Abstract: Objective To investigate the weight of spleen and the histopathological changes of main organs caused by natural infection of Yersinia pestis in Marmota himalayana (marmot), and to reveal the pathogenic characteristics of plague. Methods The ratio of spleen weight to body weight of living marmots and self-dead marmots obtained from 2020 to 2021 was analyzed. The liver, lung, and spleen of normal marmots and self-dead marmots infected with Y. pestis were collected to make pathological sections for observing histopathological changes. Results The ratio of spleen weight to body weight of self-dead marmots infected with Y. pestis was statistically greater than that of marmots not infected with Y. pestis (χ²=33.144, P<0.001). In the liver, lung, and spleen of self-dead marmots infected with Y. pestis, there were cell morphology destruction, inflammatory cell infiltration, vasodilation, and other inflammatory lesions, and vascular injury of the spleen and changes in the red pulp and white pulp were more significant. Conclusion Y. pestis can cause serious inflammatory reaction in marmots, and the pathological changes of the spleen are of more significance for study of the pathogenic process and mechanism of Y. pestis.

Key words: Plague, Marmota himalayana, Pathology

摘要： 目的 了解喜马拉雅旱獭（旱獭）自然感染鼠疫耶尔森菌（鼠疫菌）所导致的脾质量和主要脏器的组织病理变化，揭示鼠疫的致病特点。方法 分析2020－2021年获得的活体旱獭及自毙旱獭脾质量与体质量的比值，取正常旱獭以及感染鼠疫菌自毙旱獭的肝、肺、脾脏3种器官制作病理切片，并观察组织病理学变化。结果 感染鼠疫菌的自毙旱獭脾质量与体质量的比值明显高于未感染鼠疫菌的旱獭，且差异有统计学意义（χ²=33.144，P<0.001）。感染鼠疫菌自毙旱獭的肝、肺、脾脏均有细胞形态被破坏，炎性细胞浸润，血管扩张等炎症病变，脾脏的血管损伤和红髓白髓的变化更为明显。结论 鼠疫菌可引起旱獭机体产生严重的炎症反应，脾脏的病变对于探讨鼠疫菌的致病过程和机制更具研究意义。

关键词: 鼠疫, 喜马拉雅旱獭, 病理学