Pyraperm Kills Fleas and Halts Plague Among Utah Prairie Dogs

Hoogland, John L.; Davis, Stacey K.; Benson‐Amram, Sarah; LaBruna, Danielle T.; Goossens, Brigitte; Hoogland, Margaret

doi:10.1894/0038-4909(2004)049<0376:pkfahp>2.0.co;2

Cited by 37 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…This prediction is consistent with our field observation that prairie dogs captured on a town with a confirmed plague outbreak all tested negative for plague antibodies during serological testing in the field (38 individuals, plague confirmation from carcass testing). Similar field observations have been reported by Hoogland et al (29). The 98% extinction probability predicted by the stochastic model with default parameters is quantitatively consistent with our observations of epizootics.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Plague transmission rates in the world's plague foci typically peak during seasons of the year when flea densities are highest and on host species known to support heavy populations of fleas. Several studies have shown that insecticidal dusting can interrupt the spread of human bubonic plague epidemics (33), and recent studies of prairie dogs also show that applying insecticides during the early stages of epizootics can stop the spread of plague (29,34). These results suggest that fleas are directly involved in the short-term reservoir component of our model, perhaps transmitting plague through mechanical means or without the need for complete blockage (8).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

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Classic flea-borne transmission does not drive plague epizootics in prairie dogs

Webb

Brooks

Gage

et al. 2006

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

108

119

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We lack a clear understanding of the enzootic maintenance of the bacterium (Yersinia pestis) that causes plague and the sporadic epizootics that occur in its natural rodent hosts. A key to elucidating these epidemiological dynamics is determining the dominant transmission routes of plague. Plague can be acquired from the bites of infectious fleas (which is generally considered to occur via a blocked flea vector), inhalation of infectious respiratory droplets, or contact with a short-term infectious reservoir. We present results from a plague modeling approach that includes transmission from all three sources of infection simultaneously and uses sensitivity analysis to determine their relative importance. Our model is completely parameterized by using data from the literature and our own field studies of plague in the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus). Results of the model are qualitatively and quantitatively consistent with independent data from our field sites. Although infectious fleas might be an important source of infection and transmission via blocked fleas is a dominant paradigm in the literature, our model clearly predicts that this form of transmission cannot drive epizootics in prairie dogs. Rather, a short-term reservoir is required for epizootic dynamics. Several short-term reservoirs have the potential to affect the prairie dog system. Our model predictions of the residence time of the shortterm reservoir suggest that other small mammals, infectious prairie dog carcasses, fleas that transmit plague without blockage of the digestive tract, or some combination of these three are the most likely of the candidate infectious reservoirs.disease modeling ͉ disease reservoir ͉ Yersinia pestis ͉ Cynomys ludovicianus

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Classic flea-borne transmission does not drive plague epizootics in prairie dogs

Webb

Brooks

Gage

et al. 2006

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

108

119

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Slowing or stopping plague transmission in blacktailed prairie dogs would aid in conservation efforts and lower human health risks (Biggins and Kosoy, 2001;Antolin et al, 2002;Seery et al, 2003). Insecticidal dusting of burrows has been shown to reduce the risk of, and even prevent, epizootics (Seery et al, 2003;Hoogland et al, 2004). However, the timing of insecticidal application is important in its effectiveness (Fitzgerald, 1970).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite these indications that prairie dog fleas may not play a major role in epizootic spread, other evidence points to the importance of flea-borne transmission. Insecticidal dusting of prairie dog burrows appears to be effective in preventing plague epizootics (Seery et al, 2003;Hoogland et al, 2004), and climatic conditions that favor increased flea abundance are also associated with higher plague risk (Stapp et al, 2004). Further, prairie dog fleas rarely block, but instances of transmission in the absence of blockage have been reported in many species, even those that block frequently (Burroughs, 1947;Degtyareva et al, 1990;Gan et al, 1990;Engelthaler et al, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transmission Efficiency of Two Flea Species (Oropsylla tuberculata cynomuris and Oropsylla hirsuta) Involved in Plague Epizootics among Prairie Dogs

et al. 2008

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Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, is an exotic disease in North America circulating predominantly in wild populations of rodents and their fleas. Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) are highly susceptible to infection, often experiencing mortality of nearly all individuals in a town as a result of plague. The fleas of black-tailed prairie dogs are Oropsylla tuberculata cynomuris and Oropsylla hirsuta. We tested the efficiency of O. tuberculata cynomuris to transmit Y. pestis daily from 24 to 96 h postinfection and compared it to previously collected data for O. hirsuta. We found that O. tuberculata cynomuris has over threefold greater transmission efficiency (0.18 infected fleas transmit Y. pestis at 24 h postinfection) than O. hirsuta (0.05 fleas transmit). Using a simple model of flea-borne transmission, we combine these laboratory measurements with field data on monthly flea loads to compare the seasonal vectorial capacity of these two flea species. Coinciding with seasonal patterns of flea abundance, we find a peak in potential for flea-borne transmission in March, during high O. tuberculata cynomuris abundance, and in September-October when O. hirsuta is common. Our findings may be useful in determining the timing of insecticidal dusting to slow plague transmission in black-tailed prairie dogs.

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“…Study animal.-Utah prairie dogs are colonial, diurnal, herbivorous, ground-dwelling squirrels that hibernate during severe winter weather (Hoogland 2001(Hoogland , 2003Hoogland et al 2004Hoogland et al , 2006Stebbins 1971). They form social breeding groups (clans) that contain several philopatric females of close kinship, their young, and 1 or 2 nonreproductive yearling males.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Why are Utah Prairie Dogs Vigilant?

Manno

2007

Journal of Mammalogy

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Pyraperm Kills Fleas and Halts Plague Among Utah Prairie Dogs

Cited by 37 publications

References 37 publications

Classic flea-borne transmission does not drive plague epizootics in prairie dogs

Classic flea-borne transmission does not drive plague epizootics in prairie dogs

Transmission Efficiency of Two Flea Species (Oropsylla tuberculata cynomuris and Oropsylla hirsuta) Involved in Plague Epizootics among Prairie Dogs

Why are Utah Prairie Dogs Vigilant?

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