Infestation rate of tick, mite and lice among rodent species in Menoufia governorate, Egypt

ABSTRACT

A preliminary survey of domestic rodent species and their ectoparasites tick, mite and lice was carried out in ten centers of Menoufia [Quesna, Shebeen El-Kom, Berka El-Saabe, El-Bagour, El-Shohada, Tala, Menoff, Searth El-Lian, Ashmon and El-Sadat] Governorate. Frequency of rodent species and ectoparasites indices [tick, mite and lice] were recorded in spring [2009]. The main species of rodent was Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus the grey-bellied rat, Rattus rattus alexandrinus the white-bellied rat, Rattus rattus frugivorus and the house mouse, Mus musculus. The common tick species attacking rodents were Rhipicephalus sp. and Hyalomma sp. The common mite species attacking rodents were Dermanyssus sangineus, Orithonysus bacoti, Haemolaelaps glasgowi, Laelaps nutalli, Radfordia sp. and Myobia sp. The only common lice species was Polyplax spinulosa. The fur mites Radfordia sp. and Myobia sp. were recorded at Quesna, Searth El-Lian and El-Sadat centers on R. norvegicus for the first time at Menoufia Governorate