International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences

ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 2 Number 4 (2013) pp. 38-41

Prevalence of Ectoparasites in commensal rats in Dehradun, India

Shashi K. Solanki* 1 , Rashmi Chauhan1 , Abdul Rahman1 and Kanika Solanki

1Department of Zoology, D. A.V. (P.G) College, Dehradun-248001, India 2S.G.R.R.M.I.H, Medical College, Dehradun-248001, India *Corresponding author e-mail: shashisolanki@outlook.com

A B S T R A C T

In the present investigation, 50 commensal rats of three species were examined for their arthropod ectoparasites from two different city habitats. Rats were captured during the period of October 2011 to March 2012 from Dehradun. Identified rats were Rattus rattus (54%), Rattus norvegicus (40%) and Mus musculus (6%). For all three species of rats more males 28 (56%) were captured than 22 (44%) females. 18% of captured rodents were infested with arthropod parasites. Collected ectoparasite was identified as Xenopsylla cheopis, Ixodes spp, Polyplex spp. Host gender does not affect ectoparasite infestation (P< 0.05). The study documented that there was no significant difference in the rate of infestation among various species of rats (P< 0.05).

Keywords

Rattus; R.norvegicus, M.musculus; X.cheopi; Polyplex; Ixodes.