J Arthropod-Borne Dis, March 2022, 16(1): 51–60 PS Paulraj et al.: Ectoparasites Diversity on … 51 http://jad.tums.ac.ir Published Online: March 31, 2022 Original Article Ectoparasites Diversity on Rodents and Shrews at Scrub Typhus Endemic Vellore District of Tamil Nadu, India *Philip Samuel Paulraj1, Govindarajan Renu1, Krishnamoorthi Ranganathan2, Rajamannar Veeramanoharan1, Ashwani Kumar2 1Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR), Vector Control Research Centre Field Station, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India 2Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR), Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India *Corresponding author: Dr Philip Samuel Paulraj, Email: philipsamuelpaulraj@gmail.com (Received 1 May 2020; accepted 22 Jan 2022) Abstract Background: Rodents and shrew living in the vicinity of human beings perform significant role to harbor different spe- cies of ectoparasites and thus act as the reservoir host for the spread of diseases to human and animals. Methods: This study was undertaken to determine the species composition of the medically important ectoparasites present in the scrub typhus affected places of Vellore District using wonder and Sherman traps for trapping of live Ro- dent/Shrew during September 2017 to August 2018. Results: Rodent/shrew hosts belonged to two Families, three sub families and five genera and five different species. These animals carried 23 species of ectoparasites including 17 trombiculid mites, two non-trombiculid mites, two ticks and two fleas. A total of 940 chigger mites were collected which belonged to three Tribes, six Genera, two Subgenera and 17 species. Adult mites collected belonged to two families, three genera and three species. Ticks collected were classified under one family, two genera and two species. Fleas fall under one family, one subfamily, one tribe, one ge- nus and two species. Conclusion: This is the first record of 14 species of chigger mites and three species of adult mites from Vellore District, Tamil Nadu. Surveillance of these keystone ectoparasites helped to identify the medically important disease vectors causing acari-borne zoonotic diseases. Keywords: Diversity; Ectoparasites; Rodents; Scrub typhus; Tamil Nadu-India Introduction Mites, ticks, lice, and fleas are important haematophagous arthropod ectoparasites found associated with rodents and play vital role in the transmission of different vector-borne dis- eases like scrub typhus, plague etc (1–3). Ro- dents and shrews that live nearby human dwell- ings are considered as the synanthrope species causing major role in the transmission of dis- eases to human (4). In the rodents and shrews, chigger mites are predominant organism which are the larval stages of mites belonging to Trom- biculidae family comes under subclass Acari of class Arachnida, transmitting Scrub typhus disease. Many acarines act as the vectors of zo- onotic diseases and live in close association with different animal host. In India, two major traps are commonly used, which are Sherman and wonder traps to capture rodents and shrews alive to harvest different ectoparasites (5). Scrub typhus was a major out-break dis- ease during 2017 in Tamil Nadu. A study on serological evidence of distribution of spotted fevers, scrub typhus and other typhus fevers transmitted through ectoparasites of rodents were already reported in Tamil Nadu (6). An account of the abundance of ectoparasites on the host at Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in different seasons was documented already (7). Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by- nc/4.0/). Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted, provided the original work is properly cited. http://jad.tums.ac.ir/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ J Arthropod-Borne Dis, March 2022, 16(1): 51–60 PS Paulraj et al.: Ectoparasites Diversity on … 52 http://jad.tums.ac.ir Published Online: March 31, 2022 Based on our earlier study, the prevalence of chigger mites was reported in the scrub ty- phus affected areas of Trivandrum District, Kerala State, India (8). Even though maximum number of scrub ty- phus cases was reported from Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, very little study has been under- taken to understand the diversity of the ecto- parasites from the different rodents/shrew pre- sent in Vellore District. A comprehensive sur- vey on the ectoparasites was undertaken in the scrub typhus endemic Vellore District of Tamil Nadu to identify the different species of ec- toparsites present here and to bring out the med- ically important ectoparasites from this area. This study brings out for the first time the presence of a variety of diverse ecto-parasites of zoonotic importance available in Vellore District, Tamil Nadu. Materials and Methods Site selection and Trapping Vellore district situated in Tamil Nadu state of India is one of the 37 districts in the Tamil Nadu state. It is one of the 11 districts that form the North region of Tamil Nadu. Vellore Dis- trict lies between 12° 15' to 13° 15' North lati- tudes and 78° 20' to 79° 50' East longitudes in Tamil Nadu State. The geographical area of this district is 5920.18Km2 and a housing pop- ulation of 3, 936,331 as reported by the 2011– 2022 census (9). The average annual tempera- ture in Vellore is 27.9 °C and the annual rain fall is 971mm. Based on the earlier history of scrub typhus, as the maximum numbers of scrub typhus cases (80–161 from 2013 to 2016-Source DPH and PM Chennai, Tamil Nadu) were reported in Vellore District it was selected for this study. In Vellore District, in consultation with the local health officials seven localities were se- lected such as Ponnai Poigai, Annaicut, Mun- jurpet and Lalapet (rural areas) and Nowlok Thoppu and Vellore town (urban areas) for the collection of ecto-parasites. Sample collection The ectoparasites collection was made from, trapping of rodents and shrew was conducted based on scrub typhus affected areas during 2018 (Fig. 1). Sherman traps and Wonder traps were placed in the study villages to capture ro- dents and shrew, found freely close to human habitats. Traps were set in the evening (6.00 pm) and the traps were retrieved the next day morning (7.00am). Rodents were anesthetized (7) for the collection of various ectoparasites. The ectoparasites were harvested from the cap- tured rodents/shrews (8). Identification All the ectoparasites collected from these animals were preserved in 80% ethanol, trans- ferred to clearing agent, mounted in Hoyer’s medium and examined under the microscope for species level identification using standard taxonomical keys (10–15). All collected ecto- parasites specimens were preserved in the slide and deposited in Mosquito Museum Entomol- ogy Laboratory of ICMR-Vector Control Re- search Centre Field Station, Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Ethics This study was approved by the Institu- tional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) of Madurai Medical College Madurai, Tamil Na- du, India (Ref. No. 2339/E1/5/2017 dated 23. 3.2017; S.No. 10). Data analysis The data analysis was performed using SPSS Ver.15 (Statistics Package for Social Sciences). Results This study showed distribution pattern of chiggers and mites in Vellore District, Tamil Nadu. A total of 350 traps were placed, keep- ing equally 50 numbers of traps at each rodent trapping site. There were only 36 traps found to be positive capturing 56 rodents/ shrew be- http://jad.tums.ac.ir/ J Arthropod-Borne Dis, March 2022, 16(1): 51–60 PS Paulraj et al.: Ectoparasites Diversity on … 53 http://jad.tums.ac.ir Published Online: March 31, 2022 longing to five species Rattus rattus, Suncus murinus, Tatera indica, Bandicota bengalensis and Mus musculus. The