Abundance of rodents and fleas

The objective of the study were to determine the abundance and diversity of rodents and associated fleas in a plague endemic (Nkayi district) and non endemic (Umzingwane district) areas. It was a comparative study, where two villages were sampled in each district. The study utilised removal trapping method. A total of 154 rodents were captured, with 81 rodents captured at Nkayi, while 73 were captured in Umzingwane district. The abundant rodent species at Nkayi was Tatera leucogaster whereas in Umzingwane district it was Mastomys natalensis. Fleas were dislodged from captured rodents, processed and identified. Altogether 162 fleas were collected, 114 were gathered from Nkayi while in Umzingwane district 48 fleas were collected. The most abundant flea species at Nkayi was X. brasiliensis.