Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 2.4
Characteristics of Some Insectborne Disease
Control
a
Disease
Etiologic Agent
Reservoir
Transmission
Incubation Period
Endemic typhus
(murine)
(fleaborne)
b
Rickettsia typhi
(R. mouserl
)also
possibly
Ctenocephalides
felis
Infected rodents,
Rattus rattus
and
Rattus norvegicus
,
also fleas, possibly
opossums
Bite or feces of rat flea
Xenopsylla cheopis
;also
possibly ingestion or
inhalation of dust
contaminated with flea
feces or urine.
7 - 14 days, usually
12 days
First elimination of rat
flea by insecticide
applied to rat runs,
burrows, and harborages,
then rat control. Spray
kennels, beds, floor
cracks.
Epidemic typhus
(louseborne)
Rickettsia
prowazeki
Infected persons
and infected lice
Crushing infected body
lice
Pediculus humanus
or feces into bite,
abrasions, or eyes.
Possibly louse feces in
dust.
7 - 14 days, usually
12 days
Insecticidal treatment of
clothing and bedding;
personal hygiene,
bathing, elimination of
overcrowding,
Immunization. Delousing
of individuals in
outbreaks.
Bubonic plague
Pasteurella pestis
,
plague bacillus
Wild rodents and
infected fleas
Bite of infective flea
X,
2 - 6 days
Immunization, Surveys
in endemic areas.