results of the collect- ed rodent/shrew hosts were identified as com- prising of two families (Muridae, Soricidae), three subfamilies (Gerbillinae, Murinae and Sor- icinae) and five genera (Tatera, Mus, Bandico- ta, Rattus and Suncus). Rodent trapped per trap was 1.56. These five different species of rodents/shrew collected from Vellore District of Tamil Nadu carried 23 species of ectoparasites included 17 trombiculid mites, two non-trombiculid mites, two ticks and two fleas representing five fam- ilies namely Trombiculidae (17), Laelapidae (1), Dermanyssidae (1), Ixodidae (2), and Pu- licidae (2). Large sampling size helped to gath- er many species of chigger mites. A total of 940 chigger mites (94.76%) were harvested predominantly from rats/shrew followed by 45 fleas (4.5%), 4 ticks (0.4%) and 3 adult mites (0.3 %). Chigger index, flea index, tick index and mite index were 16.79, 0.80, 0.07 and 0.05 respectively (Table 1). The collected 940 chig- ger mites from all the rodent/shrew hosts were identified belonging to one family (Trombicu- lidae), subfamily Trombiculinae, which belonged to three tribes (Trombiculini, Schoengastiini and Gahrliepiini), six genera (Leptotrombidium, Trombicula, Neotrombicula, Schoengastia, As- coschoengastia and Schoengastiella), two sub- genera (Leptotrombidium and Ericotrombidium) and 17 species. Only three adult mites were collected belonging to two families (Laelap- tidae and Dermanyssidae) two genera (Echi- nolaelaps and Dermanyssus) and two species. Similarly, only four ticks were collected in this study classified under one family (Ixodi- dae) two genera (Haemophysalis and Lipony- ssoides) and two species. This study showed a total of 45 fleas coming under one family, one subfamily (Pulicidae), one tribe (Xenopsyllini), one genus (Xenopsylla) and two species. Spe- cies of ectoparasites recovered from field rodents and shrew at Vellore District, Tamil Nadu is given in Table 2. Maximum 273 chiggers were collected from single rodents Rattus rattus. The domi- nant numbers of chigger per rodent was re- covered from the village Munjurpet (141) and Anaikattu (140). In the urban sites, from the area Nowlok Thoppu, 464 chiggers were col- lected. No flea was collected at the urban site. Maximum number of fleas per rodent (11) was collected from Munjurpet village. Adult mites and ticks were recovered at a low num- ber from both urban and rural sites. A taxo- nomic checklist of available ecto-parasites and rodents/shrew are listed in the Appendix: 1 and 2. Ectoparasite infestation rate on the rodent Rattus rattus was 65%, followed by Suncus murinus (60%) and Mus musculus 33%. Only one Bandicota bengalensis was captured and infested with only 18 chiggers. Number of ec- toparasites collected in a shrew Suncus murinus was 58.8, followed by 23.2 in Rattus rattus, 18 in Bandicota bengalensis and 15 in Mus musculus. Infestation rate for chiggers in rural area was 87.47% and in the urban locality was 99.23%. Fleas reported only from rural areas showed infestation rate 9.89%. Ticks were col- lected both in rural (Infestation rate 0.22%) and urban areas (0.46%). Adult mites were preva- lent in both rural (0.22%) and in urban areas (0.31%). Fleas showed a significant difference between its distribution pattern in rural (45) and urban areas (no fleas at urban) (t= -1.927, df= 348, p< 0.05). However, there was no sig- nificant difference between the presence of chiggers on rodents between rural and urban sites (t= -0. 173, df= 348, p> 0.05), for ticks (t= -0. 183, df= 348, p> 0.05) and for adult mites (t= -1. 