Abstract
Despite a relatively high prevalence of pregnancy and numbers of embryos produced Rattus norvegicus has a very restricted distribution in the city of Rangoon. Significant changes in the distribution of this rat from that reported 30 years ago were not detected. It is suggested that R. norvegicus distribution and abundance are related to the presence of large numbers of Bandicota bengalensis. The majority (87.2%) of the R. norvegicus captured were infested with fleas. Three species of fleas were recovered : Xenopsylla cheopis, X. astia and Ctenocephalides felis. The possible importance of R. norvegicus with regard to rodent-borne diseases is discussed.
