Abstract
Plague is a zoonosis caused by Yersinia pestis, whose cycle is based on a reservoir system composed of mammals and their fleas. Its transmission cycle presents long enzootic periods with undetected cases, sometimes misleading that the cycle is extinct. While surveillance activities in Brazil are being carried out only in some focal areas, the serologic results confirm the persistence of Y. pestis in all monitored areas. We studied the small mammal assembly and Y. pestis presencein the Borborema Plateau Focus within the state of Paraíba, which staged the last Brazilian plague outbreak (1986-1987), through aninventory and Y. pestis detection survey of small mammals in peridomestic and sylvatic areas from two municipalities in the state of Paraíba.The field sampling captured 45 specimens (27 marsupials, 18 rodents), of 10 species. Only two species (one marsupial, one rodent) were captured in both peridomestic and sylvatic ecotopes. The sylvatic ecotope had higher richness and abundance. No evidence of circulation of the pathogen was detected, however, this result does not discard the necessity of continuous epidemiological surveillance due to the risk of rekindling the foci after long dormant periods, especially given the current epidemiological transition occurring on a Global scale.
Highlights
Plague is a zoonosis caused by Yersinia pestis, a gram-negative bacteria from the family Enterobacteriaceae, transmitted primarily by the bite of fleas infected by feeding on small mammals that compose Plague’s reservoir system (Perry and Fetherston 1997)
The fragments surveyed were on low hills, and one of the fragments was partially surrounding a communitarian artificial lake that is utilized for fishing, water supply and recreation
The legal reserve, located at the highest point of the property, at the level of the State road, was surveyed as the sylvatic ecotope, following pre-existent lumbering trails that present signs of deactivation for several years
Summary
Plague is a zoonosis caused by Yersinia pestis, a gram-negative bacteria from the family Enterobacteriaceae, transmitted primarily by the bite of fleas infected by feeding on small mammals that compose Plague’s reservoir system (Perry and Fetherston 1997). The high mortality rate of the infection, and. Long dormant foci can reemerge (Stenseth et al 2008), as it has been recently reported in African foci (Malek et al 2014), a region that concentrates 90% of the current cases (Raoult et al 2013), and where several. Plague is still a global Public Health concern (Stenseth et al 2008, Butler 2013), and current foci are spread throughout the Americas, Africa (mainly in Sub-Saharan), Eastern Europe and Asia, with some foci returning to activity and others presenting noticeable changes in behavior (Gage and Kosoy 2005, Holt et al 2009, Zeppelini et al 2016). The World Health Organization (WHO) considers pneumonic plague a PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern), and states in the International Health Regulations that cases must be immediately reported (WHO 2005)
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