PREVALENCE OF RAT FLEAS IN AND AROUND DELHI (INDIA) AREA AND THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY STATUS TO INSECTICIDES

A rapid survey in Delhi and surrounding areas was undertaken in Septem ber 1994, during plague outbreak in District Beed (Maharashtra) and Su rat (Gujarat) to monitor rodent/flea population and to determine susce ptibility status of fleas to insecticides. The five rodent species in order of their prevalence were Rattus rattus (86.06%), Mus musculus (1 5.33%), Suncus murinus (2.47%), Bandicoota indica (0.48%) and B. benga lensis (0.48%). Two flea species, Xenopsylla cheopis and X. astia, wer e captured from these rodents. The absolute flea index was found to be ranging between 0.08 to 4.0 in various localities. X. cheopis and X. astia indexes were ranging between 0.22 to 2.08 and 0.08 to 4.0, respe ctively. Susceptibility test results with X. cheopis collected and rea red in the laboratory revealed that it is resistant to DDT and Dieldri n, tolerant to Malathion and susceptible to K-othrin (Deltamethrin).