Polyplax spinulosa (Burmeister) —spined rat louse

Ex Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat): 3F, TN, Sevier Co., Little River Rd., 0.8 miles West of Elkmont turnoff, 27 Dec. 2003, K. Langdon, L­3285.

The spined rat louse parasitizes domestic rats ( Rattus spp.) throughout the world (Durden & Musser 1994) but this is the first record of it from the Park. This louse is vector of Rickettsia typhi and Haemobartonella muris (Durden 2002, Roberts & Janovy 2000) and might be a vector of “ Bartonella rattimassiliensis ” to rats (Reeves et al 2006a).