467, df= 348, p> 0.05) (Table 1). From the total collection, 67% mites, 25% fleas, 5% ticks and 3% other mites were col- lected at rural collection sites. Likewise, 82% mites, 9% ticks and 9% adult mites were col- lected at urban trapping sites. More rodents were trapped at rural villages mainly from Munjur- pet (15) and Anaikattu (14) villages. Ectopar- asites collection was dominant in an Urban site http://jad.tums.ac.ir/ J Arthropod-Borne Dis, March 2022, 16(1): 51–60 PS Paulraj et al.: Ectoparasites Diversity on … 54 http://jad.tums.ac.ir Published Online: March 31, 2022 Nowlok Thoppu (47%). Among the hosts Rat- tus rattus was trapped dominant (71%). Chig- gers were recovered more at Vellore study sites (94.76%). The chigger species Leptotrombidium de- liense and Leptotrombidium indicum were found in all species of rodents and shrews except Bandicota bengalensis and Mus musculus. Next to the chiggers Leptotrombidium delicense and Leptotrombidium indicum, Schoengatiella ligu- la were collected more in Rattus rattus, Ban- dicota bengalensis and Tetera indica. The fleas Xenopsylla cheopis was found only in Rattus rattus and Mus musculus at rural areas. The fleas Xenopsylla astia was found only in Rat- tus rattus, Bandicota bengalensis and Tatera indica. There was no significant difference be- tween rural and urban localities in rodent pos- itivity (t= -0.406, df= -54, p> 0.05). This is the first record of 14 different species of chig- gers and 3 species of adult mites from Vellore District, Tamil Nadu (Table 2). Table 1. Areawise ectoparasites collected from rodents and shrew at Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, India Area Rural Urban Total No of traps fixed 205 100 350 No of traps positive 27 9 36 Trap positivity rate 10.8 9.0 10.3 No. of Rodents/ Shrew collected 45 11 56 No. of rats positive for Chiggers 24 9 36 Percentage positive for Chiggers 53.3 81.8 64.3 No. Chiggers collected 398 542 940 Chigger Index 8.8 58.3 16.79 No. of rats positive for fleas 9 0 9 Percentage positive for fleas 20.0 0.0 64.3 No. Fleas collected 45 0 45 Flea Index 1.0 0.0 0.80 No. of rats positive for ticks 2 1 3 Percentage positive for ticks 4.4 9.1 64.3 No. Ticks collected 3 1 4 Tick Index 0.04 0.27 0.09 No. of rats positive for mites 1 1 2 Percentage positive for Adult mites 2.2 9.1 3.6 No. adult mites collected 1 2 3 Adult Mite Index 0.02 0.1 0.05 Fig. 1. Study areas selected in Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, India http://jad.tums.ac.ir/ J Arthropod-Borne Dis, March 2022, 16(1): 51–60 PS Paulraj et al.: Ectoparasites Diversity on … 55 http://jad.tums.ac.ir Published Online: March 31, 2022 Table 2. Species wise ectoparasites recovered from field rodents and shrew trapped at Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, India Location Rural Urban Ectoparasites species recorded in present survey Villages A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 R (7) R (14) R (13) # ## Ectoparasites/Hosts Sm Rr Sm Rr Rr Ti Bb Mm Sm Rr Rr Rr Sm Rr Chigger mites Leptotrombidium deliense ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Leptotrombidium rajesthanense ● ● ● ● ● ● ● FR Leptotrombidium keukenschrijveri ● ● FR Leptotrombidium indicum ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● FR Leptotrombidium delimushi ● ● FR Leptotrombidium insigne ● ● ● Leptotrombidium kulkarni ● ● ● FR Leptotrombidium spilleti ● ● ● FR Leptotrombidium dehraduense ● ● FR Leptotrombidium jayewickremei ● ● FR Schoengastia kanhaensis ● ● FR Schoengastiella argalea ● ● FR Schoengatiella ligula ● ● ● ● FR Schoengastiella.sp ● ● ● ● Schoengastia sp. ● ● ● Ascoschoengastia indica ● ● FR Trombicula hypodermata ● ● ● ● ● ● FR Neotrombicula.sp ● ● FR Adult Mites Echinolaelaps echininus ● ● FR Dermanyssus gallinae ● ● FR Liponyssoides sanguineus ● ● FR Ticks Haemophysalis sp ● ● ● ● ● Rhipicephalus turanicus ● ● ● Fleas Xenopsylla cheopis ● ● ● ● Xenopsylla astia ● ● ● ● ● ● ● A1- Ponnai, A2- Poigai, A3- Annaicut, A4- Munjurpet, A5- Lalapet, A6- Vellore Town, A7- Nowlok Thoppu Sm- Suncus murinus, Rr- Rattus rattus, Mm- Mus musculus, Ti- Tetera indica, Bb- Bandicota bengalensis R- Reference, #- Present survey, ##- Remarks, FR- First Record http://jad.tums.ac.ir Published Online: