Survey of host and vector species of plague in previous natural focus in Yiwu,2007-2011

Objective To understand the species of host and vector of plague and their density in previous natural focus in Yiwu and provide evidence for the development of plague prevention and control measures. Methods The rats were captured with cages at night, and the captured rats and fleas were identified and analyzed. Results The total number of rodent like animals captured was 3725 from 2007-2011, the rodentia belonged to 11 species in 7 genera in 2 families and the insectivora belonged to 1 species in 1 genus in 1 family. The predominant rats in house were Rattus norvegicus and Rattus flavipectus and the predominant rats in field were Eothenomys melanogaster and Apodemus agrarius. The total rat density was 0.98% (1.01% for rats in house and 0.93% for rats in field). The major rats infected by flea were Rattus edwardsi, Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus and Rattus flavipectus. Leptopsylla segnis was the predominant flea found in rats (97.35%), the flea-carrying rate in rats was 0.82%, and the total index of flea was 0.019. Conclusion Rattus norvegicus and Eothenomys melanogaster are predominant rat species in previous natural focus of plague in Yiwu. The densities of the disease hosts and vectors were low, and no Asiatic rat flea was found, but it is still necessary to continue the surveillance of plague in this area.