Epizootiologic parameters for plague in Kazakhstan.
Reliable estimates are lacking of key epizootiologic parameters for plague caused by Yersinia pestis infection in its natural reservoirs. We report results of a 3-year longitudinal study of plague dynamics in populations of a maintenance host, the great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus), in 2 populations in Kazakhstan. Serologic results suggest a mid-summer peak in the abundance of infectious hosts and possible transmission from the reservoir to humans. Decrease in antibody titer to an undetectable level showed no seasonal pattern. Our findings did not support the use of the nitroblue-tetrazolium test characterization of plague-infected hosts. Y. pestis infection reduced survival of otherwise asymptomatic hosts.
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom. mbegone@liv.ac.uk
Michael
M
Begon
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary*; D005849:Gerbillinae / Q000382:microbiology*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007623:Kazakhstan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D010930:Plague / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium