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 Image: Xenopsylla chepsis (oriental rat flea) engorged with blood


Male Xenopsylla cheopis (oriental rat flea) engorged with blood. This flea is the primary vector of plague in most large plague epidemics in Asia, Africa, and South America. Both male and female fleas can transmit the infection.
Picture of male oriental rat flea engorged with blood

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This page last reviewed March 30, 2005

Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases |
National Center for Infectious Diseases |
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Fort Collins, Colorado 80522

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