A report of blood–sucking fleas from murid rodents in the southeast Iran

Background: Fleas are ectoparasites of higher vertebrates. They are abundant on rodents and play role as a vector for transmitting pathogens to human by infected bites. Mostly, the adult fleas serve as vectors spreading pathogens from the intermediate hosts to human. Rodents are known as important pests and they are reservoirs of some zoontic diseases. Besides, they may cause economic problems. Therefore, controlling of their density and parasites is a challenge to public health.Objectives: In this study, we try to address diversity of blood-sucking flea of murid rodents of the southeast Iran.Materials and Methods: Murid rodents and related ectoparasites of blood-sucking fleas were collected during December 2014 to June 2015 in different habitats of 31 localities in the southeast Iran and were identified based on identification keys and Molecular approaches.Results: Among 113 murid rodents captured, 50 specimens were included in Murinae (Mus musculus, Apodemus whiterbyi, Golunda ellioti, Nesokia indica, Rattus rattus), 42 in Gerbilinae (Meriones libycus, M. persicus, Tatera indica, Gerbillus nanus) and 21 in Deomyinae (Acomys dimidiatus) subfamilies. The blood-sucking fleas belong to 3 genus andleast 6 species including Xenopsylla conformis, X. gerbilli, X. cheopis, X. buxtoni, Nosopsyllus medus, and Amphipsylla spp. The highest ectoparasite infestation was found in Tatera indica and no flea ectoparasite was found in Apodemus witherbyi, Golunda ellioti, Meriones persicus, Gerbillus nanus. The highest variety of fleas was found in Houdian and Bampour in Sistan and Baluchestan and Fariab in Hormozgan Provinces.Conclusion: Among the collected blood-sucking fleas, the genus Xenopsylla was the most common on murid rodents in the southeast Iran and has the potential risk of transmission of vector-borne diseases to human.

Keywords:

Flea , Muridae , Gerbilinae , Xenopsylla