Early-phase transmission of Yersinia pestis by unblocked fleas as a mechanism explaining rapidly spreading plague epizootics
Abstract. In recent decades, the majority of human plague cases (caused by Yersinia pestis) have been reported from Africa. In northwest Uganda, which has had recent plague outbreaks, cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) have been reported as the most common fleas in the home environment, which is susp...
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ftciteseerx:oai:CiteSeerX.psu:10.1.1.502.3233 2023-05-15T18:05:25+02:00 Early-phase transmission of Yersinia pestis by unblocked fleas as a mechanism explaining rapidly spreading plague epizootics Rebecca J. Eisen Jeff N. Borchert Jennifer L. Holmes Gerald Amatre Kristen Van Wyk Russell E. Enscore Nackson Babi Linda A. Atiku Aryn P. Wilder Sara M. Vetter Scott W. Bearden John A. Montenieri Kenneth L. Gage The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives 2006 application/pdf http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.502.3233 http://www.ajtmh.org/content/78/6/949.full.pdf en eng http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.502.3233 http://www.ajtmh.org/content/78/6/949.full.pdf Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. http://www.ajtmh.org/content/78/6/949.full.pdf text 2006 ftciteseerx 2016-01-08T09:11:42Z Abstract. In recent decades, the majority of human plague cases (caused by Yersinia pestis) have been reported from Africa. In northwest Uganda, which has had recent plague outbreaks, cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) have been reported as the most common fleas in the home environment, which is suspected to be a major exposure site for human plague in this country. In the past, C. felis has been viewed as only a nuisance-biting insect because limited laboratory studies suggested it is incapable of transmitting Y. pestis or is an inefficient vector. Our laboratory study shows that C. felis is a competent vector of plague bacteria, but that efficiency is low compared with another flea species collected in the same area: the oriental rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis. On the other hand, despite its low vector efficiency, C. felis is the most common flea in human habitations in a plague-endemic region of Uganda (Arua and Nebbi Districts), and occasionally infests potential rodent reservoirs of Y. pestis such as the roof rat (Rattus rattus) or the Nile rat (Arvicanthis niloticus). Plague control programs in this region should remain focused on reducing rat flea populations, although our findings imply that cat fleas should not be ignored by these programs as they could play a significant role as secondary vectors. Text Rattus rattus Unknown |
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Abstract. In recent decades, the majority of human plague cases (caused by Yersinia pestis) have been reported from Africa. In northwest Uganda, which has had recent plague outbreaks, cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) have been reported as the most common fleas in the home environment, which is suspected to be a major exposure site for human plague in this country. In the past, C. felis has been viewed as only a nuisance-biting insect because limited laboratory studies suggested it is incapable of transmitting Y. pestis or is an inefficient vector. Our laboratory study shows that C. felis is a competent vector of plague bacteria, but that efficiency is low compared with another flea species collected in the same area: the oriental rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis. On the other hand, despite its low vector efficiency, C. felis is the most common flea in human habitations in a plague-endemic region of Uganda (Arua and Nebbi Districts), and occasionally infests potential rodent reservoirs of Y. pestis such as the roof rat (Rattus rattus) or the Nile rat (Arvicanthis niloticus). Plague control programs in this region should remain focused on reducing rat flea populations, although our findings imply that cat fleas should not be ignored by these programs as they could play a significant role as secondary vectors. |
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The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives |
format |
Text |
author |
Rebecca J. Eisen Jeff N. Borchert Jennifer L. Holmes Gerald Amatre Kristen Van Wyk Russell E. Enscore Nackson Babi Linda A. Atiku Aryn P. Wilder Sara M. Vetter Scott W. Bearden John A. Montenieri Kenneth L. Gage |
spellingShingle |
Rebecca J. Eisen Jeff N. Borchert Jennifer L. Holmes Gerald Amatre Kristen Van Wyk Russell E. Enscore Nackson Babi Linda A. Atiku Aryn P. Wilder Sara M. Vetter Scott W. Bearden John A. Montenieri Kenneth L. Gage Early-phase transmission of Yersinia pestis by unblocked fleas as a mechanism explaining rapidly spreading plague epizootics |
author_facet |
Rebecca J. Eisen Jeff N. Borchert Jennifer L. Holmes Gerald Amatre Kristen Van Wyk Russell E. Enscore Nackson Babi Linda A. Atiku Aryn P. Wilder Sara M. Vetter Scott W. Bearden John A. Montenieri Kenneth L. Gage |
author_sort |
Rebecca J. Eisen |
title |
Early-phase transmission of Yersinia pestis by unblocked fleas as a mechanism explaining rapidly spreading plague epizootics |
title_short |
Early-phase transmission of Yersinia pestis by unblocked fleas as a mechanism explaining rapidly spreading plague epizootics |
title_full |
Early-phase transmission of Yersinia pestis by unblocked fleas as a mechanism explaining rapidly spreading plague epizootics |
title_fullStr |
Early-phase transmission of Yersinia pestis by unblocked fleas as a mechanism explaining rapidly spreading plague epizootics |
title_full_unstemmed |
Early-phase transmission of Yersinia pestis by unblocked fleas as a mechanism explaining rapidly spreading plague epizootics |
title_sort |
early-phase transmission of yersinia pestis by unblocked fleas as a mechanism explaining rapidly spreading plague epizootics |
publishDate |
2006 |
url |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.502.3233 http://www.ajtmh.org/content/78/6/949.full.pdf |
genre |
Rattus rattus |
genre_facet |
Rattus rattus |
op_source |
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/78/6/949.full.pdf |
op_relation |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.502.3233 http://www.ajtmh.org/content/78/6/949.full.pdf |
op_rights |
Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. |
_version_ |
1766176883046612992 |