Mesostigmatid mites associated with the house shrew, Suncus murinus, in Rangoon, Burma.

In Rangoon and vicinity Suncus murinus comprises almost 20% of the small mammal population with almost equal load of mesostigmatid mites compared to murine rodents. Suncus murinus was infected by four species of laelapids, out of which L. myonyssognathus seems to infest more on urban S. murinus. The infestation of the free living Androlaelaps or Hypoaspis species is higher on the rural shrews while the Cheyletus species is higher on the urban than the rural S. murinus.

Seasonal variations and relative abundance of mesostigmatid mites collected from Bandicota bengalensis and Rattus species in Rangoon, Burma.

Examination of 536 female mesostigmatid mites of 177 samples collected from Bandicota bengalensis in Rangoon, Burma revealed 6 species present: Laelaps echidnina, L. nuttalli, L. myonyssognathus, Laelaps sp. A and B of Allred, 1970, and Liponyssoides muris, all of which were elsewhere reported from Rattus spp. in Rangoon. Analysis of variation in abundance by season found no significant differences except for Liponyssoides muris which was most common in the hot dry season, March through May.

Species distribution of trombiculid mites on murine rodents in Rangoon, Burma.

Ectoparasite collections from over 12,000 commensal rodents and shrews in Rangoon were examined. Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus, R. exulans and Bandicota bengalensis were found to host 12 species of trombiculid mites. Ascoschoengastia indica was the most abundant trombiculid found representing 84% of the total sample of 15,000 chiggers. This species (A. indica) may be of considerable significance as a vector of murine typhus.

Mesostigmatid mites associated with three Rattus species collected in Rangoon, Burma.

Examination of 909 female mesostigmatid mites of 247 samples collected from Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus and R. exulans in Rangoon, Burma found 8 species present: Laelaps echidnina, L. nuttalli, L. myonyssognathus, Laelaps sp. A and B of Allred 1970, L. wittei, Liponyssoides muris and Ornithonyssus bacoti.