Andrei Kandaurov

Ilia State University, Institute of Zoology, Researcher/Practitioner

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M.Sc. Biologist and Geographer (Tbilisi Pedagogical State University, faculty of Natural Sciences, 1969-1974)Andrei Kandaurov is an expert-zoologist, consultant in biodiversity conservation of the terrestrial animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians). His area of expertise include: field research, cameral works, and reports writing and editing.Mr. Andrei Kandaurov’s background is in geography and biology. As a zoologist researcher he has worked in Institute of Zoology, Georgian Academy of Sciences, in close collaboration with researchers in scientific centers of Russia (the Koltsov Development Biology Institute, A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution and Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Centre of Russian Academy of Sciences). Main qualification in ecology, distribution and taxonomy of mammals: rodents, insectivores and bats. In his credit are more than 50 published works in national and international scientific issues. Present position: assistant researcher of Vertebrate Lab, Institute of Zoology, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia.

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Papers by Andrei Kandaurov

Urushadze et al (2017) PLOS NTD

Evidence of Extensive Circulation of Yersinia enterocolitica in Rodents and Shrews in Natural Habitats from Retrospective and Perspective Studies in South Caucasus

by Ekaterine Zhgenti, Andrei Kandaurov, and Irma Burjanadze

Pathogens, 2021

Yersinia enterocolitica culture-positive rodents and shrews were reported in different territorie... more Yersinia enterocolitica culture-positive rodents and shrews were reported in different territories across Georgia during 14 of 17 years of investigations conducted for the period of 1981–1997. In total, Y. enterocolitica was isolated from 2052 rodents (15 species) and 33 shrews. Most isolates were obtained from Microtus arvalis, Rattus norvegicus, Mus musculus, and Apodemus spp. During the prospective study (2017−2019), isolates of Yersinia-like bacteria were cultured from 53 rodents collected in four parts of Georgia. All the Yersinia-like isolates were confirmed as Y. enterocolitica based on the API 20E and the BD Phenix50 tests. Whole-genome (WG) sequencing of five rodents and one shrew strain of Y. enterocolitica revealed that they possessed a set of virulence genes characteristic of the potentially pathogenic strains of biogroup 1A. All isolates lacked distinguished virulence determinants for YstA, Ail, TccC, VirF, and virulence plasmid pYV but carried the genes for YstB, YmoA,...

Data from: Prevalence, diversity, and host associations of Bartonella strains in bats from Georgia (Caucasus)

Karyotype Analysis of Nannospalax Xanthodon (Spalacidae, Rodentia) at the Easternmost Part of Its Distribution Range

Chromosomal differentiation can play a crucial role in speciation. In order to reveal a complete ... more Chromosomal differentiation can play a crucial role in speciation. In order to reveal a complete picture of the speciation process within a taxon, it is important to determine the geographic distribution of all its chromosomal forms. The blind mole rats (subfamily Spalacinae) are one of the best models for studying chromosomal speciation due to extremely rich chromosomal variation across their large geographic distribution range. To fill the gap in our knowledge of the distribution of chromosomal races of small-bodied blind mole rats (Nannospalax sp.), we collected individuals from the region of Javakheti, Georgia – one of the easternmost localities known for N. xanthodon. We determined that this population has 9 meta- or submetacentric and 15 acrocentric chromosomes (2n=50, NFa=66, NF= 70). The same chromosomal formula is known for the blind mole rats from the nearby Erzurum-Kars plateau in Turkey. We compare our results with the other chromosomal races with the same diploid number...

Evidence of Extensive Circulation of Yersinia enterocolitica in Rodents and Shrews in Natural Habitats from Retrospective and Perspective Studies in South Caucasus

Pathogens, 2021

Spatial Analysis Used in Baseline Study for the Preparation of Management Plan of Kazbegi Protected Areas

Collected data were separated in three generalized subsystem: environment (its main elements: air... more Collected data were separated in three generalized subsystem: environment (its main elements: air, land and water) as an Abiotic subsystems; flora and fauna, as the elements of a Biotic subsystem and Cultural environment, as a third subsystem, with its historical-cultural heritage and existing infrastructure. Interpretation and evaluation of the data were made for each component (Abiotic, Biotic and Cultural) through the use of criteria of significance and description of constraints (limiting factors) which were elaborated under the project SPPA/CS/2015-5/RE1. In parallel with the studies, the structure of GIS geodatabase for the protected area was created, which consists of both base map features – GIS layers, and thematic part. The base map scale is 1:25k, the scale of thematic maps is 1:50k. Based on the study results, the recommendations were developed: on the issues of the protected area category relevance, internal zoning, use of natural resources, biodiversity protection and ...

Declines of amphibians and reptiles in Georgia during the 20th century: virtual vs. actual problems

The republic of Georgia is situated in the central-western part of the Caucasus Isth¬mus in betwe... more The republic of Georgia is situated in the central-western part of the Caucasus Isth¬mus in between the Black and Caspian Seas. The country has thirteen amphibian species: Triturus karelinii, T. vittatus ophryticus, T. vulgaris lantzi, Mertensiella caucasica, Pelobates syriacus, Pelodytes caucasicus, Bufo verrucosissimus, B. viridis, Hyla arborea schelkownikowi, H. savignyi, Rana macrocnemis, R. camerani, R. ridibunda. Three species (M. caucasica, P. caucasicus, B. verrucosissimus) and two subspecies (T. vulgaris lantzi, H. arborea schelkownikowi) are endemic to the Caucasus. Four species (T. vittatus, H. savignyi, R. macrocnemis, R. »camerani«) are restricted to the Near East region. Two (T. karelinii, P. syriacus) are distributed throughout south-eastern Europe and the Middle East, while two (B. virdis, R. ridibunda) have a wide Eurasian distribution. The analy¬sis of amphibian distribution patterns, both within and outside the Caucasus region, leads to the recognition of five Zoo...

