Last data update: May 06, 2024. (Total: 46732 publications since 2009)
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Query Trace: Schotthoeffer AM[original query] |
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Effects of low-temperature flea maintenance on the transmission of Yersinia pestis by Oropsylla montana
Williams SK , Schotthoeffer AM , Montenieri JA , Holmes JL , Vetter SM , Gage KL , Bearden SW . Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2013 13 (7) 468-78 Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is primarily a rodent-associated, flea-borne zoonosis maintained in sylvatic foci throughout western North America. Transmission to humans is mediated most commonly by the flea vector Oropsylla montana and occurs predominantly in the southwestern United States. With few exceptions, previous studies showed O. montana to be an inefficient vector at transmitting Y. pestis at ambient temperatures, particularly when such fleas were fed on susceptible hosts more than a few days after ingesting an infectious blood meal. We examined whether holding fleas at subambient temperatures affected the transmissibility of Y. pestis by this vector. An infectious blood meal containing a virulent Y. pestis strain (CO96-3188) was given to colony-reared O. montana fleas. Potentially infected fleas were maintained at different temperatures (6 degrees C, 10 degrees C, 15 degrees C, or 23 degrees C). Transmission efficiencies were tested by allowing up to 15 infectious fleas to feed on each of 7 naive CD-1 mice on days 1-4, 7, 10, 14, 17, and 21 postinfection (p.i.). Mice were monitored for signs of infection for 21 days after exposure to infectious fleas. Fleas held at 6 degrees C, 10 degrees C, and 15 degrees C were able to effectively transmit at every time point p.i. The percentage of transmission to naive mice by fleas maintained at low temperatures (46.0% at 6 degrees C, 71.4% at 10 degrees C, 66.7% at 15 degrees C) was higher than for fleas maintained at 23 degrees C (25.4%) and indicates that O. montana fleas efficiently transmit Y. pestis at low temperatures. Moreover, pooled percent per flea transmission efficiencies for flea cohorts maintained at temperatures of 10 degrees C and 15 degrees C (8.67% and 7.87%, respectively) showed a statistically significant difference in the pooled percent per flea transmission efficiency from fleas maintained at 23 degrees C (1.94%). This is the first comprehensive study to demonstrate efficient transmission of Y. pestis by O. montana fleas maintained at temperatures as low as 6 degrees C. Our findings further contribute to the understanding of plague ecology in temperate climates by providing support for the hypothesis that Y. pestis is able to overwinter within the flea gut and potentially cause infection during the following transmission season. The findings also might hold implications for explaining the focality of plague in tropical regions. |
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