March 31, 2022 http://jad.tums.ac.ir/ http://jad.tums.ac.ir/ J Arthropod-Borne Dis, March 2022, 16(1): 51–60 PS Paulraj et al.: Ectoparasites Diversity on … 56 http://jad.tums.ac.ir Published Online: March 31, 2022 Discussion This present study was proposed to explore the ectoparasites fauna in the Vellore District of Tamil Nadu, India, an area endemic for scrub typhus in Tamil Nadu. This study was conduct- ed during one full year and the locations were chosen as per the scrub typhus report. We could demonstrate the rodent-associated ectoparasites present in all the study sites. Earlier studies have documented more than 3000 species of chig- gers all over the world and over 400 mite spe- cies were recorded in China (16). A total of 274 species of mites were collected from Yun- nan Province, southwest China (16). Fujian Province documented 53 species of chiggers, Hubei Province recorded 41 chigger mite spe- cies and Beijing recorded 7 species of chigger mites (16). In India so far 204 chigger mite spe- cies were recorded. This study recorded more than 10 % of the total collection of ectopar- asites from India. In this study, Vellore Dis- trict situated in Tamil Nadu state is 209 times smaller than Yunnan Province, southwest Chi- na; but showed 23 species of chiggers which clearly showed that this area has a great spe- cies diversity of chigger mites. This collection has even outnumbered the collections from oth- er investigations on ectoparasites. Total num- ber of the vertebrate host species play very sig- nificant factor to influence the species diversi- ty of chigger mites from different places. A total of 11,883 chiggers were collected comprising of 65 species in 14 genera record- ed from Himalayan Region (17) which in- cludes 5 genera Leptotrombidium, Neotrom- bidium, Ascoschoengastia, Schoengastia and Schoengastiella collected from the present Vel- lore study. During 1966, Leptotrombidium aka- mushi, Leptotrombidium delicense, and Schoengastiella ligula were collected from East- ern Himalayan foothills (18). Except for Lep- totrombidium akamushi, the other 2 species of mites were collected in our study. A survey conducted between 1966 and 1970 in Western Himalayas, Sikkim and Hill districts of West Bengal showed 66 species of Ixodoidea, 15 species of Mesostigmatid mites and a large number of Trombiculid mites in addition to oth- er haemotophagous arthropods (19). The mite’s collections reported 23 genera and 54 species belonging to 10 families from Western Hima- layas, Himalayan districts of West Bengal and Sikkim between 1966 and 1970 (20). In the worldwide distribution pattern of acarines approximately 12% of 50,000 live as the parasites and less than 100 species are re- ported to have medical and veterinary im- portance (21). Many acarines act as the vec- tors of zoonotic diseases and live very close to the animal host. Moreover, environmental degradation led to global climate changes in many places. This led to the proliferation of the vectors and in turn transmission of rodent borne parasitic diseases (3). Many ectopara- sites of rodents play crucial role in the disease transmission to human and animals. Thus, this study on ectoparasites is an invaluable data to take up appropriate control programme. Med- ically important chigger mites, Leptotrombidium (Leptotrombidium) deliense and Schoengastiella ligula are the powerful vectors of scrub typhus. Abundant collection of these species denotes the potential risk for the transmission of this emerging disease in these areas. Echinolaelaps echidninus has medical importance and could induce cross-reactivity with other allergic mites (22). Scrub typhus is caused by Orientia tsu- tsugamushi which is transmitted by an arthro- pod vector of the Trombiculidae family chig- ger mites Leptotrombidium deliense. This is the most common re-emerging Rickettsial infec- tion in India and many other Southeast Asian