Analysis of monitoring results on plague's host animal and its medium insects in Quanzhou city of Fujian province between 2000 and 2009

Abstract

Objective To examine the composition and distribution of animal reservoir of plague in Quanzhou city, Fujian province, and so as to accumulate basic data for making the plague prevention and control measures. Methods Rodents were captured by cages in six monitoring spots of Quanzhou city between 2000 and 2009. Then rodents and flea species were identified. Rats liver and spleen homogenates were detected of plague F1 antigen by reverse indirect hemagglutination test (RIHA); rats serum were detected of plague F1 antibody by indirect hemagglutination test (IHA). Results A total of 26 264 rodents were captured between 2000 and 2009.Rattus norvegicus and Rattus flavipectus were dominant species, which were accounted for 45.97％ (12 074/26 264)and 32.01％(8407/26 264), respectively. The account of Rattus flavipectus captured between 2005 and 2009 was (26.99 ± 2.46)％ and (37.03 ± 3.79)％ between 2000 and 2004. The difference was statistically significant (t =4.97, P ＜ 0.05). Total rodent densities was (6.86 ± 1.44)％, including(5.36 ± 1.83)％ in mountains and (6.81 ±1.66)％ in coastal areas, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant(t =1.01, P ＞ 0.05). Total flea index and flea infection rate of rodents were 1.39 ± 0.34 and (35.90 ± 5.34)％, respectively. Xenopsylla Cheopis index was 1.20 and free flea index was 0.009. Flea infection rate was (32.36 ± 0.96)％ between 2005 and 2009, which was lower than (39.44 ± 0.39)％ between 2000 and 2004(t =2.76, P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions The major rodent species found in Quanzhou city is Rattus norvegicus. Xenopsylla Cheopis is the dominant flea species.Spreading of plague among Rattus is not found. Key words: Plague;  Host-parasite relations;  Fleas;  Data collection