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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Assessing Burrowing, Nest Construction, and Hoarding in Mice
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Burrowing Owls, Pulex irritans, and Plague.

James R Belthoff1, Scott A Bernhardt2, Christopher L Ball3

  • 11 Department of Biological Sciences and Raptor Research Center, Boise State University , Boise, Idaho.

Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)
|September 15, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Western burrowing owls commonly host fleas, but a 2012-2013 study found no evidence of Yersinia pestis (plague) in the fleas or the owls. Further research during plague outbreaks is recommended.

Keywords:
Athene cunicularia hypugaeaFleasPlaguePulex irritansUnited StatesWestern Burrowing OwlsYersinia pestis

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Area of Science:

  • Wildlife Ecology
  • Disease Ecology
  • Vector-borne Diseases

Background:

  • Western burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) inhabit grasslands and frequently associate with fossorial mammals, leading to potential flea infestation.
  • Fleas are common ectoparasites of burrowing owls, raising questions about their role in the transmission dynamics of diseases like plague.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of Yersinia pestis in fleas collected from western burrowing owls.
  • To assess the presence of Yersinia pestis in burrowing owl blood samples.
  • To evaluate the potential role of burrowing owls as hosts for plague-infected fleas.

Main Methods:

  • Collected fleas and blood samples from burrowing owls across five plague-endemic states (Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, South Dakota) between 2012-2013.
  • Identified and pooled fleas taxonomically, then tested for Yersinia pestis using culturing and PCR.
  • Analyzed owl blood for plague antibodies (serology) and Yersinia pestis DNA (nested PCR).

Main Results:

  • Over 4750 fleas were collected, with Pulex irritans (a known plague vector) constituting over 99.4%.
  • All diagnostic tests on flea pools (culturing, PCR) and owl blood (PCR, serology) for Yersinia pestis were negative.
  • No evidence of Yersinia pestis infection was found in the sampled fleas or burrowing owls.

Conclusions:

  • Despite high flea prevalence on burrowing owls and the presence of a known vector, no Yersinia pestis was detected in this study.
  • Burrowing owls may not play a significant role in plague transmission dynamics as phoretic hosts for infected fleas.
  • Further investigation during active plague epizootics is recommended to confirm these findings.