Entomological and Rodent Surveillance of Suspected Plague Foci in Agro-Environmental and Feral Biotopes of a Few Districts in Maharashtra and Gujarat States of India

Abstract

Studies carried out on entomological and rodent surveillance in agroclimatic and feral biotopes of five districts of Maharashtra and two districts of Gujarat revealed that the terrain features of the seven districts surveyed were conducive to wild rodent species, Ta tera indica, a natural reservoir of plague and vector flea species, Xenopsylla cheopis. A total of 214 Tatera indica and three Bandicoota bengalensis were collected from burrows by the digging method and 89 rat fleas were retrieved. The flea index calculated ranged from 0.26 to 1.0 in different districts. The examination of blood serum samples, contact tissue impression smears and tissue organs (heart, lung, liver and spleen) of these wild rodents did not reveal any evidence of plague activity. The natural harbourages of Ta tera indica were found to be elevated land or raised margins of agricultural fields or barren land with thorny bushes/xerophytic plants and parthenium grass. Agricultural fields having wet soil were found to be the preferred harbourages of Bandicoota bengalensis. Movement of wild rodents toward human settlement was observed to be the common phenomenon during the harvesting season which may lead to the creation of favorable conditions for plague outbreaks.

Ectoparasite of Rodents Collected from International Seaport, Gujarat (India) with Special Reference to Plague & Scrub Typhus

“…RR -15 (7) 43 ( 25 noted the transfer of fleas from wild to domestic rodent, and their responsible role in transmission of bubonic plague in and around India. The oriental rat flea, X. cheopis, was most frequently found on T. indica.…”

“…In India, the wild rodent T. indica has been incriminated as the main reservoir for plague. 10 Kumar et al 25 carried out an entomological and rodent surveillance of five districts of Maharashtra and two districts of Gujarat revealed that T. indica, was a natural reservoir of plague and vector flea species was X. cheopis and a total of 214 T. indica and three B. bengalensis were collected with flea index calculated ranged from 0.26 to 1.0. The examination of blood serum samples, contact tissue impression smears and tissue organs (heart, lung, liver and spleen) of these rodents did not reveal any evidence of plague activity.…”

Role of India’s wildlife in the emergence and re-emergence of zoonotic pathogens, risk factors and public health implications

“…Floods and droughts may force sharing of resources such as food, water and habitat between wildlife and livestock. Movement of wild rodents into human settlements has been commonly observed during harvest season; this may lead to the creation of favorable conditions for plague outbreaks (Kumar et al, 1997). Increased long-distance air travel could facilitate the movement of pathogens and vectors.…”