Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2 Canada.
Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2 Canada,
J Vector Ecol. 2024 Dec;49(2):R61-R69. doi: 10.52707/1081-1710-49.2.R61.
Spatial and temporal differences in the relative abundance of arthropod vectors are important factors that influence the risk of disease for mammalian hosts. Seasonal changes in the diversity and abundance of fleas (Siphonaptera) in Richardson's ground squirrel () burrows were studied at two sites in central Saskatchewan. A total of 225 fleas (151 at an urban site and 74 at a rural site) were collected. Flea prevalence differed among seasons at the urban site but not at the rural site. Of the nine flea species detected (eight at the urban site and six at the rural site), , , , and are vectors of , the causative agent of plague. The presence and abundance of some fleas differed between sites and seasons. and were the most abundant species at the urban site during the spring and summer, respectively, while was the most abundant species at the rural site. Our findings may have implications for the management of the black-tailed prairie dogs () in southwestern Saskatchewan because they coexist with , are hosts for , and are at great risk of plague exposure/infection.
节肢动物媒介的时空差异是影响哺乳动物宿主疾病风险的重要因素。在萨斯喀彻温省中部的两个地点研究了草原犬鼠（）洞穴中跳蚤（Siphonaptera）的多样性和丰度的季节性变化。共采集了 225 只跳蚤（城市点 151 只，农村点 74 只）。城市点的跳蚤流行率在不同季节有所不同，但农村点没有。在所检测到的 9 种跳蚤（城市点 8 种，农村点 6 种）中， 、 、 、 和 是鼠疫的病原体的媒介。一些跳蚤的存在和丰度在不同地点和季节有所不同。 和 在春季和夏季分别是城市点最丰富的物种，而 在农村点是最丰富的物种。我们的发现可能对萨斯喀彻温省西南部黑尾草原犬鼠（）的管理产生影响，因为它们与 共存，是 的宿主，并且处于鼠疫暴露/感染的巨大风险之中。
