RODENTS, THEIR ECTOPARASITES AND ECOLOGY IN WESTERN TURKEY 1965-68.

• Main Authors: Garrett,Dean A., Agee,Jerry S., Gremminger,Everett R., Morgan,Warren E.
• Other Authors: DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE NEW YORK 09224 TUSLOG DETACHMENT 36 (USAFE)
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1968
• Subjects: Biology; (*ECOLOGY; RODENTS); (*RODENTS; PARASITES); TURKEY; MITES; LICE; SIPHONAPTERA; TICKS; PERIODIC VARIATIONS; ALTITUDE; CLIMATE; DISEASE VECTORS; EPIDEMIOLOGY; Koppen; Rattus rattus
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0671990; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0671990

A rodent ectoparasite survey was conducted from July 1965 to March 1968 in the central area of Turkey's western (Aegean) coast centering on Turkey's 3rd largest city, the port of Izmir (ancient Smyrna) in a tobacco, cotton, fig and grape raising area with Koppen Csa climate. Rodents were trapped in five areas ranging from the immediate coast to 75 miles inland and from 25 to 3000 ft altitude. During the entire survey a total of 31 domestic rodents and 488 field rodents were trapped and processed for ectoparasites. The species of rodents collected in order of their abundance were Mus musculus (54.1%), Apodemus sylvaticus (25.0%), A. mystacinus (6.2%), Rattus rattus (domestic) (4.8%), Microtus sp. (4.6%), Crocidura sp. (2.7%), Meriones blackleri (1.4%) and R. norvegicus (domestic) (1.2%). A total of 4049 parasites were recovered from the rodents. They were trombiculid mites (chiggers) (52.1%), mesostigmatid mites (25.6%), lice (14.0%), fleas (4.3%) and ticks (4.0%). The data are presented by season, area and altitude. Seven genera of fleas and four genera of ticks were identified. (Author)