Skip to content
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Seasonal patterns of rodents, fleas and plague status in the Western Usambara Mountains, Tanzania
Medical and Veterinary Entomology, Volume 3, No. 1, Year 1989
Notification
URL copied to clipboard!
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. Copyright © 1989, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved
Authors & Co-Authors
Njunwa, Kato Jonas
Tanzania, Tanga
Amani Medical Research Centre Tanga
Mwaiko, G. L.
Tanzania, Tanga
Amani Medical Research Centre Tanga
Kilonzo, Bukheti S.
Tanzania, Tanga
Amani Medical Research Centre Tanga
Mhina, Julius I.K.
Tanzania, Tanga
Amani Medical Research Centre Tanga
Statistics
Citations: 41
Authors: 4
Affiliations: 1
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1365-2915.1989.tb00469.x
ISSN:
0269283X
e-ISSN:
13652915
Research Areas
Mental Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
Tanzania