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.