Plague reservoir species throughout the world

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Epidemiology
• Infectious Disease Ecology
• Mammalian Taxonomy

Background:

• Plague is a re-emerging infectious disease with significant socioeconomic impact.
• Understanding the plague's epidemiological cycle necessitates knowledge of reservoir species' taxonomy, distribution, and ecology.
• Environmental changes like climate change and urbanization can influence disease dispersion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent taxonomic changes in rodent species within known plague reservoirs.
• To detail the global distribution of these rodent species, identifying key host species.
• To provide a comprehensive checklist of plague-infectable vertebrates in plague foci.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing modern taxonomic methods, including synthetic surveys.
• Integrating morphology, genetics, and ecological data for species identification.
• Compiling and analyzing data on rodent species distribution and ecological roles.

Main Results:

• Recent advances in taxonomy have expanded knowledge of species composition in various landscapes.
• Identification of specific rodent species as keystone hosts in plague reservoirs.
• A comprehensive checklist of plague-susceptible vertebrates across global foci is presented.

Conclusions:

• Accurate species identification and understanding of distribution are vital for plague surveillance and control.
• Keystone host species require focused attention in managing plague epidemiology.
• This work provides a foundational resource for future research on plague ecology and dispersion.