Evaluation of Rodent Bait Containing Imidacloprid for the Control of Fleas on Commensal Rodents in a Plague-Endemic Region of Norther Uganda

Abstract
In recent decades, the majority of human plague cases (caused by Yersinia pestis) have been reported from Africa. In an effort to reduce the risk of the disease in this area, we evaluated theefÞcacy of a host-targeted rodent bait containing the insecticide imidacloprid for controlling ßeas on house-dwelling commensal rodents in a plague-endemic region of northwestern Uganda. results demonstrated that the use of a palatable, rodent-targeted, wax-based bait cube was effective at reducing the prevalence of ßeas on commensal rodents and ßea burdens on these animals at day 7 postbait exposure, but lacked signiÞcant residual activity, allowing ßea populations to rebound in the absence of additional bait applications. Our results indicate the use of a palatable host-targeted bait block containing imidacloprid was an effective technique for quickly reducing ßea numbers on rodents in northwest Uganda and, thus, could be useful for lowering the potential risk of human ßea bite exposures during plague outbreaks if applied continuously during the period of risk
Description
Keywords
Rattus rattus, Plague, ßea control, lmidacloprid
Citation
Borchert, J. N., Enscore, R. E., Eisen, R. J., Atiku, L. A., Owor, N., Acayo, S., ... & Gage, K. L. (2010). Evaluation of rodent bait containing imidacloprid for the control of fleas on commensal rodents in a plague-endemic region of northwest Uganda. Journal of medical entomology, 47(5), 842-850.DOI: 10.1603/ME09221