@article{fdi:010062615,
  title = {{F}leas of small mammals on {R}eunion {I}sland : diversity, distribution and epidemiological consequences},
  author = {{G}uernier, {V}anina and {L}agadec, {E}. and {L}e{M}inter, {G}. and {L}icciardi, {S}. and {B}alleydier, {E}. and {P}ages, {F}. and {L}audisoit, {A}. and {D}ellagi, {K}oussay and {T}ortosa, {P}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he diversity and geographical distribution of fleas parasitizing small mammals have been poorly investigated on {I}ndian {O}cean islands with the exception of {M}adagascar where endemic plague has stimulated extensive research on these arthropod vectors. {I}n the context of an emerging flea-borne murine typhus outbreak that occurred recently in {R}eunion {I}sland, we explored fleas' diversity, distribution and host specificity on {R}eunion {I}sland. {S}mall mammal hosts belonging to five introduced species were trapped from {N}ovember 2012 to {N}ovember 2013 along two altitudinal transects, one on the windward eastern and one on the leeward western sides of the island. {A} total of 960 animals were trapped, and 286 fleas were morphologically and molecularly identified. {F}our species were reported: (i) two cosmopolitan {X}enopsylla species which appeared by far as the prominent species, {X}. cheopis and {X}. brasiliensis; (ii) fewer fleas belonging to {E}chidnophaga gallinacea and {L}eptopsylla segnis. {R}attus rattus was found to be the most abundant host species in our sample, and also the most parasitized host, predominantly by {X}. cheopis. {A} marked decrease in flea abundance was observed during the cool-dry season, which indicates seasonal fluctuation in infestation. {I}mportantly, our data reveal that flea abundance was strongly biased on the island, with 81% of all collected fleas coming from the western dry side and no {X}enopsylla flea collected on almost four hundred rodents trapped along the windward humid eastern side. {T}he possible consequences of this sharp spatio-temporal pattern are discussed in terms of flea-borne disease risks in {R}eunion {I}sland, particularly with regard to plague and the currently emerging murine typhus outbreak.},
  keywords = {{REUNION}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}los {N}eglected {T}ropical {D}iseases},
  volume = {8},
  numero = {9},
  pages = {e3129},
  ISSN = {1935-2735},
  year = {2014},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0003129},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010062615},
}