Views: 1,465 | Downloads:
20
| Responses: 0
| XML | Respond to this article | Alert & updates | Request permissions | Email to a friend |
Original ArticleOpen Access
Surveillance of Commensal Rat and Shrew Populations in the Bangkok Are1l with References to Flea Index as the Risk Indicator of Plague Chantra Singchai, DVM, Vanida Deesin, Dr Med Sc,
Srisawat R 
,
Yamput S ,
Phanphuwong T ,
Tech CM ,
Pongwatanakulsiri P ,
Vimutisunthom E ,
Puthavathana P
,
Yamput S ,
Phanphuwong T ,
Tech CM ,
Pongwatanakulsiri P ,
Vimutisunthom E ,
Puthavathana P Commensal rats and shrews were trapped from 47 fresh food markets in Bangkok during the
two study periods in the same markets: 21 '' June to 28'h December 1999 and 1" March to 31" May 2000.
Trapping was performed using wire live traps on three consecutive nights in each period. The trapped
animals were identified for taxonomic species and flea infestation. Fleas were collected, identified and
counted. Four species of rodents:
Rattus norvegicus, Rattus rattus, Rattus exulans
and
Mus musculus,
and one species of shrew:
Suncus murinus
were trapped in comparable numbers during the two study
periods. Among the 1177 animals trapped, 84.3 per cent were
R. norvegicus.
Regarding sex prevalence,
a higher number of female animals were trapped compared to males. Almost all the fleas collected
were
Xenopsylla cheopis,
and there were very few
Ctenocephalides felis-felis.
Flea index bz.sed on the
number of
X. cheopis
was 0.65 for all over Bangkok. Based on the geographical area of Bangkok, the
inner area had the highest rodent population and the highest flea index of 0.86. Therefore, the inner
region should be the priority for sanitation improvement.
Key word : Commensal Rat and Shrew, Flea, Flea Index, Bangkok
two study periods in the same markets: 21 '' June to 28'h December 1999 and 1" March to 31" May 2000.
Trapping was performed using wire live traps on three consecutive nights in each period. The trapped
animals were identified for taxonomic species and flea infestation. Fleas were collected, identified and
counted. Four species of rodents:
Rattus norvegicus, Rattus rattus, Rattus exulans
and
Mus musculus,
and one species of shrew:
Suncus murinus
were trapped in comparable numbers during the two study
periods. Among the 1177 animals trapped, 84.3 per cent were
R. norvegicus.
Regarding sex prevalence,
a higher number of female animals were trapped compared to males. Almost all the fleas collected
were
Xenopsylla cheopis,
and there were very few
Ctenocephalides felis-felis.
Flea index bz.sed on the
number of
X. cheopis
was 0.65 for all over Bangkok. Based on the geographical area of Bangkok, the
inner area had the highest rodent population and the highest flea index of 0.86. Therefore, the inner
region should be the priority for sanitation improvement.
Key word : Commensal Rat and Shrew, Flea, Flea Index, Bangkok
Download:
PDF