3.3.1 Study area
This study was conducted at Karatu district, Arusha region in northern
part of Tnzania. The district is bordered by Monduli district to the
east, Shinyanga region to the west, Ngorongoro district to the north,
and Manyara region to the south and southeast. The study was conducted
in four villages found in Karatu district which are Rhotia Kati
3°19’16.4”S 35°44’22.3”E, Kambi ya Simba 3°17ʹ05.28ʺS 35°48ʹ30.84ʺE,
Kitete 3°13’58.5”S 35°50’30.8”E and Marera 3°18’32.2”S 35°43’26.6”E.
Rhotia Kati and Kambi ya Simba are plague foci villages while Marera and
Kitete are non-plgue foci villages (Kilonzo et al ., 2006)(Figure 1 below) . Economic activities of residents in the study
area involve crop cultivation, livestock keeping and small retail shops.
Figure 1 : Showing map of Tanzania highlighting Rhotia and
Mbulumbulu wards where four villages were selected for rodent sampling
in this study.