Experimental plague infection in South African wild rodents

Shepherd, A. J.; Leman, Patricia A.; Hummitzsch, D. E.

doi:10.1017/s0022172400065943

Cited by 17 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Plague resistance in these R. rattus populations would therefore be an example of rapid evolution (Altizer et al, 2003), which may be explained by the high virulence of plague bacteria (Stenseth et al, 2008) and the short generation time of the black rat (approximately 0.5 years; J.-M. Duplantier, unpublished data). Evolution of plague resistance may not be restricted to this system, as variability in resistance related to plague occurrence has been described in other recent plague foci: Onychomys leucogaster (Thomas et al, 1988) and Microtus californicus (Quan and Kartman, 1962) in North America; Mastomys natalensis in South Africa (Shepherd et al, 1986). Unlike these native species, the black rat was introduced to Madagascar a few thousand years ago, and consequently displays relatively low levels of neutral genetic variability, especially in the central highlands (Tollenaere et al, 2010), but this does not appear to have prevented rapid evolution (see also Koskinen et al, 2002;Dlugosch and Parker, 2008).…”

Section: Comparison Of Plague Susceptibility Between Plague Focus Andmentioning

confidence: 95%

Susceptibility to Yersinia pestis Experimental Infection in Wild Rattus rattus, Reservoir of Plague in Madagascar

et al. 2010

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In Madagascar, the black rat, Rattus rattus, is the main reservoir of plague (Yersinia pestis infection), a disease still responsible for hundreds of cases each year in this country. This study used experimental plague challenge to assess susceptibility in wild-caught rats to better understand how R. rattus can act as a plague reservoir. An important difference in plague resistance between rat populations from the plague focus (central highlands) and those from the plague-free zone (low altitude area) was confirmed to be a widespread phenomenon. In rats from the plague focus, we observed that sex influenced plague susceptibility, with males slightly more resistant than females. Other individual factors investigated (weight and habitat of sampling) did not affect plague resistance. When infected at high bacterial dose (more than 10⁵ bacteria injected), rats from the plague focus died mainly within 3-5 days and produced specific antibodies, whereas after low-dose infection (< 5,000 bacteria), delayed mortality was observed and surviving seronegative rats were not uncommon. These results concerning plague resistance level and the course of infection in the black rat would contribute to a better understanding of plague circulation in Madagascar.

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Section: Comparison Of Plague Susceptibility Between Plague Focus Andmentioning

confidence: 95%

Susceptibility to Yersinia pestis Experimental Infection in Wild Rattus rattus, Reservoir of Plague in Madagascar

et al. 2010

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“…In Mandoto (peneplain area) no difference was found [33], whereas in Betafo (mountainous area) genetic differences were observed between rats from rice field populations compared to those from houses and sisal hedges [34]. This resistance seems to be passed on to offspring as also suggested for M. natalensis [31]. A 32-base pair deletion in the chemokine receptor 5 gene (CCR5) used by HIV-1 to enter cells has been proposed to confer resistance to HIV, smallpox, and plague infections [35].…”

Section: Main Factors Impacting the Epidemiology Of Plague In Madagascarmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Persistence of Plague Foci in Madagascar

et al. 2013

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Plague, a zoonosis caused by Yersinia pestis, is still found in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Madagascar reports almost one third of the cases worldwide. Y. pestis can be encountered in three very different types of foci: urban, rural, and sylvatic. Flea vector and wild rodent host population dynamics are tightly correlated with modulation of climatic conditions, an association that could be crucial for both the maintenance of foci and human plague epidemics. The black rat Rattus rattus, the main host of Y. pestis in Madagascar, is found to exhibit high resistance to plague in endemic areas, opposing the concept of high mortality rates among rats exposed to the infection. Also, endemic fleas could play an essential role in maintenance of the foci. This review discusses recent advances in the understanding of the role of these factors as well as human behavior in the persistence of plague in Madagascar.

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“…For example, although our study indicated that R. rattus was the rodent most commonly found in the huts in our study areas (91.4%), Þve (8.6%) other species of rodents were captured. Among the noncommensal rodents captured in our study, only M. natalensis has been evaluated for its susceptibility to Y. pestis infection (Isaä cson et al 1983, Shepherd et al 1986). Although the plague susceptibility has not been investigated under laboratory conditions, A. niloticus is thought to be involved in the ecology of plague (Hopkins 1949, Kilonzo and Mhina 1983, Gratz 1999) elsewhere in East Africa and was the most commonly encountered noncommensal rodent species collected in our study.…”

Section: Table 3 Median and Range Of No Of Fleas Of Rodents Collectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Rodent Bait Containing Imidacloprid for the Control of Fleas on Commensal Rodents in a Plague-Endemic Region of Northwest Uganda

Borchert

Enscore

Eisen

et al. 2010

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In recent decades, the majority of human plague cases (caused by Yersinia pestis) have been reported from Africa. In an effort to reduce the risk of the disease in this area, we evaluated the efficacy of a host-targeted rodent bait containing the insecticide imidacloprid for controlling fleas on house-dwelling commensal rodents in a plague-endemic region of northwestern Uganda. Results demonstrated that the use of a palatable, rodent-targeted, wax-based bait cube was effective at reducing the prevalence of fleas on commensal rodents and flea burdens on these animals at day 7 postbait exposure, but lacked significant residual activity, allowing flea populations to rebound in the absence of additional bait applications. Our results indicate the use of a palatable host-targeted bait block containing imidacloprid was an effective technique for quickly reducing flea numbers on rodents in northwest Uganda and, thus, could be useful for lowering the potential risk of human flea bite exposures during plague outbreaks if applied continuously during the period of risk.

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Experimental plague infection in South African wild rodents

Abstract: SUMMARYSusceptibility studies were undertaken to determine the response of some South African wild rodent species to experimental plague (Yersinia pestis) infection.

Cited by 17 publications

References 17 publications

Susceptibility to Yersinia pestis Experimental Infection in Wild Rattus rattus, Reservoir of Plague in Madagascar

Susceptibility to Yersinia pestis Experimental Infection in Wild Rattus rattus, Reservoir of Plague in Madagascar

Understanding the Persistence of Plague Foci in Madagascar

Evaluation of Rodent Bait Containing Imidacloprid for the Control of Fleas on Commensal Rodents in a Plague-Endemic Region of Northwest Uganda

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