Fleas of small mammals from the endemic haemorrhagic fever zones of Kyonggi and Kangwon Provinces of the Repubic of Korea

, Walton, Dan W; , Hong, Hang Kee

doi:1976.14.1.17

Korean J Parasito > Volume 14(1):1976 > Article

Original Article


Korean J Parasitol. 1976 Jun;14(1):17-24. English. Published online Mar 20, 1994. http://dx.doi.org/10.3347/kjp.1976.14.1.17
Copyright © 1976 by The Korean Society for Parasitology


Fleas of small mammals from the endemic haemorrhagic fever zones of Kyonggi and Kangwon Provinces of the Repubic of Korea
Dan W. Walton,^* and Hang Kee Hong
Vecter Ecology and Control Research Unit, WHO C.P.O. Box 540, Seoul, Korea.
Medical Entomology Section, National Institute of Health, Seoul, Repubic of Korea.
^present-address: RCDU/VBC/IRO43 World Health Organization Post Box 14 Rangoon, Burma.


Abstract
From nine species of small mammals collected during the 12 month study period, nine species of fleas were recovered. Of the fleas, Ctenophthamus congeneroides congeneroides were obtained from seven host species, were recovered every month but January, comprised greater than 60% of the freas recovered each month except Noverber, December and January, accounted for more than 60% of all fleas and were collected from 15 of 17 localities visited. During November, December and January more than 50% of all fleas recovered were Stenoponia sidimi. Too, the greatest variety of flea species were recovered during November and December. Among the hosts, all nine flea species were recovered from Apodemus agrarius, six species were obtained from Microtus fortis and four from both Eothenomys regulus and Crocidura laciura. The highest rates of infested individuals, highest to lowest E. regulus, M. fortis, C. lasiura and A. agrarius. The highest general and specific indices were found in M. agrarius occurred in April and May and the highest monthly specific indices were noted for January, April and May. Ctenophthalmus congeneroides was the most abundant flea, had the widest host range, seasonal occurrence and the widest habitat distribution of the flea collected during this study. These fleas exhibited a decline in abundance in midwinter and an increase in numbers in the early spring. Among the small mammals, Apodemus agrairus yielded the greatest number of fleas species and was most heavily infested with during April and May.

Tables


	Table 1 Collection localities with descriptions of habitats


	Table 2 List of fleas species, numbers of each and per cent of total represented by each species


	Table 3 Number of fleas of each species collected each month with percent of each month's total


	Table 4 Comparison of percent of total fleas recovered each month with percent total small mammals captured for the same period


	Table 5 Numbers of each small mammal species captured, percent of total capture represented by each species, numbers found infested with fleas, and percent of each species infested


	Table 6 The numbers of each species of fleas recovered from each host species


	Table 7 General and specific flea indices for each host species for the period July, 1973 through June, 1974


	Table 8 Flea indices for Apodemus agrarius, July 1973-June 1974

References


1.	Lee HW, et al. Rept NIH Korea 1972;9:295–302.

2.	Song JS, et al. Rept NIH Korea 1971;8:117–127.

3.	Tipton VJ, Southwick W, Ah HS, Yu HS. Fleas of Korea. Korean J Parasitol 1972;10(1):52–63.

4.	Traub R, Hertig M, Lawrence WH, Harriss TT. Potential vectors and reservoirs of hemorrhagic fever in Korea. Am J Hyg 1954;59(3):291–305.