Climatic variations and Yersinia pestis host-vector abundance: a case study in Ankazobe district to understand plague epidemiology in Madagascar
Abstract Background Plague, a disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis remains a major public health concern in Madagascar despite numerous multidisciplinary studies. The persistence of human plague infections is thought to be linked to fluctuations in mammalian host and flea populations, whi...
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2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10929-z |
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| author | Fanohinjanaharinirina Rasoamalala Henry G. Fell Lanto A. Maminirina Zaina Bodoarison Lalatiana O. Randriamiharisoa Mamy G. Randriamanantsoa Haingotiana R. Ramambason Voahangy Andrianaivoarimanana Mireille Harimalala Minoarisoa Rajerison Beza Ramasindrazana Steve Atkinson |
| author_facet | Fanohinjanaharinirina Rasoamalala Henry G. Fell Lanto A. Maminirina Zaina Bodoarison Lalatiana O. Randriamiharisoa Mamy G. Randriamanantsoa Haingotiana R. Ramambason Voahangy Andrianaivoarimanana Mireille Harimalala Minoarisoa Rajerison Beza Ramasindrazana Steve Atkinson |
| author_sort | Fanohinjanaharinirina Rasoamalala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Plague, a disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis remains a major public health concern in Madagascar despite numerous multidisciplinary studies. The persistence of human plague infections is thought to be linked to fluctuations in mammalian host and flea populations, which are affected by climatic and environmental variations. This study explored local macro- and microclimatic variations along with mammal and flea population dynamics across different microhabitat types within plague endemic rural and forested habitats of Madagascar. Understanding these variables and their interdependent relationships may help us better understand the complexities of Y. pestis transmission in the Madagascan Highlands. Methods Small mammals and their fleas were captured in different microhabitats within plague focus in the Ankazobe District of Madagascar. Simultaneously, climatic data including temperature and humidity, were collected to assess the potential relationship between flea population dynamics and climatic variations. Specialized equipment was used to monitor microclimate conditions across various microhabitat types and compare them with macroclimate. Monitoring was performed inside and outside rodent burrows located inside and outside houses and in adjacent forested areas. Results A greater abundance of fleas was observed inside dwellings compared to other microhabitats, such as outside houses and forest, whereas small mammal species diversity was significantly higher in forest environments. We also revealed significant differences in microclimates across microhabitat types, with lower temperatures and higher humidity inside rodent burrows compared to outside burrows, outside houses and the forest. Inside houses, temperature variations were more stable although temperatures were higher and humidity lower inside rodent burrows compared to other microhabitats. Conclusion This study highlights microclimate variation across different microhabitat types, which also differ from the macroclimate, and maps small mammal and flea abundance to these locations. These data suggest that it is important to further explore the relationship between microclimatic variations in the different microhabitats and the dynamics of flea and rodent populations as potential markers for plague persistence and transmission in these endemic foci. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-813249a9bea046acbfc1681d6f264ff5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-813249a9bea046acbfc1681d6f264ff52025-08-20T02:17:49ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342025-04-0125111410.1186/s12879-025-10929-zClimatic variations and Yersinia pestis host-vector abundance: a case study in Ankazobe district to understand plague epidemiology in MadagascarFanohinjanaharinirina Rasoamalala0Henry G. Fell1Lanto A. Maminirina2Zaina Bodoarison3Lalatiana O. Randriamiharisoa4Mamy G. Randriamanantsoa5Haingotiana R. Ramambason6Voahangy Andrianaivoarimanana7Mireille Harimalala8Minoarisoa Rajerison9Beza Ramasindrazana10Steve Atkinson11Plague Unit, Institut Pasteur de MadagascarSchool of Geography, University of NottinghamPlague Unit, Institut Pasteur de MadagascarPlague Unit, Institut Pasteur de MadagascarMadagascar National ParksNational Plague Control Program, Ministry of Public HealthHealth service and environment, Ministry of Public HealthThe Biodiscovery Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of NottinghamMedical Entomology Unit, Institut Pasteur de MadagascarPlague Unit, Institut Pasteur de MadagascarPlague Unit, Institut Pasteur de MadagascarThe Biodiscovery Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of NottinghamAbstract Background Plague, a disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis remains a major public health concern in Madagascar despite numerous multidisciplinary studies. The persistence of human plague infections is thought to be linked to fluctuations in mammalian host and flea populations, which are affected by climatic and environmental variations. This study explored local macro- and microclimatic variations along with mammal and flea population dynamics across different microhabitat types within plague endemic rural and forested habitats of Madagascar. Understanding these variables and their interdependent relationships may help us better understand the complexities of Y. pestis transmission in the Madagascan Highlands. Methods Small mammals and their fleas were captured in different microhabitats within plague focus in the Ankazobe District of Madagascar. Simultaneously, climatic data including temperature and humidity, were collected to assess the potential relationship between flea population dynamics and climatic variations. Specialized equipment was used to monitor microclimate conditions across various microhabitat types and compare them with macroclimate. Monitoring was performed inside and outside rodent burrows located inside and outside houses and in adjacent forested areas. Results A greater abundance of fleas was observed inside dwellings compared to other microhabitats, such as outside houses and forest, whereas small mammal species diversity was significantly higher in forest environments. We also revealed significant differences in microclimates across microhabitat types, with lower temperatures and higher humidity inside rodent burrows compared to outside burrows, outside houses and the forest. Inside houses, temperature variations were more stable although temperatures were higher and humidity lower inside rodent burrows compared to other microhabitats. Conclusion This study highlights microclimate variation across different microhabitat types, which also differ from the macroclimate, and maps small mammal and flea abundance to these locations. These data suggest that it is important to further explore the relationship between microclimatic variations in the different microhabitats and the dynamics of flea and rodent populations as potential markers for plague persistence and transmission in these endemic foci.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10929-zPlagueFleasRodentsClimatic variablesMadagascar |
| spellingShingle | Fanohinjanaharinirina Rasoamalala Henry G. Fell Lanto A. Maminirina Zaina Bodoarison Lalatiana O. Randriamiharisoa Mamy G. Randriamanantsoa Haingotiana R. Ramambason Voahangy Andrianaivoarimanana Mireille Harimalala Minoarisoa Rajerison Beza Ramasindrazana Steve Atkinson Climatic variations and Yersinia pestis host-vector abundance: a case study in Ankazobe district to understand plague epidemiology in Madagascar BMC Infectious Diseases Plague Fleas Rodents Climatic variables Madagascar |
| title | Climatic variations and Yersinia pestis host-vector abundance: a case study in Ankazobe district to understand plague epidemiology in Madagascar |
| title_full | Climatic variations and Yersinia pestis host-vector abundance: a case study in Ankazobe district to understand plague epidemiology in Madagascar |
| title_fullStr | Climatic variations and Yersinia pestis host-vector abundance: a case study in Ankazobe district to understand plague epidemiology in Madagascar |
| title_full_unstemmed | Climatic variations and Yersinia pestis host-vector abundance: a case study in Ankazobe district to understand plague epidemiology in Madagascar |
| title_short | Climatic variations and Yersinia pestis host-vector abundance: a case study in Ankazobe district to understand plague epidemiology in Madagascar |
| title_sort | climatic variations and yersinia pestis host vector abundance a case study in ankazobe district to understand plague epidemiology in madagascar |
| topic | Plague Fleas Rodents Climatic variables Madagascar |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10929-z |
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