Abundance and Distribution of Xenopsylla Cheopis on Small Mammals Collected in Yunnan Province

[Objective]The aim was to study the geographical distribution of Xenopsylla Cheopis and the relationships of the incidence of plague,flea infection rate and flea index.[Method]The field investigation was carried out in 22 counties (towns) in Yunnan Province. All the captured small mammal hosts were identified mainly in the investigation sites and the fleas collected on the hosts. Data of Xenopsylla Cheopis was gathered to statistically analyze its geographical distribution,Rf value and If value. [Result]From 1997 to 2008,Xenopsylla Cheopis were collected from small mammals in four zoogeographical microregions in Yunnan. 60 small mammal species were collected. Rattus flavipectu had the highest X.cheopis load(with 1 268 X.cheopis from 3 849 R.flavipectu) and the highest overall flea infection rate(13.04%),while R. norvegicus had the highest overall flea index(0.83). In four zoogeographical microregions,eastern plateau microregion of Yunnan had the highest flea index(0.9) and the highest flea infection rate(21.73%). [Conclusion]Xenopsylla Cheopis was mainly distributed in the eastern plateau microregion of Yunnan,the If value,Rf value and the incidence of plague had the same distribution tendency.