关键词: 鼠疫, 自然疫源地, 种群密度

Abstract: Objective To analyze the current situation and risk factors of the natural plague foci of gerbils in Xingqing district, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Ningxia), China, and to provide a reference for the early warning of the risk of plague outbreak. Methods The plague surveillance data in Xingqing district, Ningxia from 2016 to 2020 were collected and analyzed for the species, density, habitat distribution, etiology, and serology surveillance results of the plague host animals by descriptive epidemiological methods. Results A total of 5 829 rodents of 11 species in 8 genera of 4 families were captured in the natural plague foci of gerbils in Xingqing district, Yinchuan from 2016 to 2020, with Meriones meridians and M. unguiculatus as dominant species. The mean density of primary hosts was 1.12 rodents/hm², and the capture rate of rodents by night snap-trapping method was 8.15%. The flea infection rate of host animals was 13.45%, with the flea index of 0.30; 1 842 cultured fleas of 887 groups were obtained in 5 829 rodents dissected, and no Yersinia pestis was isolated, which was determined as negative; 1 030 sera were conducted indirect hemagglutination test and showed negative results. Conclusion The density of rodents is high in the plague foci of gerbils in Xingqing district, Ningxia, and there is still a possibility of plague epidemic among animals in the future. The surveillance, early warning, publicity, and education in the plague foci should be further strengthened to prevent plague epidemic among animals and the occurrence of human plague.

Key words: Plague, Natural foci, Population density