia was incriminated as a pathogen reservoir causing infectious diseases in human
Andreychev A., Boyarova E. Forest dormouse (Dryomys nitedula, Rodentia, Gliridae) - a highly contagious rodent in relation to zoonotic diseases // Forestry Ideas. 2020. V. 26. № 1. P. 262–269.

Прослежена зависимость успешности размножения филина от динамики численности грызунов, которые являются основой его питания в Мордовии. При пиках численности грызунов у родительских пар наблюдаются большие кладки и высокая выживаемость слетков; после года депрессии численности грызунов – на следующий год пары не гнездятся вовсе или успешность размножения сводится к минимуму за счет гибели кладок. В 52% случаях гнездования пары откладывали по 3 яйца, в 31% – по 2 яйца, в 9% – по 4 яйца, в 4% – по 1 яйцу и по 5 яиц. Средняя величина кладки 2.78 ± 0.17 яйца. Среднее число выращенных птенцов на успешное гнездо 2.41 ± 0.27. Гнезда в Мордовии располагаются на расстоянии 1.1–3.7 км от населенных пунктов.
Андрейчев А.В., Лапшин А.С., Кузнецов В.А. Успешность размножения филина (Bubo bubo) и динамика численности грызунов // Зоологический журнал. 2016. Т. 95. № 2. С. 204–215.

Впервые для урбанизированных территорий Мордовии приводится видовой состав грызунов и насекомоядных млекопитающих. В зонах населенных пунктов, подвергающихся разному антропогенному воздействию, выявлено 18 видов. Наиболее обычными из них являются домовая, малая лесная и полевая мыши, серая крыса, обыкновенная и рыжая полевки, обыкновенная бурозубка и белогрудый еж. Малая лесная мышь на многих участках выступает в качестве доминирующего вида. Кластерный анализ позволил выделить в урбосистемах региона две наиболее близкие по составу видов зоны: 1) парковая зона, сады и огороды; 2) техногенная зона.
Андрейчев А.В. Грызуны и насекомоядные млекопитающие урбанизированных территорий Мордовии // Научные ведомости БелГУ. Сер. Естеств. науки. 2015. Т. 33. Вып. 21 (218). С. 71–77.

Приводится анализ многолетней динамики численности мелких млекопитающих в Республике Мордовия. В условиях региона выявлена 3-4 летняя цикличность во флуктуациях численности. Показано что в неблагополучные годы по условиям температуры и увлажнения (2010 и 2012 гг.) мелкие млекопитающие к концу вегетационного периода года восстанавливали свою численность за счет имеющихся зон расселения и очагов концентрации. Половое соотношение у большинства видов за усредненный период исследований практически всегда оказывается смещенным в сторону самцов. В возрастном аспекте преобладание в популяциях разных видов чаще всего приходится на неполовозрелых особей.
Андрейчев А.В. Структура населения и динамика численности мелких грызунов и насекомоядных млекопитающих Республики Мордовия // Известия Самарского НЦ РАН. 2014. Т. 16, № 1. С. 164–168.

В статье представлены результаты изучения распространения грызунов и насекомоядных млекопитающих для запада Республики Мордовия. Приводятся видовой состав, особенности биотопического распределения, численности мелких млекопитающих. Было отработано 14682 ловушко-суток и отловлено 1136 зверьков. В анализ взято 6 типов местообитаний. Наиболее успешными видами оказались обыкновенная бурозубка, обыкновенная полевка и рыжая полевка, заселяющие практически все местообитания. Домовая мышь и равнозубая бурозубка отличались от остальных фоновых видов большей стенотопностью.
Андрейчев А.В., Кузнецов В.А. Видовой состав и биотопическое распределение мелких млекопитающих из отрядов грызуны и насекомоядные на территории западной части Республики Мордовия // Вестник Татарского государственного гуманитарно - педагогического университета. 2011. № 1 (23). С. 51–55.