Distribution of commensal rodents in some shops of three districts in Malakand region, Pakistan

Abstract

Using wire mesh live traps distribution pattern of the Rattus rattus and Mus musculus in different shops of three districts of Malakand region, Pakistan were recorded from September 2014 to October 2015. Over all 103 rodents (Rattus rattus 86 and Mus musculus 17) were caught during in 0.04 trap success (2448 trap nights). Regression of daily captures on cumulative captures revealed an estimate of 103 rodents from all the sampled structures with an average of 3.55 rodents per shop. R. rattus; 83.4% of captures were numerically dominant in almost all types of shops sampled, and were significantly different than Mus musculus; 16.5% of captures. Both species were found together in some shops while they were mostly trapped from the separate shops. Male rodents outnumbered the females.

Diversity and Diet Differences of Small Mammals in Commensal Habitats

“…The occurrence of rodents and other small mammals near humans results in various degrees of adaptation on their part, with species becoming synantropic, peridomestic or agrophilic [2,3]. These species, however, are mostly evaluated as possible carriers and reservoirs of various zoonotic pathogens [4][5][6] or in relation to their damage [2,[7][8][9].…”