Molecular, serological and epidemiological observations after a suspected outbreak of plague in Nyimba, eastern Zambia

Plague is a re-emerging zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The disease has caused periodic global devastation since the first outbreak in the 6th century. Two months after a suspected plague outbreak in Nyimba district, samples were collected from 94 livestock (goats and pigs)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tropical doctor 2017-01, Vol.47 (1), p.38-43
Main Authors: Nyirenda, Stanley S, Hang’ombe, Bernard M, Kilonzo, Bukheti S, Kabeta, Mathews N, Cornellius, Mundia, Sinkala, Yona
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Disease Outbreaks
Disease Reservoirs - microbiology
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Goats
Humans
Plague - epidemiology
Plague - prevention & control
Plague - transmission
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Rodentia
Siphonaptera - microbiology
Swine
Yersinia pestis - genetics
Yersinia pestis - immunology
Yersinia pestis - isolation & purification
Zambia - epidemiology
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Summary:Plague is a re-emerging zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The disease has caused periodic global devastation since the first outbreak in the 6th century. Two months after a suspected plague outbreak in Nyimba district, samples were collected from 94 livestock (goats and pigs), 25 rodents, 6 shrews and 33 fleas. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques were used to investigate the presence of Y. pestis, which showed that 16.0% (4/25) of rodents, 16.7% (1/6) of shrews (Crocidura spp) and 6.0% (5/83) of goats were positive for IgG antibodies against Fraction 1 antigen of Y. pestis. Plasminogen activator (Pla) gene (DNA) of Y. pestis was detected in five pools containing 36.4% (12/33) fleas collected from pigs (n = 4), goats (n = 5) and rodents (n = 3). The detection of Pla gene in fleas and IgG antibodies against Fraction1 antigen in rodents, shrews and goats suggest that Y. pestis had been present in the study area in the recent past.
ISSN:0049-4755
1758-1133
DOI:10.1177/0049475516662804