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

摘要： 目的 分析宁夏回族自治区（宁夏）银川市兴庆区沙鼠鼠疫自然疫源地现况及风险因素，为预警鼠疫疫情发生风险提供参考。方法 收集、整理银川市兴庆区2016－2020年鼠疫监测资料，应用回顾性流行病学方法分析鼠疫宿主动物种类、密度、生境分布和病原学、血清学检测结果。结果 2016－2020年银川市兴庆区沙鼠鼠疫自然疫源地共捕鼠4科8属11种5 829只，子午沙鼠和长爪沙鼠为优势种。主要宿主平均密度为1.12只/hm²，夹夜法鼠捕获率为8.15%。宿主染蚤率为13.45%，蚤指数为0.30；剖检鼠5 829只，获培养蚤887组1 842匹，均未分离出鼠疫耶尔森菌，判定为阴性；血清学间接血凝试验检测1 030份，结果均为阴性。结论 银川市兴庆区沙鼠鼠疫疫源地鼠密度较高，未来仍存在动物间鼠疫流行的可能，进一步加强鼠疫疫源地监测预警和宣传教育工作，严防动物间鼠疫流行及人间鼠疫的发生。

关键词: 鼠疫, 自然疫源地, 种群密度