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

Makundi, Rhodes H.; Massawe, Apia W.; Mulungu, Loth S.; Katakweba, Abdul; Mbise, Thomas J.; Mgode, Georgies

doi:10.1515/mamm.2008.038

Cited by 43 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Also, results show that the dominant species in the natural forest and in cultivation habitats were M. natalensis and P. delectorum. The presence of M. natalensis in the habitat is consistent with results by Makundi et al (2008) who reported similar species in deforested habitats at higher elevations of the plateau in the West Usambara Mountains. Praomys delectorum was more common in the plantation forest.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Small mammals distribution and diversity in a plague endemic area in West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

Ralaizafisoloarivony

Kimaro

Kihupi

et al. 2014

Tanzania J Hlth Res

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Small mammals play a role in plague transmission as hosts in all plague endemic areas. Information on distribution and diversity of small mammals is therefore important for plague surveillance and control in such areas. The objective of this study was to investigate small mammals' diversity and their distribution in plague endemic area in the West Usambara Mountains in north-eastern Tanzania. Landsat images and field surveys were used to select trapping locations in different landscapes. Three landscapes with different habitats were selected for trapping of small mammals. Three types of trap were used in order to maximise the number of species captured. In total, 188 animals and thirteen species were captured in 4,905 trap nights. Praomys delectorum and Mastomys natalensis both reported as plague hosts comprised 50% of all the animals trapped. Trap success increased with altitude. Species diversity was higher in plantation forest followed by shrub, compared to other habitats, regardless of landscape type. It would therefore seem that chances of plague transmission from small mammals to humans are much higher under shrub, natural and plantation forest habitats.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Small mammals distribution and diversity in a plague endemic area in West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

Ralaizafisoloarivony

Kimaro

Kihupi

et al. 2014

Tanzania J Hlth Res

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“…This increase appears to be largely driven by the high numbers of M. natalensis found in agricultural habitats, with the abundance of this species being very strongly correlated to plague seroprevalence. Mastomys natalensis is one of the most frequently seropositive species for Y. pestis in Africa and is a widespread commensal species 38,59 (and an important host of various other human pathogens, including Lassa virus 60,61 ). Analogous changes in community composition, with a common commensal species serving as a major reservoir and "key host" for a pathogen, have been reported elsewhere, Figure 4.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Land Use on Plague (Yersinia pestis) Activity in Rodents in Tanzania

McCauley

Salkeld

Young

et al. 2015

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. Understanding the effects of land-use change on zoonotic disease risk is a pressing global health concern. Here, we compare prevalence of Yersinia pestis, the etiologic agent of plague, in rodents across two land-use types-agricultural and conserved-in northern Tanzania. Estimated abundance of seropositive rodents nearly doubled in agricultural sites compared with conserved sites. This relationship between land-use type and abundance of seropositive rodents is likely mediated by changes in rodent and flea community composition, particularly via an increase in the abundance of the commensal species, Mastomys natalensis, in agricultural habitats. There was mixed support for rodent species diversity negatively impacting Y. pestis seroprevalence. Together, these results suggest that land-use change could affect the risk of local transmission of plague, and raise critical questions about transmission dynamics at the interface of conserved and agricultural habitats. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding disease ecology in the context of rapidly proceeding landscape change.

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“…To complicate matters fleas have been reported to be an important vector of plague among wild rodents in scattered foci of the disease in equatorial Africa (Haeselbarth et al, 1966). Despite the important role played by rodent fleas in plague transmission (Makundi et al, 2008), knowledge on how land use practices affect the ecology of fleas living on and momentarily off-host is still lacking (Hubbart et al, 2011). This means, the association of fleas and specific land use types is poorly understood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution of land use to rodent flea load distribution in the plague endemic area of Lushoto District, Tanzania

Hieronimo

Kihupi

Kimaro

et al. 2014

Tanzania J Hlth Res

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Fleas associated with different rodent species are considered as the major vectors of bubonic plague, which is still rampant in different parts of the world. The objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of land use to rodent flea load distribution at fine scale in the plague endemic area of north-eastern Tanzania. Data was collected in three case areas namely, Shume, Lukozi and Mwangoi, differing in plague incidence levels. Data collection was carried out during both wet and dry seasons of 2012. Analysis of Variance and Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) statistical methods were used to clarify the relationships between fleas and specific land use characteristics. There was a significant variation (P ≤ 0.05) of flea indices in different land use types. Fallow and natural forest had higher flea indices whereas plantation forest mono-crop and mixed annual crops had the lowest flea indices among the aggregated land use types. The influence of individual land use types on flea indices was variable with fallow having a positive effect and land tillage showing a negative effect. The results also demonstrated a seasonal effect, part of which can be attributed to different land use practices such as application of pesticides, or the presence of grass strips around fields. These findings suggest that land use factors have a major influence on rodent flea abundance which can be taken as a proxy for plague infection risk. The results further point to the need for a comprehensive package that includes land tillage and crop type considerations on one hand and the associated human activities on the other, in planning and implementation of plague control interventions.

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

Cited by 43 publications

References 10 publications

Small mammals distribution and diversity in a plague endemic area in West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

Small mammals distribution and diversity in a plague endemic area in West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

Effects of Land Use on Plague (Yersinia pestis) Activity in Rodents in Tanzania

Contribution of land use to rodent flea load distribution in the plague endemic area of Lushoto District, Tanzania

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