Rodents are the natural hosts and maintain the organism in the environment.
While the majority of humans are infected by rodent flea bites, there have been documented cases of transmission by exposure to wild animals and infected domestic cats. I. Cats with fevers of unknown origin, clinical evidence of submandibular or retropharyngeal lymphadenopathy or abscesses, acute fever and bacteremia, or coughing should be considered plague suspects from March through October . Cats with cough that require transoral transtracheal aspiration should be handled as plague suspects and the procedures completed while wearing gloves and a surgical mask and gown. Write plague suspect on the necropsy request form. B. Healthy rodents or lagomorphs that are presented by good Samaritans should be treated for fleas, placed in Small Animal Isolation and cared for by the admitting clinician and student.