Socio-ecological risk factors associated with human flea infestations of rural household in plague-endemic areas of Madagascar.
Plague is a flea-borne fatal disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which persists in rural Madagascar. Although fleas parasitizing rats are considered the primary vectors of Y. pestis, the human flea, Pulex irritans, is abundant in human habitations in Madagascar, and has been found natur...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2024-03-01
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| Series: | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012036 |
| _version_ | 1797248390068699136 |
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| author | Adélaïde Miarinjara Annick Onimalala Raveloson Stephen Gilbert Mugel Nick An Andry Andriamiadanarivo Minoarisoa Esther Rajerison Rindra Vatosoa Randremanana Romain Girod Thomas Robert Gillespie |
| author_facet | Adélaïde Miarinjara Annick Onimalala Raveloson Stephen Gilbert Mugel Nick An Andry Andriamiadanarivo Minoarisoa Esther Rajerison Rindra Vatosoa Randremanana Romain Girod Thomas Robert Gillespie |
| author_sort | Adélaïde Miarinjara |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plague is a flea-borne fatal disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which persists in rural Madagascar. Although fleas parasitizing rats are considered the primary vectors of Y. pestis, the human flea, Pulex irritans, is abundant in human habitations in Madagascar, and has been found naturally infected by the plague bacterium during outbreaks. While P. irritans may therefore play a role in plague transmission if present in plague endemic areas, the factors associated with infestation and human exposure within such regions are little explored. To determine the socio-ecological risk factors associated with P. irritans infestation in rural households in plague-endemic areas of Madagascar, we used a mixed-methods approach, integrating results from P. irritans sampling, a household survey instrument, and an observational checklist. Using previously published vectorial capacity data, the minimal P. irritans index required for interhuman bubonic plague transmission was modeled to determine whether household infestations were enough to pose a plague transmission risk. Socio-ecological risk factors associated with a high P. irritans index were then identified for enrolled households using generalized linear models. Household flea abundance was also modeled using the same set of predictors. A high P. irritans index occurred in approximately one third of households and was primarily associated with having a traditional dirt floor covered with a plant fiber mat. Interventions targeting home improvement and livestock housing management may alleviate flea abundance and plague risk in rural villages experiencing high P. irritans infestation. As plague-control resources are limited in developing countries such as Madagascar, identifying the household parameters and human behaviors favoring flea abundance, such as those identified in this study, are key to developing preventive measures that can be implemented at the community level. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T20:13:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0e3cc1286b764f04ad20fc37c61c8767 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1935-2727 1935-2735 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T20:13:49Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-0e3cc1286b764f04ad20fc37c61c87672024-03-23T05:33:44ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352024-03-01183e001203610.1371/journal.pntd.0012036Socio-ecological risk factors associated with human flea infestations of rural household in plague-endemic areas of Madagascar.Adélaïde MiarinjaraAnnick Onimalala RavelosonStephen Gilbert MugelNick AnAndry AndriamiadanarivoMinoarisoa Esther RajerisonRindra Vatosoa RandremananaRomain GirodThomas Robert GillespiePlague is a flea-borne fatal disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which persists in rural Madagascar. Although fleas parasitizing rats are considered the primary vectors of Y. pestis, the human flea, Pulex irritans, is abundant in human habitations in Madagascar, and has been found naturally infected by the plague bacterium during outbreaks. While P. irritans may therefore play a role in plague transmission if present in plague endemic areas, the factors associated with infestation and human exposure within such regions are little explored. To determine the socio-ecological risk factors associated with P. irritans infestation in rural households in plague-endemic areas of Madagascar, we used a mixed-methods approach, integrating results from P. irritans sampling, a household survey instrument, and an observational checklist. Using previously published vectorial capacity data, the minimal P. irritans index required for interhuman bubonic plague transmission was modeled to determine whether household infestations were enough to pose a plague transmission risk. Socio-ecological risk factors associated with a high P. irritans index were then identified for enrolled households using generalized linear models. Household flea abundance was also modeled using the same set of predictors. A high P. irritans index occurred in approximately one third of households and was primarily associated with having a traditional dirt floor covered with a plant fiber mat. Interventions targeting home improvement and livestock housing management may alleviate flea abundance and plague risk in rural villages experiencing high P. irritans infestation. As plague-control resources are limited in developing countries such as Madagascar, identifying the household parameters and human behaviors favoring flea abundance, such as those identified in this study, are key to developing preventive measures that can be implemented at the community level.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012036 |
| spellingShingle | Adélaïde Miarinjara Annick Onimalala Raveloson Stephen Gilbert Mugel Nick An Andry Andriamiadanarivo Minoarisoa Esther Rajerison Rindra Vatosoa Randremanana Romain Girod Thomas Robert Gillespie Socio-ecological risk factors associated with human flea infestations of rural household in plague-endemic areas of Madagascar. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| title | Socio-ecological risk factors associated with human flea infestations of rural household in plague-endemic areas of Madagascar. |
| title_full | Socio-ecological risk factors associated with human flea infestations of rural household in plague-endemic areas of Madagascar. |
| title_fullStr | Socio-ecological risk factors associated with human flea infestations of rural household in plague-endemic areas of Madagascar. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Socio-ecological risk factors associated with human flea infestations of rural household in plague-endemic areas of Madagascar. |
| title_short | Socio-ecological risk factors associated with human flea infestations of rural household in plague-endemic areas of Madagascar. |
| title_sort | socio ecological risk factors associated with human flea infestations of rural household in plague endemic areas of madagascar |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012036 |
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