Suncus murinus. Observations on ecology, distribution, status to plague in Bombay

The common house shrew Suncus murinus has been shown to play an important role in maintenance and perpetuation of plague infection by earlier plague workers. With the control of human plague there is no knowledge about foci of plague in small mammals associated with man. Present study was carried out to fill in this Lacuna. Studies carried out in the present paper reveal that S. murinus does not harbour any plague infection in Bombay. This species is widely distributed in Bombay and is found to be associated with man throughout the year. The principal species of fleas harboured by this mammal is Xenopsylla cheopis. The insectivore mainly feeds on tine animals and insects and breeds throughout the year.