The host/parasite relationships of Xenopsylla astia and X. cheopis on Bandicota bengalensis in Rangoon, Burma.

ABSTRACT

In Rangoon, Burma, over half the commensal B. bengalensis taken in live traps were found to be infested with Xenopsylla species fleas. X. astia infestations were twice as common as those of the classic plague vector X. cheopis. In terms of absolute numbers X. astia outnumbered X. cheopis by 10 to 1. X. astia was more commonly found as a monospecific infestation, and X. cheopis was more commonly found mixed with X. astia. The flea indicies were high, with a specific index of 2.4 for X. cheopis and 10.2 for X. astia. The flea indicies and flea sex ratios remained stable across the host population and could not be correlated to changes in the head and body length of the host and were not different on male or female hosts. The evidence of this and other surveys is that X. cheopis is not as well adapted for parasitism on free ranging B. bengalensis as is X. astia.