Observations on the Tropical Rat Mite, Liponyssus bacoti, as an Ecto-Parasite of Laboratory Animals and Suggestions for Its Control

Abstract

The importance of L. bacoti as a possible transmitter of murine typhus is reviewed. Death of laboratory animals heavily infested with this mite was apparently due to exsanguination rather than disease or the toxic effect of the bites. DDT dust (10% in talc) applied to an infested animal house gave effective control for at least 11/2 months. The treatment appeared to have no ill effects on rats and hamsters but was toxic to mice.