ABSTRACT
Since plague is an important natural focus zoonosis, the typing of natural plague foci becomes one of the elements in understanding the nature and developing related prevention program of the disease. Natural foci of plague are composed by four fundamental parts which include Eco-geographical landscape (natural plague foci), hosts, vectors and pathogens (Yersinia pestis) that comprehensively interact through the large temporal scale of evolution. Human activities have had great impact on the foci of natural plague. Based on the published serial research papers, we tried to integrate the knowledge of each factor in natural plague foci and focusing on theoretical aspects, so as to strengthen the prevention and surveillance programs of plague to be extrapolated to other zoonosis.
Subject(s)
Geography , Plague/epidemiology , Plague/prevention & control , Animals , Biological Evolution , China/epidemiology , Disease Reservoirs , Insect Vectors , Yersinia pestis/geneticsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the biological characteristics of natural reservoirs of Yesinia (Y.) pestis in China. METHODS: Species and genera of natural reservoirs of Y. pestis in China and their faunal distribution were characterized with modern taxonomic techniques. The ecological roles of natural reservoirs of Y. pestis in the natural plague foci were determined according to the animal ecological experiments. RESULTS: There were 86 species of natural reservoirs of Y. pestis including 14 major reservoirs and 72 kinds of the secondary or occasional reservoirs. CONCLUSION: The biological characteristics of major reservoirs of Y. pestis and their roles in natural plague foci were defined.
Subject(s)
Disease Reservoirs/veterinary , Plague/microbiology , Yersinia pestis , Animals , China , EcologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To group and characterize natural plague foci in China. METHODS: A novel two-class typing method as well as a three-indication nomenclature method were established to group and characterize the natural plague foci, on the basis of eco-geographical landscapes of plague foci, genetics of Yersinia pestis, zoology of rodent reservoirs and the entomology of flea vectors. RESULTS: A total of 12 distinct natural plague foci (including 19 subtypes) as well as their biological features were characterized. CONCLUSION: Natural plague foci in China were grouped and characterized in this study.
Subject(s)
Geography , Plague/epidemiology , Rodentia/microbiology , Yersinia pestis , Animals , China/epidemiology , Disease Reservoirs , Ecology , Insect Vectors/microbiology , Plague/microbiology , Siphonaptera/microbiology , Yersinia pestis/geneticsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the eco-geographic landscapes of natural plague foci, in China. METHODS: According to the surveillance records on plague epidemics and the eco-geographic landscapes of natural plague foci based on the county level, the criterion for classifying the ecological geographic zone of Chinese natural plague foci was established. RESULTS: 12 types and 19 subtypes of eco-geographic landscapes on Chinese natural plague foci were identified. CONCLUSION: Scientific basis for Chinese natural plague foci classification was provided.
