[(ACARI: TROMBICULIDAE) (THE INFESTATION OF SMALL MAMMALS IN SOUTH-EASTERN VIETNAM WITH HARVEST MITES (ACARI:...

This investigation was conducted in three provinces of southern Vietnam in September-October 2011. A total of 257 small mammals of 11 species were caught; among them 120 rodents were infected with harvest mites of 8 species (Trom- biculidac). About 4000 mites of nearly 1200 identified species were collected from the small mammals. 17 species of harvest mites were identified. Walchia lupella, Leptotrombidium deliense, Walchia kritochaeta, and Walchia micropelta predominated in the collections. Most species of mites parasitized Rattus rattus (n= 15), Maxomys surifer (n=9), and B.savilei (n=7). The occurrence of Trombiculidaewas high on Bandicota savilei (90.0%), M.sunfer (87.8%), R.rattus (80.9%), and Bandicota indica (71.4%). The largest number of mites was observed in B.savilei and B.indica. The species of the genus Ascoschoengastia parasitized predominantly R.rattus and those of the genus Wachia did M.surifer. W.upella (n=7), L.delense (n=5), and Ascoschoengastiaindica (n=5) were associated with the widest range of nourishers. The species L.delicense known as a carrier of the causative agent of tsutsugamushi fever predominated in synanthropic rodents.