Unhealthy trend

Desert rodents like the Indian gerbil ( Tatera indica) and Meriones are carriers of plague, but are resistant to the disease. Another group of rodents, which includes the house rat ( Rattus rattus ) and the bandicoot ( Bandicota bengalensis ), is highly susceptible to plague, which is transferred by fleas ( Xenopsylla cheopsis and X astia ). Decimation of plants and insects species that the rodents fed on has increased competition for food between the two groups