Microsoft Word - 8- Dr_Telma_RTL.doc Iranian J Arthropod-Borne Dis, (2007), 1(1): 58-62 Z Telmadarraiy et al.: Determination of Rodent… 58 Short Communication Determination of Rodent Ectoparasite Fauna in Sarpole-Zahab District, Kermanshah Province, Iran, 2004-2005 *Z Telmadarraiy, H Vatandoost, S Mohammadi, AA Akhavan, MR Abai, J Rafinejad, EB Kia, F Faghih Naini, M Jedari, M Aboulhasani Dept. of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health and Institute of Health Research, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Iran (Received 8 Oct 2006; accepted 22 Apr 2007) ABSTRACT Ectoparasites of various species of rodents were examined from Sarepole Zehab, Kermanshah Province Iran during 2005. This city is bordered with Iraq. A total of 139 rodents included 6 species of hosts were captured during all different seasons and examined for ectoparasites using live trap. The area of study was mainly plateu (70%) and mountanous. The hosts including: Microtus socialis, Mus musculus, Rattus rattus, Nesokia indica, Meriones persicus and Tatera indica. The 9 species of ectoparasites recovered included 3 fleas (Pulex irritans, Xenopsylla buxtoni, Nosopsyllus medus), one sucking lice (Polyplax spinolosa), two ticks (Rhipicephalus sp., Hyalomma sp.), and 3 mites (Lealaps nuttalli, Dermanysus sanguineus, Ornithonussus bacoti). Among all arthropod collected, the lice and flea had the most and least frequency, i.e. 77.7% and 4.4%, respectivelly. The data showed that the ectoparasites on some rodent hosts tend to prefer particular host body sites, and that some ectoparasite species sites may overlap owing to their inaccessibility to the host. Keywords: Rodents, Ectoparasites, Iran INTRODUCTION Most medically important rodents belong to the families of Muridae and the Cricetidae. Ro- dents play a role in many diseases, such as plague, transmitted by the rat flea Xenopsylla cheopis and Weil's disease, a severe form of leptospirosis transmitted via infected rat urine. Rodents play a role in conditions such as echi- nococcosis (E. multilocularis), trichinellosis, Lyme borreliosis, salmonellosis, rat bite fever, tularemia, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, Hy- menolepis diminuta and rickettsioses such as RMSF, scrub typhus and murine typhus. Haem- orrhagic fevers that are transmitted by rodents ("rodent-borne") include Hantaviruses and Arena viruses such as Junin, Machupo and Lassa fe- ver. Infection with Penicillium marneffei is es- sentially a disease of rodents, but can occur in AIDS patients in Southeast Asia (Bell et al. 1988, Vatandoost et al. 2003, Telmadarraiy et al. 2004). The aim of this study was to find geographi- cal distribution of rodents and their ectoparasites for implementation of any prevention and con- trol measures for zoonotic diseases in the region. MATERIALS AND METHODS Geographical information Sarpole Zahab area, 971 km2, Longitude 54° 52, Attitude 34° 24́, Elevation 550 meter, precipitation 500 mm, Maximum temperature 44.8 °C, Minimum temperature 3.4 °C. *Corresponding author: Dr Z Telmadarraiy, Tel: +98 21 66465404, Fax: +98 21 66462267, E-mail: ztelma@ yahoo.co.in Iranian J Arthropod-Borne Dis, (2007), 1(1): 58-62 Z Telmadarraiy et al.: Determination of Rodent… 59 Rodent collection Rodents were live trapped at different lo- calities including Markaziand Humeh Ghaleh- Shahin Zahab and Posht-Tangh Beshive and Patagh. The collection was carried out on vari- ous occasions in years 2004- 2005. Live traps were randomly set in different habitats (e.g., woodland transects, woodland, old fields, re- fuse heaps, beside dump, in and around demol- ished buildings at different localities). Traps were baited with favorable food of rodents ac- cording to the season. Collecting of ectoparasites Captured animals were transported to labo- ratory and their ectoparasites were picked up. Fleas, mites, lice and ticks were collected using brushing against the fur of rodents. In some cases of ticks they were collected by forceps. Ectoparasites were stored in 70% ethanol for their preservation and identification. Ectoparasite and rodent identification Ectoparasites specimens were mounted us- ing different stages of clearing, dehydration and mounting procedures. Finally specimens were fixed in between microscope slides and cover glass using Canadabalzam. Different criteria of morphology of rodents were used for species identification. Field operation, site selection, active recon- naissance, trap timing, trapping method, trap baiting, trap collection, biometrics measurement, data recoding, ectoparasites collection labora- tory operation, preparation of rodent skulls, mounting of ectoparasite, identification using valid keys, confirmation of some species by expertise Institute was carried out according to standard methods provided. Some ticks were collected at the immature stage, so that they species name was announced as sp. RESULTS In four different epidemiological parts of the county a total of 139 rodents of both sexes were captured and from them 753 sample of ectoparasites were collected. Subsequently all of them were identfied in labratoary. Rodents belong to suborder Myomorpha, family of Muri- dae (Subfamily: Murinae), Critidae (Subfamily: Gerbillinae and Microtinae) (Table 1). Three spe- cies of Mus musculus, Rattus rattus, and Ne- sokia indica were found in all parts of the study area. There was no significant difference in dis- tribution of two commensal rodent in their dis- tribution (P> 0.05), However wild rodents was found significantly different in their abundance and frequency (P< 0.05). There was