Occurrence of ectoparasites on rodents in Sukhothai Province, northern Thailand.

A survey of ectoparasites on rodents was carried out bimonthly from April 2008 to March 2009 in 3 districts of Sukhothai Province, northern Thailand. A total of 130 rodents comprising 8 species of hosts were captured and examined for ectoparasites. The hosts examined were Bandicota indica, Bandicota savilei, Rattus losea, Rattus rattus, Rattus exulans, Rattus norvegicus, Menetes berdmorei and Tamiops mcclellandii. Ninety-seven ectoparasites were collected: 1 species of tick (Hemaphysalis bandicota), 2 species of mites (Laelaps nuttali and Laelaps echidninus), and 1 species of flea (Xenopsylla cheopis) were identified. The infestation rates by ticks, mites and fleas on the rodents were 0.77, 5.38 and 6.15%, respectively. Monitoring the rodent population and their ectoparasites is important for future planning of prevention and control of zoonotic diseases in the area.

A survey of ectoparasitic arthropods on domestic animals in Tak Province, Thailand.

In July 2008 a survey of ectoparasites on domestic animals was conducted in the Royal Thai Army areas of operation along the Thai-Myanmar Border, Tak Province, Thailand. Eleven different ectoparasites were collected: two species of hard ticks (Ixodidae), three species of fleas (Siphonaptera) and 6 species of sucking or chewing lice (2 species each in the suborders Anoplura, Ischnocera and Amblycera) were collected. Domestic dogs (Canis lupusfamiliaris) (n = 94) were found infested with 2 species of flea Ctenocephalides felis orientis (86.2%) and Echidnophaga gallinacea (1.1%), one species of tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (21.3%), and one louse species, Heterodoxus spiniger (7.4%). Domestic cats (Felis catus) (n = 6) were found infested with only flea species, Ctenocephalides felis felis (100%) and E. gallinacea (33.3%). Cattle (Bos indicus) (n = 11) had Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (72.7%), Linognathus vituli (27.3%), and Solenopotes capillatus (9.1%) present, while chickens (Gallus domesticus) (n = 10) had infestations with E. gallinacea (20%), and 3 lice species, Lipeurus caponis (10%), Goniodes dissimilis (10%) and Menopon gallinae (60%). This is believed to be the first report of S. capillatus collected in Thailand.