Ectoparasites of Rodents from some Districts in Baghdad

Abstract

A total of 91 rodents were identified including Rattus norvegicus (n=58) , Rattus rattus (n=31) & Mus musculus( n=2) which were collected from five districts of Baghdad area during 2005-2006 ; with total general ectoparasites prevalence infestation (72.5%). A total of 306 ectoparasites were collected comprising flea, lice, mites and tick . Eight species of ectoparasites were identified , comprising flea , Xenopsylla cheopis ; tick , Hyalomma asiaticum asiaticum ; lice , Hoploplerura oenomydis, H. acanthopus, Polyplax spinulosa; mites , Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus bacoti , Laelaps echidnina. Mites recorded highest prevalence and index then lice with least flea and tick prevalence's and indices in general ; Only mites were collected from Mus musculus. Rattus rattus ectoparasites means were higher than that of Rattus norvegicus but not statistically significant (P=0.231) , while there were Statistically significant differences detected with chi square (P = 0.008), and Kruskal-Wallis one way analysis of variance on rank (P > 0.001) at 0.05 level between one or two means of lice , mites , fleas and ticks of Rattus norvegicus , Rattus rattus & Mus musculus . Given parameters of rodents vector arthropods understudy could assists in control of zoonotic diseases such as plague and murine typhus .