Potential mammalian reservoirs in a bubonic plague outbreak focus in Mbulu District, northern Tanzania, in 2007
| 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.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.identifier | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/1058 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/91098 | |
| 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 |