Infestation patterns and ecological distribution of fleas and sucking lice on Rattus tanezumi in southwest China: Evidence from a long-term multi-provincial study (2000–2024)

<i>R. tanezumi</i> harbors a diverse assemblage of ectoparasitic insects, including multiple zoonotic flea species. Fleas and sucking lice exhibit contrasting community structures, host associations, and ecological patterns. These findings provide long-term, multi-regional evidence supporting targeted surveillance and control strategies for rodent-associated ectoparasites and related zoonoses in southwest China.