Ectoparasites of Rodents Captured in Bandar Abbas, Southern Iran
-
EB Kia
,
H Moghddas-Sani
,
H Hassanpoor
,
H Vatandoost
,
F Zahabiun
,
AA Akhavan
,
AA Hanafi-Bojd
,
Z Telmadarraiy
Abstract
Background: Rodents play important role as host of ectoparasites and reservoir of different zoonotic diseases. The aim of this study was to asses the infestation of commensal rodents with ectoparasites in Bandar Abbas, a port city located in the northern part of the Persian Gulf in Iran.
Methods: Rodents were captured using live traps during the study period in year 2007. After transferring the rodents to the laboratory, they were identified and then their ectoparasites were collected and mounted for species identification using appropriate systematic keys.
Results: A total of 77 rodents were identified including Rattus norvegicus (74%), R. rattus (16.9%), Mus musculus (7.8%) and one hamster. Among all rodents, 40.3% were found infested with ectoparasites. A total of 69 ectoparasites were collected comprising flea, lice, mite and tick. Two species of fleas; Xenopsylla cheopis and X. astia were identified with higher index of X. astia. Two genera of ticks including Hyalomma sp. and Rhipicephalus sp. were identified. Laelaps nuttalli was the only mite found. The Polyplax spinulosa was considered as lice ectoparasite.
Conclusion: Among all arthropods collected, flea and lice had the most and the least frequency, respectively. Nearly all rodent species were infested with Xenopsylla. These fleas are important due to their role in plague and murine typhus transmission. Ticks are important due to their role in CCHF (Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever), theileriosis, babesiosis, anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis transmission .Monitoring of ectoparaiste infestation is important for preparedness and early warning preparation for possible control of arthropod-borne diseases.
Alahmed AM, Al-Dawood AS (2001) Rodents and their ectoparasites in Wadi Hanifah, Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. J Egy Soc Parasitol. 31(3): 737–43.
Bell JC, Plamer SR, Payne Jm (1988) The zoonosis: infection transmitted from animal to man. Edward Arnold Press, London UK.
Durden LA, Page BF (2008) Ectoparasites of commensal rodents in Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia, with notes on species of me- dical importance. Med Vet Entomol.5(1): 1–7.
El Kady GA, El Shazly AM, Mikhail MW, Bahgat IM (2007) Ectoparasites of commensal rodents in Talkha Center, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. J Egypt Soc Parasitol. 37(3): 825–33.
El Deeb HI, Zidan ZH, El Hawashy N,Mourad AA (1999) Rodent ectopara- sites relationships at new reclaimed areas of Egypt. Annals of Agr Sci. 44(2):799–810.
Fox I, García-Moll I (1961) Rat Ectoparasite Surveys in Relation to Murine Typhus Fever in Puerto Rico. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 10(4): 566-573.
Hanafi-Bojd AA, Shahi M, Baghaii M, Sha- yeghi M, Razmand N, Pakari A (2007) A study on rodent ectoparasites in Ban- dar Abbas: the main economic south- ern seaport of Iran. Iranian J Envir Hlth Sci Engin. 4(3): 173–176.
Hartelt K, Oehme R, Frank H, Brockmann SO, Hassler D, Kimmig P (2004) Patho- gens and symbionts in ticks: prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Ehr- lichia sp.), Wolbachia sp., Rickettsia sp.,and Babesia sp. in Southern Ger- many. International J Med Microbiol Supplement. 293(37): 86–92.
Inokuma H, Parola P, Raoult D, Brouqui P (2001) Molecular survey of Ehrlichia infection in ticks from animals in Ya- maguchi Prefecture, Japan. Vet Parasitol.99(4): 335–339.
Inokuma H, Beppu T, Okuda M, Shimada Y, Sakata Y (2003) Epidemiological survey of Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis using ticks collected from dogs in Japan.Vet Parasitol. 115(4): 343–348.
Kia EB, Homayouni MM, Farahnak A, Mohebali M, Shojai S (2001) Study of Endoparasites of Rodents and their Zoono- tic Importance In Ahvaz, South West Iran. Iranian J Pub Health. 30(1-2): 49–52
Linardi PM, Gomes AF, Botelho JR (1994) Some ectoparasites of commensal rodents from Huambo, Angola. J Med Entomol.31(5): 754–56.
Motevalli-Hagghi F, Gholami SH, Sharifi M, Sedaghat MM, Parsi B (2000) Study of rodents ectoparasites in Sari city and central regions of Mazandaran province in 1997-98. Iranian J Mazandaran Uni- versity of Med Sci. 27(10): 7–10.
Motevalli-Hagghi F, Gholami SH, Sharifi M,Mobedi I, I Sobhani I, Sedaghat MM, Najafpour AA (2002) Study of rodents ectoparasites in urban areas of Mazan- daran province in 1997-99. Iranian J Mazandaran Uni Med Sci. 27(13): 72–77.
Shayan A, Rafinejad J (2006) Arthropod Parasites of Rodents in Khorram Abbad district, Lorestan Provincen of Iran. Iranian J Pub Health. 35(3): 70–76.
Strandtmann RW, Wharton GW (1958). A manual of mesostigmatid mites parasitic on vertebrates. University of Maryland. pp 330.
Telmadarraiy Z, Vatandoost H, Mohammadi S, Akhavan AA, Abai MR, Rafinejad J , Kia EB, Faghih Naini F, Jedari M, Aboulhasani M (2007) Determination of rodent ectoparasite fauna in Sarpole- Zahab district, Kermanshah Province, Iran, 2004-2005. Iranian J Arthropod- Borne Dis. 1(1): 58–62.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 3 No 2 (2009) | |
| Section | Articles | |
| Keywords | ||
| Rodents Ectoparasite Iran | ||
| Rights and permissions | |
|
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
