Biodiversity and distribution of flea (Siphonaptera), rodent (Rodentia), and Crocidura (Insectivora) species associated with plague epidemiology in eastern Zambia

Fleas (Siphonaptera) are important vectors of several animal and human disease pathogens, while rodents are considered as reservoirs of most pathogens, including Yersinia pestis Factors that influence the parasitism rate of fleas, ecological aspects that modulate their distribution, and host-flea relationship in Eastern Zambia remain unknown.  Furthermore, there is little information on the biodiversity and abundance of rodents and fleas in the study area. A total of 1212 mammals were sampled and examined. These included rodents (n=329), Crocidura (n=113), domestic pigs (n=254), small ruminants (n=346) and carnivores (n=168), and 1578 fleas, where five species were identified. There were nine genera and species of rodents with one genus of Crocidura captured. The results showed that 27(8.2%) and 19(5.8%) rodents and 8(7.0%) and 2(1.8%) Crocidura were positive for antibodies and pla gene for Y. pestis, respectively. Echidnophaga larina were the most mean abundant (MA=8.58), while Xenopsylla cheopis had the least mean abundant (MA=0.14), nevertheless it was the most infected with Y. pestis. Mastomys. natalensis was highest in plague positivity 31/56, followed by Crocidura spp 10/56 and Rattus rattus 6/56. The results indicated that three flea species were infected with Yersinia pestis. Shannon-Weiner (H) and dominance (D) indices of rodents were 1.5 and 0.2789, while the flea indices were 0.5310 and 0.8389, respectively. There was a strong association between richness of fleas and plague disease (p=0.01; x2=65.3). It’s established that rodents were more biodiversity than fleas while both were unevenly distributed. It’s recommended that control measures of fleas be intensified and sustained to lessen the spread of their associated diseases.