Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 11 1 2017 04 18 36 41 EN Zabihollah Zarei Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran Mehdi Mohebali Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Centers for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Zahra Heidari Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran Eshrat Beigom Kia Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran Amrollah Azarm Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Tarbiat Modarres, Tehran, Iran Hasan Bakhshi Malaria and Vector Research Group, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Jaber Davoodi Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Islamic Azad University Abhar Branch, Abhar, Iran Hamid Hassanpour Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran Manizhe Roohnavaz Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran Mahya Khodabakhsh Department of Veterinary Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran Zakkyeh Telmadarraiy Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Tehran University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran 2016 02 24 2016 02 24 Background: Rodents play an important role as reservoir of some pathogens, and the host of some ectoparasites as well. These ectoparasites can transmit rodents’ pathogens to human or animals. The aim of this study was to assess the distribution and infestation load of ectoparasites on rodents in Meshkin-Shahr District, northwestern Iran. Method: Rodents were captured using baited live traps in spring 2014 from Meshkin-Shahr District and were trans­ferred to the laboratory for identification to the species level. Their ectoparasites were collected, mounted and identi­fied. Results: Three rodent species including Meriones persicus (74%), Mus musculus (16.9%) and Cricetulus migrato­rius (9%) were identified. Among all rodents, 185 specimens (90.69%) were infested with a total of 521 ectopara­sites. Overall, 10 arthropods species were collected, including fleas (97.6%), one mite (1.6%) and one louse species (0.6%) as follows: Xenopsylla nubica, X. astia, X. buxtoni, X. cheopis, Nosopsyllus fasciatus, N. iranus, Cten­ocephalides felis, Ctenophthalmus rettigismiti, Ornithonyssus sp and one species of genus Polyplax. The most prev­alent ectoparasites species was X. nubica (89%). Conclusion: Nearly all rodent species were infested with Xenopsylla species. Monitoring of ectoparasites on infested rodents is very important for awareness and early warning towards control of arthropod-borne diseases. https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/392 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/392/309