Species and population densities of domestic fleas in the Lushoto Plague focus, Tanzania: need for integrated pest management approach for their control

Abstract

Plague has been a threatening problem to public heath in Lushoto district for more than 16 years, and has so far involved thousands of human cases/suspects with hundreds of deaths. Outbreaks of the disease have been accruing even at times when rodent fleas were scarce, thus suggesting involvement of vectors, which are not rodent-dependent. A survey for fleas which are not ectoparasitic on rodents was thus carried out. Fleas were collected from randomly selected residential houses, using modified light traps. These insects were also collected from small ruminants, pests and poultry, using a simple technique of anaesthetizing the insects with ether and brushing them off the animal body.