Medical Entomology and Zoology (2013) 64, 79-82

Noriyuki Komatsu, Hong-Kean Ooi and Akihiko Uchida (2013)
[Survey of ectoparasites of rats in urban buildings, Japan]
Medical Entomology and Zoology 64 (2), 79-82
Abstract: A survey of ectoparasites of roof rats, Rattus rattus and Norway rats, R. norvegicus captured at urban buildings in Tokyo metropolitan and its suburb, from 2008 to 2011 was carried out. Of the 90 roof rats and 6 norway rats examined, 76 (84.4%) and 2 (33.3%) were found to be infested with ectoparasites. Five species of parasitic mites, namely, Ornithonyssus bacoti, Radfordia ensifera, Laelaps nuttalli, L. echidninus and Cheyletus eruditus, and one species of lice, Polyplax serratus, were collected from the roof rats. In addition, no fleas but free living mites, such as Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Lardoglyphus konoi, and Dermatophagoides sp., were also detected from the roof rats.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: Japanese)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Hong-Kean Ooi

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Rattus rattus		Japan
	Rattus norvegicus		Japan
	Laelaps echidninus		Japan
Cheyletus eruditus (predator)			Japan