The Survey of Rat Populations and Disease Vector Parasites at the Port of Entry in Chiang Mai International Airport, 2023 - 2024

Abstract

Rat is a mammal that plays a major role in the transmission of infectious diseases and reservoirs host responsible for zoonotic diseases, which have been caused a public health concern throughout the world, including Thailand. The objectives of this survey study (Cross Sectional Study) were to rats population survey at the port of entry in Chiang Mai international airport. Research method was descriptive study using the animal reservoir survey form during year 2023 to 2024. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results found that rat trapping success rates in 2023 and 2024 were 4.0 and 9.0%, respectively. In 2023, 2 types of rats were found with 1 Rattus exulans (50.0%) and 1 Rattus tanezumi (50.0%), Ectoparasite was not found in both of them. In 2024, 3 types of rats with 10 rats were trapped such as 5 rats of Mus shortridgei (50.0%), 4 rats of Maxomys whiteheadi (40%) and 1 rat of Rattus argentiventer (10.0%). The ratio between male and female is 1:2.33. In addition, flea (Xenopsylla cheopis) were found in 1 rat (Mus shortridgei). The ectoparasite infestation rate was 10.0% and flea index is 0.1. The Results suggest that environmental sanitation and rat surveillance should be performed at the port of entry in Chiang Mai International Airport at least once a year to compare the results or trends of carrier and predict the occurrence of rat-borne diseases.