Objective: To understand the composition, seasonal variation, as well as carrying insect vectors (including tick, flea, mite) of rat-shaped animals in Ningde Harbor area, so as to provide the evidence for prevention and control of rodent-borne diseases.
Methods: From July 2009 to June 2010, 2 dockyards were investigated according to the monitoring methods of The Industry Standard Inspection and Quarantine of China.
Results: A total of 171 rat-shaped animals (4 species, 2 genera, 2 families, and 2 orders) were captured, among which Rattus norvegicus was the dominant species. The overall rat density was 3.58%. The indexes of flea, mite and tick were 0.01, 0.33, and 0.05, respectively.
Conclusions: The rat density at Ningde Harbor has not reached the national standard (< 1%), which suggests that the measures of rat monitoring at dockyards in Ningde Harbor should be enforced.