Survey of species of ectoparasitic fleas on Rattus flavipectus from 19 counties in Yunnan Province,China

Objective To investigated species composition of fleas on the body surface of Rattus flavipectus and species diversity. Methods All the small mammals were trapped by mouse cage or mouse clip,and collected all the captured small mammals on the next morning. Rattus flavipectus were identified. Every individual flea was mounted on a glass slide after the dehydration and clarification,and finally identified under a microscope. Results There 2 181 fleas were collected from the body surface of 3 757 captured Rattus flavipectus and all the fleas were identified as 18 species of 16 genera in 5 families.1 306 fleas were collected in the southwest mountainous subregion of Yunnan,belonging to 15 species of 13 genera in 5 families. 875 fleas were collected in the southern mountainous subregion of Yunnan,belonging to 7 species of 7 genera in 5 families. Conclusion The ectoparasitic flea species on Rattus flavipectus are very abundant and the species compositions of the fleas is different in different zoogeographical regions.