Potential mammalian reservoirs in a bubonic plague outbreak focus in Mbulu District, northern Tanzania, in 2007
| dc.contributor.author | Makundi, Rhodes H. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Massawe, A. W. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mulungu, L.S. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Katakweba, Abdul | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mbise, Thomas | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mgode, Georgies | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2016-12-02T09:19:22Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2016-12-02T09:19:22Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2008 | |
| dc.description.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. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/1058 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Walter de Gruyte | en_US |
| dc.subject | Bubonic plague | en_US |
| dc.subject | ELISA | en_US |
| dc.subject | Rodents | en_US |
| dc.subject | Mbulu District | en_US |
| dc.subject | Northern Tanzania | en_US |
| dc.title | Potential mammalian reservoirs in a bubonic plague outbreak focus in Mbulu District, northern Tanzania, in 2007 | en_US |
| dc.type | Article | en_US |