countries. This vector is collected aplenty in this present collection. An outbreak investiga- tion conducted in Kurseong, Darjeeling estab- lished Schoengastiella ligula as the vector of scrub typhus due to its abundance (23). In this study, Schoengastiella ligula was also collect- http://jad.tums.ac.ir/ J Arthropod-Borne Dis, March 2022, 16(1): 51–60 PS Paulraj et al.: Ectoparasites Diversity on … 57 http://jad.tums.ac.ir Published Online: March 31, 2022 ed. Redbird mite Dermanyssus gallinae acting as the vectors of fowl tick fever, endemic ty- phus, and St. Louis encephalitis was reported from this collection (24). Similarly, tropical rat mite Ornithonyssus bacoti was found infested on the laboratory-reared mice colony from Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. During 2013, Ornitho- nyssus bacoti was recovered from the domes- tic and peri-domestic Rattus rattus (25). One more Rickettsial pox vector species Lipony- ssoides sanguineus was also collected from this study (22). This study reported ticks like Rhipicephaus turanicus which plays a poten- tial role as bridge vector carrying tick-borne protozoan sporozoite pathogen Hapatozoon ca- nis among various hosts like dogs, foxes, and golden jackals. In this study a hard-bodied tick Haemophysalis bispinosa belonging to the ge- nus Haemophysalis was found in India. It is obligate ectoparasites of mammals and a po- tential vector of Kyasanur Forest disease vi- rus. Tropical rat fleas Xenopsylla cheopis and Xenopsylla astia were also collected in this study. Xenopsylla cheopis and Xenopsylla as- tia are responsible for the transmission of Yer- sinia pestis the causative agent for the spread of plaque and generally collected from Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus. The predomi- nance of fleas was reported from Angola (26). In Indonesia, Xenopsylla cheopis was the most common on Rattus rattus (27). In Iran, fleas catch was related to Rattus norvegicus (28). In this present study, Xenopsylla cheopis and Xenopsylla astia were collected from both Rattus rattus and Suncus murinus. There was no flea collected from the urban site which may not be a suitable area for the survival of fleas as observed in other areas in Malaysia (3). According to rodent host and location, the distribution pattern of the ectoparasites dif- fered (29). In Egypt Mus muculus harbored less ectoparasites but the other species like Rattus rattus frugivorus, Rattus norvegicus and Mer- iones shawi were vulnerable to ectoparasites (30). In our present study, Suncus murinus and Rattus rattus were more vulnerable than the rest of the rodent species. 348 chiggers, two fleas, one tick and two adult mites were collected from six Suncus murinus. Similarly, 568 chig- gers, 34 fleas, three ticks and 1 adult mites were collected from 26 Rattus rattus. From the rest of the rodents Tatera indica, Bandicota ben- galensis and Mus musculus, very few ectopar- asites were collected. A taxonomic checklist of ectoparasites col- lected from Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, India Chigger mites Family: Trombiculidae Ewing, 1929 Subfamily: Trombiculinae Ewing, 1929b Tribe: Trombiculini Vercammen-Grandjean, 1960 Genus: Leptotrombidium Nagayo et al. 1916 Subgenus: Leptotrombidium Nagayo et al. 1916 1. Leptotrombidium (Leptotrombidium) deliense (Walch, 1922) 2. Leptotrombidium (Leptotrombidium) deh- radunense Stan Fernandes and Kulkarni, 2003 3. Leptotrombidium (Leptotrombidium) de- limushi Vercammen-Grandjean and Langston, 1976 4. Leptotrombidium (Leptotrombidium) keukenschrijveri (Walch, 1923) 5. Leptotrombidium (Leptotrombidium) insigne Stan Fernandes and Kulkarni, 2003 6. Leptotrombidium (Leptotrombidium) kulkarnii Vercammen-Grandjean and Langston, 1976 7. Leptotrombidium (Leptotrombidium) spilletti Mitchell and Nadchatram, 1966 8. Leptotrombidium (Leptotrombidium) jayewickremei (Womersley, 1952) Subgenus: