Paradoxopsyllus scorodumovi (Aphaniptera) flea, an effective vector of plague in a Gorno-Altai natural focus

A study was conducted on the fleas of P. scorodumovi and five local strains of the plague microbe, one of which is typical of the strains of the Altai subspecies and four are non-typical of this nidus. The fleas of this species are capable to transmit not only the plague agent of the strains typical of this nidus but also non-typical ones which differ in some biological properties and are avirulent for most carriers but Pallas's pika. Biological peculiarities of fleas of P. scorodumovi in addition to their high efficiency as vectors of the plague microbe enable us to associate the more active autumn epizooty with fleas of this species.