Plague in a colony of Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni) despite three years of infusions of burrows with 0.05% deltamethrin to kill fleas

Journal of Wildlife Diseases
By: , and 

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Abstract

At Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico, US, infusing Gunnison's prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni) burrows with an insecticide dust containing 0.05% deltamethrin killed fleas which transmit bubonic plague. The reduction in the number of fleas per prairie dog was significant and dramatic immediately after infusions, with a suggestion that the reduction persisted for as long as 12 mo. Despite the lower flea counts, however, a plague epizootic killed >95% of prairie dogs after 3 yr of infusions (once per year). More research is necessary for a better understanding of the efficacy of insecticide dusts at lowering flea counts and protecting prairie dogs from plague.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Plague in a colony of Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni) despite three years of infusions of burrows with 0.05% deltamethrin to kill fleas
Series title Journal of Wildlife Diseases
DOI 10.7589/2017-04-089
Volume 54
Issue 2
Year Published 2018
Language English
Publisher Wildlife Disease Association
Contributing office(s) Fort Collins Science Center
Description 5 p.
First page 347
Last page 351
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