Abstract:
Commensal and field rodents and wild small carnivores were live-trapped in five villages of Karatu district and
one settlement in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Ngorongoro district in Tanzania. Blood samples were taken and
serologically tested for plague, using the Blocking ELISA technique. Some domestic dogs and cats in the Karatu villages
were aseptically bled and similarly tested for plague. Fleas were collected from the examined animals and from randomly
selected residential houses. A total of 241 rodents, 1 Crocidura spp, 43 dogs, 12 cats and 4 slender mongooses were
involved in the survey. Of the rodents, 14.5% were infested with fleas, which comprised of Xenopsylla brasiliensis
(45.8%) and Dinopsyllus lypusus (54.2%), with an overall population density of 0.2 fleas/animal. Thirty one (72.1%) of
the dogs were infested with fleas, all of which were Ctenocephalides spp. Thirty five (63.3%) houses were infested with
fleas whose population was composed of Ctenocephalides spp, Pulex irritans, Tunga penetrans and Echinophaga gallinacea.
Infected rodents were found in all the villages while the infected dog was found at Rhotia-Kati. Nineteen (11%) of the
rodents and one (2%) dog harboured specific plague antibodies. It was broadly concluded that sylvatic plague was endemic
in Karatu district and Ngorongoro Conservation Area and that outbreaks of the disease can occur in the area any time if and
when relevant conditions become favourable. Prompt application of appropriate preventive and control measures and
survey for substantiating the status in the Lake Manyara National Park, which is adjacent to some of the infected villages,
are recommended.
