Survey and Relative Occurrence of Rodent Species at Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out for determination rodent species surveillance and their relative occurrence at three sites i.e. (animal production research station, poultry farm and farmers' houses) at Kafr El-Sheikh district, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate during 2015 and 2016 years. Surveyed rodent species were Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus, white bellied rat, Rattus rattus frugivorus and house mouse Mus musculus. Average numbers of trap indices were 0.27 and 0.21 during 1st and 2nd years, respectively. The highest values of trap indices were 0.40 and 0.39 during August in 2015 and 2016, respectively. The total number of rodent species recorded through animal production research station during two successive years 2015 and 2016 were 136 and 65 individuals, respectively. The total number of rodent species in the poultry farm were 77 and 93 individuals, respectively. On the other hand, in the farmers' houses the total numbers were 109 and 95 individuals, in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Norway rat, R. norvegicus was the most dominant species in these location. In animal production station, the maximum numbers of rodent species are (19) individuals in August 2015 and (9) individuals in March and August 2016. The highest total number of rodents in poultry farm was recorded in May 2015 with (10) individuals and in August 2016 with (18) individuals. In farmers’ houses, the lowest numbers were recorded during winter months in January and February 2015 while January was the lowest in 2016, since no rats were caught during it.