Ectoparasites of rodents of the urban region of Belo Horizonte, MG. II. Variations of the infestation indices in Rattus norvegicus norvegicus

The indices of infestation by the mites Echinolaelaps echidninus and Laelaps nuttalli, the louse Popyplax spinulosa and the flea Xenopsylla cheopis, obtained monthly, from June 1980 to September 1982, on Rattus norvegicus norvegicus in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state, Brazil were related to seasonal period, sex of the host and area of capture. Mites and insects showed different behaviour in relation to these factors. Only the fleas and lice exhibit significant association between the rodents' infestation and the seasonal period, or between the infestation and the rodents' sex or else a variation of the distribution by the three main areas of capture. The fleas showed the highest indices of infestation in the warm-rainy season (October to March) while the infestation by the lice was more prevalent in the dry-cool season. The climatic factors most related with the hosts' infestation were, in decreasing order, rainfall, temperature and relative humidity. Fleas and lice preferentially infested male rodents, being infestation by X. cheopis highly significant.