title: Use of Insecticide Delivery Tubes for Controlling Rodent-Associated Fleas in a Plague Endemic Region of West Nile, Uganda.
abstract: Plague is a primarily flea-borne rodent-associated zoonosis that is often fatal in humans. Our study focused on the plague-endemic West Nile region of Uganda where affordable means for the prevention of human plague are currently lacking. Traditional hut construction and food storage practices hinder rodent exclusion efforts, and emphasize the need for an inexpensive but effective host-targeted approach for controlling fleas within the domestic environment. Here we demonstrate the ability of an insecticide delivery tube that is made from inexpensive locally available materials to reduce fleas on domestic rodents. Unbaited tubes were treated with either an insecticide alone (fipronil) or in conjunction with an insect growth regulator [(S)-methoprene], and placed along natural rodent runways within participant huts. Performance was similar for both treatments throughout the course of the study, and showed significant reductions in the proportion of infested rodents relative to controls for at least 100 d posttreatment.
authors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521. kje5@cdc.gov.
authors: Karen A
authors: KA
authors: Boegler
authors: Uganda Virus Research Institute, Plot 51-59, Nakiwogo Rd., P.O. Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda.
authors: Linda A
authors: LA
authors: Atiku
authors: Uganda Virus Research Institute, Plot 51-59, Nakiwogo Rd., P.O. Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda.
authors: Joseph Tendo
authors: JT
authors: Mpanga
authors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521.
authors: Rebecca J
authors: RJ
authors: Clark
authors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521.
authors: Mark J
authors: MJ
authors: Delorey
authors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521.
authors: Kenneth L
authors: KL
authors: Gage
authors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521.
authors: Rebecca J
authors: RJ
authors: Eisen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006798:Housing; D007303:Insect Vectors; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008726:Methoprene / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010930:Plague / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats / Q000469:parasitology*; D005423:Siphonaptera; D014454:Uganda
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D011720:Pyrazoles; D008726:Methoprene; C082360:fipronil
keywords: Uganda; Yersinia pestis; flea control; plague; topical insecticide