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Infestation and Related Ecology of Chigger Mites on the Asian House Rat (Rattus tanezumi) in Yunnan Province, Southwest China.

Authors :
Fan Ding
Wen-Li Jiang
Xian-Guo Guo
Rong Fan
Cheng-Fu Zhao
Zhi-Wei Zhang
Ke-Yu Mao
Rong Xiang
Source :
Korean Journal of Parasitology; Aug2021, Vol. 59 Issue 4, p377-392, 16p
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

This paper is to illustrate the infestation and related ecological characteristics of chigger mites on the Asian house rat (Rattus tanezumi). A total of 17,221 chigger mites were collected from 2,761 R. tanezumi rats, and then identified as 131 species and 19 genera in 2 families. Leptotrombidium deliense, the most powerful vector of scrub typhus in China, was the first major dominant species on R. tanezumi. All the dominant mite species were of an aggregated distribution among different individuals of R. tanezumi. The species composition and infestations of chiggers on R. tanezumi varied along different geographical regions, habitats and altitudes. The species-abundance distribution of the chigger mite community was successfully fitted and the theoretical curve equation was Ŝ (R)= 37e<superscript>-(0.28R)</superscript>². The total chigger species on R. tanezumi were estimated to be 199 species or 234 species, and this further suggested that R. tanezumi has a great potential to harbor abundant species of chigger mites. The results of the species-plot relationship indicated that the chigger mite community on R. tanezumi in Yunnan was an uneven community with very high heterogeneity. Wide geographical regions with large host samples are recommended in the investigations of chigger mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00234001
Volume :
59
Issue :
4
Database :
Supplemental Index
Journal :
Korean Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
152306751
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2021.59.4.377