Small mammals distribution and diversity in a plague endemic area in West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorRalaizafisoloarivony, Njaka A.
dc.contributor.authorKimaro, D. N.
dc.contributor.authorKihupi, Nganga I.
dc.contributor.authorMulungu, Loth S.
dc.contributor.authorLeirs, Herwing
dc.contributor.authorDeckers, J.
dc.contributor.authorMsanya, B. M.
dc.contributor.authorGulinck, Hubert
dc.date.accessioned2016-12-06T06:30:11Z
dc.date.available2016-12-06T06:30:11Z
dc.date.issued2014-07-03
dc.description.abstractSmall mammals play a role in plague transmission as hosts in all plague endemic areas. Information on distribution and diversity of small mammals is therefore important for plague surveillance and control in such areas. The objective of this study was to investigate small mammals’ diversity and their distribution in plague endemic area in the West Usambara Mountains in north-eastern Tanzania. Landsat images and field surveys were used to select trapping locations in different landscapes. Three landscapes with different habitats were selected for trapping of small mammals. Three types of trap were used in order to maximise the number of species captured. In total, 188 animals and thirteen species were captured in 4,905 trap nights. Praomys delectorum and Mastomys natalensis both reported as plague hosts comprised 50% of all the animals trapped. Trap success increased with altitude. Species diversity was higher in plantation forest followed by shrub, compared to other habitats, regardless of landscape type. It would therefore seem that chances of plague transmission from small mammals to humans are much higher under shrub, natural and plantation forest habitats.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/1087
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherTanzania Journal of Health Researchen_US
dc.subjectPlagueen_US
dc.subjectsmall mammalsen_US
dc.subjectspecies diversityen_US
dc.subjectTanzaniaen_US
dc.subjectPlague transmissionen_US
dc.titleSmall mammals distribution and diversity in a plague endemic area in West Usambara Mountains, Tanzaniaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
dc.urlDoi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/thrb.v16i3.4en_US

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Njaka et al.pdf
Size:
428.83 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.66 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Agricultural Engineering and Land Planning Collection