Potential mammalian reservoirs in a bubonic plague outbreak focus in Mbulu District, northern Tanzania, in 2007
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Date
2008
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Walter de Gruyte
Abstract
This study investigated mammalian involvement in an
outbreak of bubonic plague in Mbulu District, northern
Tanzania, in March 2007. Plague is a rodent-borne zoo-
notic disease that spreads to humans through fleas
infected with Yersinia pestis. Live trapping of rodents and
shrews was conducted in fallow and crop fields, peri-
domestic areas, houses and the neighboring forest
reserve. Serum was separated from blood of captured
animals. A rapid diagnostic test (RDT) was used for diag-
nosis of plague infection. An ELISA technique was used
to detect antibodies against Yersinia pestis fraction 1
antigen. Wild and commensal rodents tested positive by
RDT, indicating current infection in clinically healthy ani-
mals. The ELISA showed that wild rodents (Lophuromys
flavopunctatus, Praomys delectorum, Graphiurus muri-
nus, Lemniscomys striatus) and commensal rats (Rattus
rattus, Mastomys natalensis, Mus minutoides) were Y.
pestis-positive. Two potential vectors, Xenopsylla brasi-
liensis and Dinopsyllus lypusus, were found on wild and
commensal rodents with a flea index of 1.8. We conclude
that diverse potential mammalian reservoirs and efficient
vectors of Y. pestis are present in abundance in Dongo-
besh and could lead to persistence and future plague
outbreaks.
Description
Keywords
Bubonic plague, ELISA, Rodents, Mbulu District, Northern Tanzania