Seasonal patterns of rodents, fleas and plague status in the Western Usambara Mountains, Tanzania
ABSTRACT. Field and commensal rodents were live‐trapped at three villages in an active focus of plague (Yersinia pseudotuberculosis pestis) in Lushoto District, Western Usambara Mountains, Tanga Region, Tanzania, from December 1983 to November 1984. Their flea ectoparasites were collected, identifie...
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crwiley:10.1111/j.1365-2915.1989.tb00469.x 2024-06-02T08:13:44+00:00 Seasonal patterns of rodents, fleas and plague status in the Western Usambara Mountains, Tanzania NJUNWA, K. J. MWAIKO, G. L. KILONZO, B. S. MHINA, J. I. K. 1989 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2915.1989.tb00469.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2915.1989.tb00469.x http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2915.1989.tb00469.x/fullpdf en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Medical and Veterinary Entomology volume 3, issue 1, page 17-22 ISSN 0269-283X 1365-2915 journal-article 1989 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2915.1989.tb00469.x 2024-05-03T11:42:32Z ABSTRACT. Field and commensal rodents were live‐trapped at three villages in an active focus of plague (Yersinia pseudotuberculosis pestis) in Lushoto District, Western Usambara Mountains, Tanga Region, Tanzania, from December 1983 to November 1984. Their flea ectoparasites were collected, identified and counted. The rodent carcasses were serologically examined for specific plague antibodies and antigens, and bacteriologically examined for bipolar staining bacilli. A total of 1758 traps were set during the 12‐month period and 924 animals were caught. From these, 1037 fleas were collected. Rattus rattus (L.), Praomys natalensis (Smith) and Lophuromys flavopunctatus Thomas comprised the largest proportions of the rodent population, while Dino‐psyllus lypusus Jordan & Rothschild, Ctenophthalmus calceatus Waterston and Xenopsylla brasiliensis (Baker) were the dominant flea species. Rodents were most abundantly trapped during December and January. Flea indices were highest from December to May. Human plague was most active from November to March. Rodents contained plague antibodies every month except May and July, with a peak in September. Plague antigens and bipolar bacilli were detected in rodent organs during January‐April. From the product of abundance and infection rate, the most prevalent rodent hosts of plague appeared to be R. rattus, Otomys ango‐niensis Wroughton, P.natalensis and Pelomys fallax (Peters). Continuous integrated control of rodents and fleas was recommended, reinforced by quarantine and maintenance of a surveillance service for clinical detection, diagnosis and treatment of patients in the plague endemic area. Article in Journal/Newspaper Rattus rattus Wiley Online Library Rothschild ENVELOPE(-72.500,-72.500,-69.417,-69.417) Medical and Veterinary Entomology 3 1 17 22 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wiley Online Library |
op_collection_id |
crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
ABSTRACT. Field and commensal rodents were live‐trapped at three villages in an active focus of plague (Yersinia pseudotuberculosis pestis) in Lushoto District, Western Usambara Mountains, Tanga Region, Tanzania, from December 1983 to November 1984. Their flea ectoparasites were collected, identified and counted. The rodent carcasses were serologically examined for specific plague antibodies and antigens, and bacteriologically examined for bipolar staining bacilli. A total of 1758 traps were set during the 12‐month period and 924 animals were caught. From these, 1037 fleas were collected. Rattus rattus (L.), Praomys natalensis (Smith) and Lophuromys flavopunctatus Thomas comprised the largest proportions of the rodent population, while Dino‐psyllus lypusus Jordan & Rothschild, Ctenophthalmus calceatus Waterston and Xenopsylla brasiliensis (Baker) were the dominant flea species. Rodents were most abundantly trapped during December and January. Flea indices were highest from December to May. Human plague was most active from November to March. Rodents contained plague antibodies every month except May and July, with a peak in September. Plague antigens and bipolar bacilli were detected in rodent organs during January‐April. From the product of abundance and infection rate, the most prevalent rodent hosts of plague appeared to be R. rattus, Otomys ango‐niensis Wroughton, P.natalensis and Pelomys fallax (Peters). Continuous integrated control of rodents and fleas was recommended, reinforced by quarantine and maintenance of a surveillance service for clinical detection, diagnosis and treatment of patients in the plague endemic area. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
NJUNWA, K. J. MWAIKO, G. L. KILONZO, B. S. MHINA, J. I. K. |
spellingShingle |
NJUNWA, K. J. MWAIKO, G. L. KILONZO, B. S. MHINA, J. I. K. Seasonal patterns of rodents, fleas and plague status in the Western Usambara Mountains, Tanzania |
author_facet |
NJUNWA, K. J. MWAIKO, G. L. KILONZO, B. S. MHINA, J. I. K. |
author_sort |
NJUNWA, K. J. |
title |
Seasonal patterns of rodents, fleas and plague status in the Western Usambara Mountains, Tanzania |
title_short |
Seasonal patterns of rodents, fleas and plague status in the Western Usambara Mountains, Tanzania |
title_full |
Seasonal patterns of rodents, fleas and plague status in the Western Usambara Mountains, Tanzania |
title_fullStr |
Seasonal patterns of rodents, fleas and plague status in the Western Usambara Mountains, Tanzania |
title_full_unstemmed |
Seasonal patterns of rodents, fleas and plague status in the Western Usambara Mountains, Tanzania |
title_sort |
seasonal patterns of rodents, fleas and plague status in the western usambara mountains, tanzania |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
1989 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2915.1989.tb00469.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2915.1989.tb00469.x http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2915.1989.tb00469.x/fullpdf |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-72.500,-72.500,-69.417,-69.417) |
geographic |
Rothschild |
geographic_facet |
Rothschild |
genre |
Rattus rattus |
genre_facet |
Rattus rattus |
op_source |
Medical and Veterinary Entomology volume 3, issue 1, page 17-22 ISSN 0269-283X 1365-2915 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2915.1989.tb00469.x |
container_title |
Medical and Veterinary Entomology |
container_volume |
3 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
17 |
op_container_end_page |
22 |
_version_ |
1800737326386642944 |