Oriental rat flea

insect

Also known as: Xenopsylla cheopis

Learn about this topic in these articles:

plague
- In plague: History
  …results of experiments demonstrating that Oriental rat fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis) carried the plague bacillus between rats. It was then demonstrated definitively that rat fleas would infest humans and transmit plague through their bites. With that, massive rat-proofing measures were instituted worldwide in maritime vessels and port facilities, and insecticides were…
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typhus
- In typhus: Other forms of typhus
  The rat flea Xenopsylla cheopis is the principal carrier of the disease, and transmission to humans occurs through the medium of infected flea feces. The frequency of occurrence of human cases is determined by the amount of contact humans have with domestic rodents. The course of the illness…
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