23 Kas 2024 Cumartesi
Entomological surveillance for vector of plague and scrub typhus at Chennai Port Trust (Cpt), Chennai, India
Abstract :Rodents are responsible for the transmission of many human diseases. The diseases can be viral, bacterial or rickettsial e.g. lyssavirus, scrub typhus, plague and hantavirus. These disease can be transmitted to humans in a number of ways including animal bite, contact with animal waste, eating food or water contaminated by rodent waste or through parasites that use rodents and humans as hosts e.g. fleas, mites and ticks. Presence of rodents in and around port areas plays an important role in the transportation of rodents and their ectoparasite from one country to another. In view of the seriousness of the problem present study was undertaken at Chennai port area (CPT), Chennai (India). Inside port area total 170 rodent traps were laid and 14 rodents were trapped. Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus and Suncus murinus were the species collected from port area. Two species of flea viz. Xenopsylla cheopis and X. astia were recovered from rodents and overall flea index was recorded as 3.3. Larval trombiculidchigger mite (Leptotrombidium deliense) and mesostigmatid mites (Laelaps sp.) were collected and 1.1 chigger index was recorded. Present study confirm presence of rodents, vector of plague and scrub typhus in and around CISF Barrack, Canteen CISF Barrack, M.O.H.P. Office, Dumper House, CISF ‘A’ Coy Barrack and CISF ‘A’ Coy Mess. Result of the study suggests an urgent need to establish an entomology unit at CPT for doing regular surveillance of vector-borne zoonotic and other diseases
Rodent, Plague,Scrub typhus, Xenopsylla cheopis, Leptotrombidium deliense, Chennai port trust