Abstract: Objective To identify and classify newly-recorded rodent species in the epidemic focus of plaque in Dingbian county, Shaanxi province. Methods Morphological observation and DNA barcode technology were applied for rodent identification and classification. Results A total of 6 voles were captured with the body length between 120 mm and 140 mm, body weight ranging from 41.75 g to 71.58 g and skull length less than 32 mm. The tail length exceeded one third of the body length. The voles were covered by dark brown skin but their abdomen was sand-yellow in colour. The COⅠgene extracted from the samples was amplified through PCR and sequenced, with the maximum genetic distance between these samples and those of Microtus fortis from other areas being 1%. Conclusion The voles captured from the salt marshes in the southern edge of Ordos Plateau in the plague area of Dingbian county are identified as M. fortis through morphological analysis and DNA comparision. M. fortis is recorded for the first time in the plague natural foci of Shaanxi province, which provides useful information and a basis for further monitoring of vetor, plaque and related diseases in the area.

Key words: Identification, Plague focus, Microtus fortis

摘要： 目的 对陕西省鼠疫疫源地定边县鼠疫监测中新纪录鼠种进行分类鉴定。方法 运用形态学方法及DNA条形码技术进行鉴定分析。结果 体长120～140 mm,体重41.75～71.58 g,颅全长＜32 mm,尾长超过体长1/3,全身灰褐色,腹面沙黄色;线粒体细胞色素C氧化酶Ⅰ亚基基因序列与其他地区东方田鼠标本种内遗传距离最大为1%。结论 定边县鼠疫疫区鄂尔多斯高原荒漠草原南部边缘地带盐碱滩地中捕获的田鼠标本,经形态鉴定及DNA条形码比对确定为东方田鼠。首次在陕西省定边县鼠疫自然疫源地记录东方田鼠,为进一步在该地区进行病媒、鼠疫及相关疾病监测提供了基础依据。

关键词: 鼠种鉴定, 鼠疫疫源地, 东方田鼠