Fleas as Vectors of Plague

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Abstract
Twenty species of fleas have been infected with plague in the laboratory but only 11 spp., 9 of which were collected from wild rodents, transmitted the disease to guinea pigs; only a portion of fleas fed on plague infected guinea pigs a few hours before the animals died were infected, and of those infected only a small percentage transmitted plague to other guinea pigs. Flea bites are not infectious until the masses formed by Pasteurella pestis cause obstruction of the esophagus. This condition may develop in a few days or not for over 4 months. Few fleas ever infect more than one animal and blocked infectious fleas generally die within 48 hours of the time there is evidence of obstruction to their stomachs. Infected fleas are constantly excreting virulent coccobacilli in their feces which may survive for as long as 4 weeks in the dried excreta so that rodents are exposed to infection from the feces as well as the bites of fleas.

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