seasonal abundance of gerbillus pyramidum and their flea ectoparasites in Al Arish, North Sinai governorate, Egypt

ABSTRACT

The seasonal abundance and the flea ectoparasites of Gerbillus pyramidum were studied. The results showed that the jerboa was more common in summer [jerboa index 0.43] and least common in winter [jerboa index 0.35]. The overall male to female ratio was 4.2 1. The flea ectoparasites were more common in autumn [flea index 10.5] and least common in summer [flea index 6.8]. The overall flea index was 8.75 and the majority of fleas [90.9%] was collected on male jerboa. The collected fleas in a descending order of abundance and flea index were Xenopsylla cheopis [3.1], X. ramesis [2.7], Stenoponia tripectinata [1.4], Nosopsylla sinaiensis [0.9], Hopkinsipsylla occulta [0.6], and Pulex irritans [0.01]