The Nature of Parasitism of the Opossum by Fleas in Southwestern Georgia

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Abstract
A study was made in southwestern Georgia of the nature of parasitism by fleas on the common American opossum, Didelphis marsupialis, in unoccupied farm buildings, on occupied farm premises, in fields and woods and in premises that had been treated with DDT for control of rat fleas. Infestation on opossums from buildings unoccupied by humans was similar to that from opossums from fields and woods. Apparently applications of DDT dust against Xenopsylla cheopis in rat runs had little effect on Ctenocephalides felis and other flea populations on opossums but did slightly affect the numbers of Echidnophaga gallinacea. Populations of fleas on the opossums were compared with populations on key or sustaining hosts of each flea species. First the percentage of opossums infested and the average number of fleas per infested opossum were calculated. Then the annual mean percentages and averages from these were calculated and compared with data from the known sustaining hosts. Pulex irritans or simulans were present on only 1 of the 349 opossums examined while 5 of 212 skunks, Mephitis mephitis and Spilogale putorius bore them. Hogs were not examined. Leptopsylla segnis was found on only 3 of 216 opossums trapped in buildings occupied by man, stock and pets, whereas it was reported to occur on 13% of the house mice, 19% of the loft rats, Rattus rattus, and 21% of the Norway rats, R. norvegicus, taken on the same premises. Xenopsylla cheopis was found on 7% of the opossums while occurring on 21% of the loft rats and 39% of the Norway rats. Echidnophaga gallinacea infested up to 18% of the opossums from occupied premises and apparently most of the domestic fowl on these premises. Ctenocephalides felis infested 38% of the opossums from occupied buildings and 21% of those from fields, woods and unoccupied premises, whereas they infested 100% of the domestic cats. Polygenis gwyni infested up to 29% of the opossums from occupied premises and 35% of those from fields, woods and unoccupied premises, whereas they infested 52% of the cotton rats, Sigmodon hispidus. Data are given also for Orchopeas howardi, Odontopsyllus multispinosus and Cediopsylla simplex. The mean number of each flea species per opossum and normal host also is reported.
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