Abstract
Plague, caused by Yersinia pestitis, is an infectious bacterial disease that has a high fatality rate if untreated. Rodents are plague reservoirs and play an important role in disease spread. Plague cases have been reported extensively since the second pandemic from the 14th century in countries sharing borders with Pakistan, such as China and India, as well as nearby countries including Russia and central Asia. Despite being centrally located in a plague-infested geographical zone, there has been no plague incidence reported from Pakistan. This study aims to pinpoint some of the potentially important aspects of the disease, which have to be considered when assessing potential risk associated with a plague outbreak in Pakistan. In this context, the occurrence and distribution of plague-associated rodent reservoirs in different regions of Pakistan in relation to those found in the neighboring countries were mapped. In addition, the climatic factors that may also influence disease spread by affecting the growth of the bacteria are also discussed. The combined epidemiological and ecological surveillance studies suggest a prevalence of several potential rodent carriers in certain districts with the possibility of a plague outbreak in Pakistan.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 687-693 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 1 2016 |
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Keywords
- Pakistan
- Pandemic
- Plague
- Prevalence
- Rodents
- Yersinia pestis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Parasitology
- Virology
Cite this
Spatial analysis and identification of high risk plague regions in Pakistan based on associated rodent species distribution. / Shabbir, Madiha; Aleem, Maha; Javed, Sundus; Wagner, David M; Keim, Paul S; Eqani, Syed Ali Musstjab Akbar Shah; Bokhari, Habib.
In: Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, Vol. 10, No. 7, 01.07.2016, p. 687-693.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Spatial analysis and identification of high risk plague regions in Pakistan based on associated rodent species distribution
AU - Shabbir, Madiha
AU - Aleem, Maha
AU - Javed, Sundus
AU - Wagner, David M
AU - Keim, Paul S
AU - Eqani, Syed Ali Musstjab Akbar Shah
AU - Bokhari, Habib
PY - 2016/7/1
Y1 - 2016/7/1
N2 - Plague, caused by Yersinia pestitis, is an infectious bacterial disease that has a high fatality rate if untreated. Rodents are plague reservoirs and play an important role in disease spread. Plague cases have been reported extensively since the second pandemic from the 14th century in countries sharing borders with Pakistan, such as China and India, as well as nearby countries including Russia and central Asia. Despite being centrally located in a plague-infested geographical zone, there has been no plague incidence reported from Pakistan. This study aims to pinpoint some of the potentially important aspects of the disease, which have to be considered when assessing potential risk associated with a plague outbreak in Pakistan. In this context, the occurrence and distribution of plague-associated rodent reservoirs in different regions of Pakistan in relation to those found in the neighboring countries were mapped. In addition, the climatic factors that may also influence disease spread by affecting the growth of the bacteria are also discussed. The combined epidemiological and ecological surveillance studies suggest a prevalence of several potential rodent carriers in certain districts with the possibility of a plague outbreak in Pakistan.
AB - Plague, caused by Yersinia pestitis, is an infectious bacterial disease that has a high fatality rate if untreated. Rodents are plague reservoirs and play an important role in disease spread. Plague cases have been reported extensively since the second pandemic from the 14th century in countries sharing borders with Pakistan, such as China and India, as well as nearby countries including Russia and central Asia. Despite being centrally located in a plague-infested geographical zone, there has been no plague incidence reported from Pakistan. This study aims to pinpoint some of the potentially important aspects of the disease, which have to be considered when assessing potential risk associated with a plague outbreak in Pakistan. In this context, the occurrence and distribution of plague-associated rodent reservoirs in different regions of Pakistan in relation to those found in the neighboring countries were mapped. In addition, the climatic factors that may also influence disease spread by affecting the growth of the bacteria are also discussed. The combined epidemiological and ecological surveillance studies suggest a prevalence of several potential rodent carriers in certain districts with the possibility of a plague outbreak in Pakistan.
KW - Pakistan
KW - Pandemic
KW - Plague
KW - Prevalence
KW - Rodents
KW - Yersinia pestis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84980374273&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84980374273&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3855/jidc.7091
DO - 10.3855/jidc.7091
M3 - Review article
C2 - 27482799
AN - SCOPUS:84980374273
VL - 10
SP - 687
EP - 693
JO - Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
JF - Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
SN - 1972-2680
IS - 7
ER -