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BIODIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF FLEA (SIPHONAPTERA), RODENT (RODENTIA), AND CROCIDURA (INSECTIVORA) SPECIES ASSOCIATED WITH PLAGUE EPIDEMIOLOGY IN EASTERN ZAMBIA
Abstract
Background
Fleas (Siphonaptera) are important vectors of several animal and human disease pathogens, while rodents are considered as reservoirs of most pathogens, including Yersinia pestis Factors that influence the parasitism rate of fleas, ecological aspects that modulate their distribution, and host-flea relationship in Eastern Zambia remain unknown. Furthermore, there is little information on the biodiversity and abundance of rodents and fleas in the study area.
Aims
The was to determine the close association of fleas, rodents and the plague disease
Methods
The rodents were trapped using the live traps. The captures were taken to the mobile laboratory where fleas, blood and organs were collected. The fleas were also collected from the domestic animals. The fleas were identified and the sera were tested for the IgG antibodies of the F1 antigen of the Yersinia pestis using ELISA technique. The Organs and fleas were processed following the protocal. The DNA was extracted using DNA extraction kit. The PCR was run to detect the pla gene of Yersinia pestis.
Results
The results showed that 27(8.2%) and 19(5.8%) rodents and 8(7.0%) and 2(1.8%) Crocidura were positive for antibodies and pla gene for Y. pestis, respectively. Echidnophaga larina were the most mean abundant (MA=8.58), while Xenopsylla cheopis had the least mean abundant (MA=0.14), nevertheless it was the most infected with Y.pestis. Mastomys. natalensis was highest in plague positivity 31/56, followed by Crocidura spp 10/56 and Rattus rattus 6/56.
Conclusions
It’s established that rodents were more biodiversity than fleas while both were unevenly distributed