Plague has been known since ancient times as a re-emerging infectious disease, causing considerable socioeconomic burden in regional hotspots. To better understand the epidemiological cycle of the causative agent of the plague, its potential occurrence, and possible future dispersion, one must carefully consider the taxonomy, distribution, and ecological requirements of reservoir-species in relation either to natural or human-driven changes (e.g. climate change or urbanization). In recent years, the depth of knowledge on species taxonomy and species composition in different landscapes has undergone a dramatic expansion, driven by modern taxonomic methods such as synthetic surveys that take into consideration morphology, genetics, and the ecological setting of captured animals to establish their species identities. Here, we consider the recent taxonomic changes of the rodent species in known plague reservoirs and detail their distribution across the world, with a particular focus on those rodents considered to be keystone host species. A complete checklist of all known plague-infectable vertebrates living in plague foci is provided as a Supporting Information table.

This chapter summarizes information about the natural foci of plague in the world. We describe the location, main hosts, and vectors of Yersinia pestis. The ecological features of the hosts and vectors of plague are listed, including predators - birds and mammals and their role in the epizootic. The epizootic process in plague and the factors affecting the dynamics of epizootic activity of natural foci of Y. pestis are described in detail. The mathematical models of the epizootic process in plague and predictive models are briefly described. The most comprehensive list of the hosts and vectors of Y. pestis in the world is presented as well.

Blood-sucking phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) transmit leishmaniasis as well as arboviral diseases and bartonellosis. Sand fly females become infected with Leishmania parasites and transmit them while imbibing vertebrates’ blood, required as a source of protein for maturation of eggs. In addition, both females and males consume plant-derived sugar meals as a source of energy. Plant meals may comprise sugary solutions such as nectar or honeydew (secreted by plant-sucking homopteran insects), as well as phloem sap that sand flies obtain by piercing leaves and stems with their needle-like mouthparts. Hence, the structure of plant communities can influence the distribution and epidemiology of leishmaniasis. We designed a next-generation sequencing (NGS)–based assay for determining the source of sand fly plant meals, based upon the chloroplast DNA gene ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase large chain (rbcL). Here, we report on the predilection of several sand fly species, vectors of leishmaniasis in different parts of the world, for feeding on Cannabis sativa. We infer this preference based on the substantial percentage of sand flies that had fed on C. sativa plants despite the apparent “absence” of these plants from most of the field sites. We discuss the conceivable implications of the affinity of sand flies for C. sativa on their vectorial capacity for Leishmania and the putative exploitation of their attraction to C. sativa for the control of sand fly-borne diseases.

Plague (Yersinia pestis) and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (Leishmania major) are two rodent-associated diseases which are vectored by fleas and phlebotomine sand flies, respectively. In Central Asia, the great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) serves as the primary reservoir for both diseases in most natural foci. The systemic insecticide fipronil has been previously shown to be highly effective in controlling fleas and sand flies. However, the impact of a fipronil-based rodent bait, on flea and sand fly abundance, has never been reported in Central Asia. A field trial was conducted in southeastern Kazakhstan to evaluate the efficacy of a 0.005% fipronil bait, applied to gerbil burrows for oral uptake, in reducing Xenopsylla spp. flea and Phlebotomus spp. sand fly abundance. All active gerbil burrows within the treated area were presented with ~120 g of 0.005% fipronil grain bait twice during late spring/early summer (June 16, June 21). In total, 120 occupied and 14 visited gerbil colonies were surveyed and treated, and the resulting application rate was minimal (~0.006 mg fipronil/m2). The bait resulted in 100% reduction in Xenopsylla spp. flea abundance at 80-days post-treatment. Gravid sand flies were reduced ~72% and 100% during treatment and at week-3 post-treatment, respectively. However, noticeable sand fly reduction did not occur after week-3 and results suggest environmental factors also influenced abundance significantly. In conclusion, fipronil bait, applied in southeastern Kazakhstan, has the potential to reduce or potentially eliminate Xenopsylla spp. fleas if applied at least every 80-days, but may need to be applied at higher frequency to significantly reduce the oviposition rate of Phlebotomus spp. sand flies. Fipronil-based bait may provide a means of controlling blood-feeding vectors, subsequently reducing disease risk, in Central Asia and other affected regions globally.

Abzhanov Arkhat, prof. (Boston, USA), Abelev S.K., prof. (Moscow, Russia), Aitkhozhina N.А., prof., academician (Kazakhstan) Akshulakov S.K., prof., academician (Kazakhstan) Alchinbayev М.K., prof., academician (Kazakhstan) Batpenov N.D., prof., corr. member (Kazakhstan) Berezin V.Ye., prof., corr. member. (Kazakhstan) Bersimbayev R.I., prof., academician (Kazakhstan) Berkinbaev S.F., prof. (Kazakhstan) Bisenbayev А.K., prof., academician (Kazakhstan) Bishimbayeva N.K., prof., academician (Kazakhstan) Botabekova Т.K., prof., corr. member. (Kazakhstan) Bosch Ernesto, prof. (Spain) Davletov Kairat, PhD, associate professor, executive Secretary Dzhansugurova L.B., Cand. biol., prof. (Kazakhstan) Ellenbogen Adrian, prof. (Tel-Aviv, Israel), Zhambakin K.Zh., prof., academician (Kazakhstan), deputy editor-in-chief Ishchenko Alexander, prof. (Villejuif, France) Isayeva R.B., prof. (Kazakhstan) Kaydarova D.R., prof., academician (Kazakhstan) Kokhmetova A., prof., corr. member (Kazakhstan) Kuzdenbayeva R.S., prof., academician (Kazakhstan) Lokshin V.N., prof., corr. member (Kazakhstan) Los D.А., prof. (Moscow, Russia) Lunenfeld Bruno, prof. (Israel) Makashev E.K., prof., corr. member (Kazakhstan) Mitalipov Sh.M. (America) Muminov Т.А., prof., academician (Kazakhstan) Ogar N.P., prof., corr. member (Kazakhstan) Omarov R.T., cand. biol., prof. (Kazakhstan) Prodeus A.P., prof. (Russia) Purton Saul, prof. (London, UK) Rakhypbekov Т.K., prof., corr. member. (Kazakhstan) Saparbayev Мurat, prof. (Paris, France) Sarbassov Dos, prof. (Houston, USA) Turysbekov E.K., cand. biol., assoc. prof. (Kazakhstan) Sharmanov A.T., prof. (USA) News of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Series of biology and medicine.