Fleas (Siphonaptera) of Rodents in the Eastern Caucasian Highland Natural Plague Focus

Abstract

The Eastern Caucasian highland natural plague focus is located on the northern slope of the Main Caucasian Range. This peculiar region has a rich fauna of rodent fleas comprising 32 species of 17 genera. Most flea species occur on a wide range of rodents from different subfamilies but belonging to the same ecological group. Fleas of 26 species are distributed throughout the longitudinal extent of the East Caucasus northern slope. Three species inhabit the Samur and Sulak river basins and have not been found in more western areas despite the presence of suitable hosts there. Three more species are confined to the westernmost part of the East Caucasus. The warm season is the most favorable period for plague transmission due to high gonotrophic activity of most flea species associated with the common vole.