significant difference among rodent species in their habi- tats (P< 0.05). Tatera indica was found more infested by different ectoparasites than other species (78.1%). The figure for Microtus so- cialis was very low (0.3%). The ectoparasites were found mainly from different species of flea, mite, lice and ticks (Table 2, Fig.1). Several indicators such as: Ec- toparasite Species Richness, Mean abundance, Ectoparasite Catch Range, and Specific Diver- sity Index were determined for each rodent and ectoparasites. These indicators mainly depend on season, rodent species, ectoparasite species, location, method of catch, geographical situa- tion, ecological condition, rodent predators, sea- sonal activities, and population dynamics. Xenop- sylla buxtoni was found in all seasons; however this species was more prevalent in summer. In contrast, Pulex irritans are active during winter. Nosopsyllus medus was found mainly in spring. Polyplax spinulosa are found mainly in autumn. Hyalomma sp. and Laelaps nuttalli in spring, and Rhipicephalus sp. in summer were more abundant. Iranian J Arthropod-Borne Dis, (2007), 1(1): 58-62 Z Telmadarraiy et al.: Determination of Rodent… 60 Table 1. Species composition of rodents, Sarpolezahab District, Kermanshah Province, 2004-2005 Rodents catch at different area Markaziand Humeh Ghaleh- Shahin Zahab and Posht-Tangh Beshive and Patagh Rodent catch rate Rodent species Catch No. Catch rate (%) Catch No. Catch rate (%) Catch No. Catch rate (%) Catch No. Catch rate (%) Catch No. Catch rate (%) Chi-Square test (P-value) Mus musculus 9 25.0 8 22.2 10 27.8 9 25.0 36 25.8 0.794 Rattus rattus 6 31.6 4 21.1 3 15.8 6 31.6 19 13.6 0.782 Nesokia indica 8 22.9 7 20.0 5 14.3 15 42.9 35 25.2 0.042 Microtus socialis 3 7.1 0 0 0 0 2 12.5 5 3.6 0.023 Meriones persicus 5 100.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 3.6 - Tatera indica 0 0 0 0 39 100 0 0 39 28.1 0.000 Total 31 30.2 19 45.3 57 13.0 32 11.5 139 100.0 0.000 Table 2. Ectoparasite groups among rodents, Sarpolezahab District, Kermanshah Province, 2004-2005 Rodents catch at different area Total catch rate Fleas Mites Lice Ticks Rodent species Catch No. Catch rate (%) Catch No. Catch rate (%) Catch No. Catch rate (%) Catch No. Catch rate (%) Catch No. Catch rate (%) Chi-Square test (P-value) Mus musculus 4 18.2 18 81.8 0 0 0 0 22 2.9 0.003 Rattus rattus 6 50.0 0 0 0 0 6 50.0 12 1.6 1.000 Nesokia indica 4 4.2 0 0 34 35.4 58 60.4 96 12.8 0.000 Microtus socialis 2 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.3 - Meriones persicus 7 21.2 14 42.4 10 30.3 2 6.1 33 4.4 0.026 Tatera indica 10 1.7 10 1.7 540 92.0 27 4.6 587 78.1 0.000 Total 33 4.4 42 5.6 584 77.7 93 12.4 752 100.0 0.000 Fig. 1. Different ectoparasites collected from rodents in the study area XXeennooppssyyllllaa bbuuxxttoonnii PPuulleexx sspp.. NNoossooppssyylllluuss mmeedduuss HHyyaalloommmmaa sspp.. RRhhiippiicceepphhaalluuss sspp.. LLaaeellaappss nnuuttttaallllii O Orrnniitthhoonnyyssssuuss bbaaccoottii DDeerrmmaannyyssssuuss ssaanngguuiinneeuuss PPoollyyppllaaxx ssppiinnuulloossaa Iranian J Arthropod-Borne Dis, (2007), 1(1): 58-62 Z Telmadarraiy et al.: Determination of Rodent… 61 DISCUSSION There are several reports in the world indi- cation variation of those indicators (Abulhab 1984, Meehan 1984, Shoukry et al.1986, Durden et al. 2000, Shayan 2003, Kia et al. 2004). Lae- laps nuttalli, and Polyplax spinulosa was also reported from Mongolia (Chuluun et al. 2005). The prevalence and general indices of some ectoparasites in this area showed differences related to the locality of their rat hosts. Sea- sonal changes in the general indices of some ectoparasites paralleled seasonal changes in the relative abundance of their rat hosts. The indices of infestation by the mites Lae- laps nuttalli, the louse Polyplax spinulosa and the flea Xenopsylla cheopis, on Rattus norvegicus norvegicus in Brazil were related to seasonal period, sex of the host and area of capture (Linardi et al. 1985). Mode of transmission of disease from rodents to human are; feces, urine, saliva, blood and milk. Factors explaining the emergence of a zoonotic or potentially zoonotic disease are usually complex, involving mecha- nisms at the molecular level, such as genetic drift and shift, and modification of the immu- nological status of individuals and populations. Social and ecological conditions influencing population growth and movement, food habits, the environment and many other factors may play a more important role than changes at the molecular level. The probability of disease trans- mission from animals to man is influenced by several factors such as: length of time the ani- mal is infective, length of the incubation period in animals (this is important in some diseases with long incubation periods, because the ani- mals may be studied and euthanatized before they become infective for humans, the stability of the agent. (Acha and Szyfres 1987). In conclusion, results of our study are able to provide a clue for prevention and control of zoonotic diseases in the region for local au- thorities and in the emergency situations. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to thank of the staff of Sarpol-e-Zahab Health Center for their ex- cellent assistance in achieving this study. This project received financial support from deputy for Education Affairs of School of Public Health, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran. REFERENCES Abulhab J (1984) Some ectoparasites of the com- mensal rodent in Baghdad. Bull Endemic Dis. 24(25): 51-62. 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