Xenopsylla brasiliensis Fleas in Plague Focus Areas, Madagascar

摘要

To the Editor: Plague is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by the gram-negative bacterium Yersinia pestis (1). Y. pestis primarily infects rodents but can also cause outbreaks of plague in humans. The infection is usually transmitted within murine populations and then to humans by bites from infected fleas. The oriental rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis, is considered the most efficient plague vector (1). Plague remains a major public health threat, causing annual epidemics, especiallyin Madagascar.