Surveillance of Animals Reservoir of Plague in Guangzhou City from 2003 to 2004

Objective To examine the composition and distribution of animal reservoir of plague in Guangzhou city. Method Rodents were captured by cages and then identified. Flea index was determined and plague IHA method was used to test for antibody. Result 2259 rodents (including 2014 rattus and 245 insectivora) were caught and identified. The animals were grouped into 7 species, 3 genera, and 2 families. Total density of rodents and rattus was 12.09% and 10.78%, respectively. A total number of 297 fleas, belonging to the species of Xenopsylla cheopis, were caught from 73 rattus. The total flea index was 0.53. No F1 antibody was found. Conclusion The major rodent species found in Guangzhou city is Rattus norvegicus. And Xenopsylla cheopis is the dominant species of flea in these animals. Spreading of plague among rattus was not found.