Infestation of Oriental House Rat ( Rattus tanezumi ) with Chigger Mites Varies along Environmental Gradients across Five Provincial Regions of Southwest China

Yan-Ling Chen, Xian-Guo Guo (), Fan Ding, Yan Lv, Peng-Wu Yin, Wen-Yu Song, Cheng-Fu Zhao, Zhi-Wei Zhang, Rong Fan, Pei-Ying Peng, Bei Li, Ting Chen and Dao-Chao Jin
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Yan-Ling Chen: Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
Xian-Guo Guo: Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
Fan Ding: Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
Yan Lv: Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
Peng-Wu Yin: Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
Wen-Yu Song: Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
Cheng-Fu Zhao: Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
Zhi-Wei Zhang: Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
Rong Fan: Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
Pei-Ying Peng: Institute of Microbiology, Qujing Medical College, Qujing 655000, China
Bei Li: Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
Ting Chen: Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
Dao-Chao Jin: Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550025, China

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: Chigger mites are the exclusive vector of scrub typhus. Based on field investigations of 91 survey sites in 5 provincial regions of Southwest China, this paper reported variations of chigger infestation on the oriental house rat ( Rattus tanezumi ) along various environmental gradients. A total of 149 chigger species were identified from 2919 R. tanezumi in the 5 provincial regions, and Leptotrombidium deliense (a major vector of scrub typhus in China) was the first dominant chigger species, followed by Ascoschoengastia indica and Walchia ewingi . Rattus tanezumi had a stable overall prevalence ( PM = 21.10%), mean abundance ( MA = 7.01), and mean intensity ( MI = 33.20) of chiggers with the same dominant mites in the whole Southwest China in comparison with a previous report in Yunnan Province, but chigger infestations on R. tanezumi varied along different environmental gradients. Rattus tanezumi in mountainous landscape had a higher infestation load of chiggers with higher species diversity than in flatland landscape. The infestation was higher at lower altitudes and latitudes. A high intensity of vegetation coverage was associated with high infestations. The results reflect the environmental heterogeneity of chiggers on the same host species. Warm climate and high relative humidity are beneficial to chigger infestation on R. tanezumi .

Keywords: ectoparasite; rodent; chigger mite; Rattus tanezumi; infestation; environmental heterogeneity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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