Land Use and Landscape Conservation in Southern Georgia

The region of Javakheti in southern Georgia, at the border with Armenia and Turkey, belongs admin... more The region of Javakheti in southern Georgia, at the border with Armenia and Turkey, belongs administratively to the province of Samtckhe-Javakheti and covers two administrative districts: Ninotsminda and Akhalkalaki (Map 1, Map 2). The entire area of the region comprises 2589 km² (ca. 3.8 % of the country‟s area), the entire population – 102,400 persons (1.9 % of the county‟s population)[The entire statistical data presented here was obtained within the framework of the present project. Other existing statistical sources (TM, 1994; Guretski, 1998) were used in order to adjust some important figures, including the total area of the district and population size]. The region lies in treeless mountain plateau with an average elevation ca. 2000 m, which represents the northern edge of volcanic uplands spreading through the western Armenia, eastern and central Turkey and southern Georgia. From the north, the region borders Borjomi district; from the west – Aspindza district; from the east...

Isolated population of the Middle Eastern Phoenicolacerta laevis from the Georgian Black Sea Coast, and its genetic closeness to populations from southern Turkey

Zoology in the Middle East

Prevalence, diversity, and host associations of Bartonella strains in bats from Georgia (Caucasus)

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2017

Bartonella infections were investigated in seven species of bats from four regions of the Republi... more Bartonella infections were investigated in seven species of bats from four regions of the Republic of Georgia. Of the 236 bats that were captured, 212 (90%) specimens were tested for Bartonella infection. Colonies identified as Bartonella were isolated from 105 (49.5%) of 212 bats Phylogenetic analysis based on sequence variation of the gltA gene differentiated 22 unique Bartonella genogroups. Genetic distances between these diverse genogroups were at the level of those observed between different Bartonella species described previously. Twenty-one reference strains from 19 representative genogroups were characterized using four additional genetic markers. Host specificity to bat genera or families was reported for several Bartonella genogroups. Some Bartonella genotypes found in bats clustered with those identified in dogs from Thailand and humans from Poland.

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Declines of amphibians and reptiles in Georgia during the 20th century: virtual vs. actual problems

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Caucasus

[Polytypic species Mus musculus in Transcaucasia]

Comptes rendus de l'Académie des sciences. Série III, Sciences de la vie, 1996

It has been suggested that the house mouse, Mus musculus, is a polytypic species that originated ... more It has been suggested that the house mouse, Mus musculus, is a polytypic species that originated in the northern part of the Indian sub-continent. Its subspecies have established secondary contact zones in east-centre China and in western Europe. However, the exact colonization routes taken by these subtaxa and their regions of primary differentiation have not yet been identified. We analyzed 89 mice from Transcaucasia at 35 enzyme loci and for polymorphism of the mitochondrial control region and a deletion of the Y chromosome. The various samples analyzed are a mosaic of populations intermediates between M. m. domesticus and M. m. musculus. Trancaucasia appears thus as a broad secondary contact zone, a fact which reinforces the idea that the species has retained large possibilities of remixing.

Bats Conservation Action Plan for the Georgia

Molecular Survey of Bacterial Zoonotic Agents in Bats from the Country of Georgia (Caucasus)

PLOS ONE, 2017

Bats are important reservoirs for many zoonotic pathogens. However, no surveys of bacterial patho... more Bats are important reservoirs for many zoonotic pathogens. However, no surveys of bacterial pathogens in bats have been performed in the Caucasus region. To understand the occurrence and distribution of bacterial infections in these mammals, 218 bats belonging to eight species collected from four regions of Georgia were examined for Bartonella, Brucella, Leptospira, and Yersinia using molecular approaches. Bartonella DNA was detected in 77 (35%) bats from all eight species and was distributed in all four regions. The prevalence ranged 6-50% per bat species. The Bartonella DNA represented 25 unique genetic variants that clustered into 21 lineages. Brucella DNA was detected in two Miniopterus schreibersii bats and in two Myotis blythii bats, all of which were from Imereti (west-central region). Leptospira DNA was detected in 25 (13%) bats that included four M. schreibersii bats and 21 M. blythii bats collected from two regions. The Leptospira sequences represented five genetic variants with one of them being closely related to the zoonotic pathogen L. interrogans (98.6% genetic identity). No Yersinia DNA was detected in the bats. Mixed infections were observed in several cases. One M. blythii bat and one M. schreibersii bat were co-infected with Bartonella, Brucella, and Leptospira; one M. blythii bat and one M. schreibersii bat were co-infected with Bartonella and Brucella; 15 M. blythii bats and three M. schreibersii bats were co-infected with Bartonella and Leptospira. Our results suggest that bats in Georgia are exposed to multiple bacterial infections. Further studies are needed to evaluate pathogenicity of these agents to bats and their zoonotic potential.

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Caucasus

by N. Zazanashvili and Andrei Kandaurov

Wetlands of the Caucasus, which are important for the Conservation of Animal Biodiversity

by N. Zazanashvili and Andrei Kandaurov

Biodiversity of the Caucasus Ecoregion and Long-term Vision and its Conservation and Sustainable Use

by N. Zazanashvili and Andrei Kandaurov