Anoplurans (Insecta: Psocodea: Anoplura) associated with rodents distributed in the neotropical region of Mexico

AbstractFrom April to December of 2010, we performed a cross sectional study in order to collect and identify the species of anoplurans associated with cricetid and heteromyd rodents from montane forests in 5 localities in Guerrero and Oaxaca, Mexico. We analyzed 147 rodents belonging to 10 cricetid species and 1 heteromyd species. A total of 378 sucking lice were collected (189 ♀, 106 ♂, 83 nymphs), distributed in 6 species (Fahrenholzia microcephala, Hoplopleura emphereia, Hoplopleura ferrisi, Hoplopleura reithrodontomydis, Neohaematopinus neotomae, Polyplax auricularis) and 2 families (Hoplopleuridae and Polyplacidae). Lice specimens were processed for morphological and molecular identification, using the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I. Infestations were characterized based on the prevalence and mean abundance. Five of the 6 species were confirmed by molecular analysis. The highest levels of infestation were recorded for H. emphereia (66.7%; 4.4) on Megadontomys thomasi. All localities represent new records for the species studied