Potential mammalian reservoirs in a bubonic plague outbreak focus in Mbulu District, northern Tanzania, in 2007

Makundi, Rhodes H.; Massawe, A. W.; Mulungu, L.S.; Katakweba, Abdul; Mbise, Thomas; Mgode, Georgies

dc.creator	Makundi, Rhodes H.
dc.creator	Massawe, A. W.
dc.creator	Mulungu, L.S.
dc.creator	Katakweba, Abdul
dc.creator	Mbise, Thomas
dc.creator	Mgode, Georgies
dc.date	2016-12-02T09:19:22Z
dc.date	2016-12-02T09:19:22Z
dc.date	2008
dc.date.accessioned	2022-10-25T08:51:10Z
dc.date.available	2022-10-25T08:51:10Z
dc.identifier	https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/1058
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/91098
dc.description	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.
dc.format	application/pdf
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Walter de Gruyte
dc.subject	Bubonic plague
dc.subject	ELISA
dc.subject	Rodents
dc.subject	Mbulu District
dc.subject	Northern Tanzania
dc.title	Potential mammalian reservoirs in a bubonic plague outbreak focus in Mbulu District, northern Tanzania, in 2007
dc.type	Article