Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between rodent fleas and meteorological factors in Meriones unguiculatus plague foci in Hebei province, China. Methods The monitoring data of rodent fleas from 2001 to 2013 and the meteorological data of precipitation, temperature, and humidity during the same period in M. unguiculatus plague foci in Hebei province were collected. According to the interquartile range, the data of precipitation, mean temperature, and mean relative humidity were all divided into four groups, and each four groups were compared in terms of flea infestation rate and flea index. A Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between these meteorological factors and flea infestation rate and flea index. Results There were significant differences in the distribution of flea infestation rate between different precipitation and mean temperature groups (H=11.031 and 20.212, both P<0.05). When the precipitation was >60.40 mm and the mean temperature was >18.20℃, the flea infestation rate reached the peak level. There were significant differences in the distribution of flea index between different precipitation, mean temperature, and mean relative humidity groups (H=8.044, 9.254, and 9.082, all P<0.05). When the precipitation was >60.40 mm, the mean temperature was 13.30-18.20℃, and the mean relative humidity was >64.00%, the flea index reached the peak level. The results of correlation analysis showed that flea infestation rate was positively correlated with precipitation and mean temperature (r=0.396 and 0.547, both P<0.05), while flea index was positively correlated with mean temperature (r=0.376, P<0.05). Conclusion Precipitation, mean temperature, and mean relative humidity are the important meteorological factors affecting the flea infestation rate and flea index in M. unguiculatus plague foci in Hebei province. Targeted flea control should be carried out according to the meteorological conditions.

Key words: Rodent flea, Flea infestation rate, Flea index, Precipitation, Temperature, Humidity

摘要： 目的 探讨河北省长爪沙鼠鼠疫疫源地鼠体寄生蚤与气象因素的关系。方法 收集2001－2013年河北省长爪沙鼠鼠疫疫源地鼠体寄生蚤类的监测数据和同期降雨量、气温和湿度等气象资料，按照四分位间距将降雨量、平均气温和平均相对湿度分为4组，比较不同组间混合鼠体的染蚤率和蚤指数的差异；采用Spearman秩相关分析探索气象因素与鼠体染蚤率和蚤指数的关联性。结果 不同降雨量和平均气温组间鼠体染蚤率分布不同，差异有统计学意义（H=11.031、20.212，P<0.05），降雨量>60.40 mm和平均气温>18.20℃时，鼠体染蚤率最高；不同降雨量、平均气温组和平均相对湿度组间鼠体蚤指数分布不同，差异有统计学意义（H=8.044、9.254、9.082，P<0.05）；当降雨量>60.40 mm、平均气温为13.30～18.20℃和平均相对湿度>64.00%时，鼠体蚤指数最高。相关性分析结果显示，染蚤率与降雨量和平均气温呈正相关（r=0.396、0.547，P<0.05），蚤指数与平均气温呈正相关（r=0.376，P<0.05）。结论 降雨量、平均气温和平均相对湿度是影响河北省长爪沙鼠鼠疫疫源地鼠体染蚤率和蚤指数的重要气象因素，可根据气象条件指导开展针对性的灭蚤防疫工作。

关键词: 鼠体蚤, 染蚤率, 蚤指数, 降雨量, 气温, 湿度