Ericotrombidium Vercammen- Grandjean and Andre, 1966 9. Leptotrombidium (Ericotrombidium) raja- sthanense Stan Fernandes and Kulkarni, 2003 10. Leptotrombidium (Ericotrombidium) indi- cum Stan Fernandes and Kulkarni, 2003 Genus: Trombicula Berlese, 1905 11. Trombicula (Trombicula) hypodermata, Nadchatram and Traub, 1966 http://jad.tums.ac.ir/ J Arthropod-Borne Dis, March 2022, 16(1): 51–60 PS Paulraj et al.: Ectoparasites Diversity on … 58 http://jad.tums.ac.ir Published Online: March 31, 2022 Genus: Neotrombicula Hirst, 1925 12. Neotrombicula spp Hirst, 1925 Tribe: Schoengastiini Vercammen-Grandjean, 1960 Genus: Schoengastia Oudemans, 1910a 13. Schoengastia kanhaensis Mitchell and Nad- chatram, 1966 14. Schoengastia spp. Oudemans, 1910a Genus: Ascoschoengastia Ewing, 1946a 15. Ascoschoengastia indica (Hirst, 1915) Tribe: Gahrliepiini Nadchatram and Dohany, 1974 Genus: Schoengastiella Hirst, 1915 16. Schoengastiella argalea (Traub and Mor- row, 1957), 17. Schoengastiella ligula Radford, 1946b Mites II. Family: Laelaptidae Berlese, 1892 Genus: Echinolaelaps Ewing, 1929 18. Echinolaelaps echidninus (Berlese, 1887) III. Family: Dermanyssidae Kolenati, 1859 Genus: Dermanyssus Duges, 1834 19. Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778) Genus: Liponyssoides Hirst, 1913 20. Liponyssoides sanguineus (Hirst, 1914) Ticks IV. Family: Ixodidae Murray, 1877 Genus: Haemophysalis Koch, 1844 21. Haemophysalis (Kaiseriana) bispinosa New- mann, 1897 Genus: Rhipicephalus Koch, 1844 22. Rhipicephalus turanicus Pomerantzev, Mat- ikashvili and Lotozki, 1940 Fleas V. Family: Pulicidae Billberg, 1820 Subfamily: Xenopsyllinae Tribe: Xenopsyllini Glinkiewicz, 1907 Genus: Xenopsylla Glinkiewicz, 1907 23. Xenopsylla cheopis (Rothschild, 1903) 24. Xenopsylla astia Rothschild, 1903 A taxonomic checklist of rodents/shrew col- lected from Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, India Rodents I. Family: Muridae Illiger, 1811 Subfamily: Gerbillinae Gray, 1825 Genus: Tatera Lataste, 1882 1. Tatera indica Hardwicke, 1807 Subfamily: Murinae Illiger, 1811 Genus: Mus Clerck1757 2. Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758 Genus: Bandicota Gray, 1873 3. Bandicota bengalensis Gray, 1834 Genus: Rattus Fischer de waldheim, 1803 4. Rattus rattus (Linnaeus, 1758) Shrew II. Family: Soricidae Fischer, 1814 Subfamily: Soricinae Fischer von Waldheim, 1817 Genus: Suncus Ehrenberg, 1832 Suncus murinus (Linnaeus, 1766) Conclusion This is the first record of 14 different spe- cies of chiggers and three species of adult mites from Vellore District, Tamil Nadu. The results of the present surveillance provided key scientific data that identifies potential disease vectors which will help the health au- thorities for the development of appropriate corrective measures to prevent and control the different acari-borne zoonotic diseases in this region. Acknowledgements We are extremely thankful to the Secre- tary, Department of Health Research, Minis- try of Health and Family Welfare and the Di- rector General, ICMR for financial support. We want to express our deep sense of thanks and gratitude to my Director, ICMR-VCRC, Puducherry and the previous Director Dr Jam- bulingam, for providing all the necessary fa- cilities, constant encouragement, guidance and useful suggestions for undertaking this study. http://jad.tums.ac.ir/ J Arthropod-Borne Dis, March 2022, 16(1): 51–60 PS Paulraj et al.: Ectoparasites Diversity on … 59 http://jad.tums.ac.ir Published Online: March 31, 2022 We want to express our deep sense of gratitude to all our departmental colleagues of ICMR- VCRC Field Station, Madurai (erstwhile CRME, ICMR, Madurai). We express our sincere thanks to DPH and PM, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, espe- cially DDHS, Vellore, Mr Srinivasan, DMO, Vellore and other Health Officials for their guidance and help. 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